CAF Confident AFCON Will Proceed Amid Ongoing Protests in Morocco
Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has assured that the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will go ahead as planned in Morocco, despite ongoing protests demanding government reforms. The tournament is set to take place from December 21 to January 18 across nine venues, featuring 24 national teams.
Protests in Morocco have persisted for over a week, with young citizens calling for an end to corruption and improvements in social services such as health and education. However, Motsepe remains optimistic, stating, “Morocco is plan A, Morocco is plan B, and Morocco is plan C.” He emphasized CAF’s commitment to working with the Moroccan government and its citizens to ensure a successful tournament.
Stars like Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi are expected to participate, drawing significant attention to the competition. Morocco previously hosted the AFCON in 1988 and withdrew from the 2015 tournament due to Ebola virus concerns.
In addition to the AFCON, Motsepe addressed the future of the African Football League, which was discontinued in 2023 after a lackluster edition. He highlighted its importance and mentioned ongoing discussions for its revival, although details remain limited.
Since taking office in 2021, Motsepe has turned CAF’s financial situation around, reporting a net profit of $9.48 million for the 2023-24 financial year and projecting a surplus of $28.45 million for the next. He noted, “We have been enormously successful in the last five years. Revenues have quadrupled,” while maintaining a strict policy against corruption.
Motsepe’s administration has also increased financial support for clubs, providing $100,000 to teams that do not qualify for major competitions.
