Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has reaffirmed his strong confidence in Morocco’s ability to successfully host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), despite recent anti-government protests across the country.
Scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, the tournament will feature 24 national teams competing in nine venues across the North African nation.
Concerns have emerged about the stability of the event amid nationwide demonstrations, largely driven by young Moroccans protesting government spending. The protests center around criticism that the government is allocating billions towards infrastructure projects—such as the renovation and construction of stadiums for the 2025 AFCON and the 2030 FIFA World Cup—at the expense of vital public services like healthcare and education. Protesters have voiced their frustration with slogans like, “We want hospitals, not stadiums.”
Addressing the issue during the CAF Congress in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, Motsepe emphasized CAF’s unwavering commitment to Morocco as the host nation.
“We are absolutely confident the AFCON will go ahead as planned,” said Motsepe. “Morocco is plan A, Morocco is plan B, and Morocco is plan C. CAF will cooperate and work with the government and all the citizens of Morocco to host the most successful AFCON in history.”
