In a landmark decision, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially declared Morocco as the host nation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), while a joint bid from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania has been awarded the prestigious hosting rights for the 2027 AFCON.
The announcement came after an intense voting process during the CAF Executive Committee meeting held at the Cairo Marriott Hotel in Egypt on Wednesday. Morocco’s successful bid for the 2025 AFCON saw them amass a significant 22 votes.
This victory followed the withdrawals of Algeria, Zambia, and a joint bid by Nigeria and Benin Republic prior to the voting.
Morocco, no stranger to hosting major international tournaments, had previously hosted the AFCON in 1988. The nation’s strong bid, bolstered by a wealth of experience in organizing world-class sporting events, ultimately secured their second opportunity to showcase African football on the global stage.
In a surprising twist, the joint bid put forward by Nigeria and Benin Republic, despite their rich footballing histories, did not make the final cut. Nigeria had previously hosted the AFCON in 1980 and co-hosted the tournament with Ghana in 2000.
Following the announcement of Morocco as the 2025 host, CAF turned its attention to the 2027 AFCON bidding process. After a competitive second round of voting, it was East Africa that emerged victorious.
The joint bid from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania demonstrated the region’s commitment to elevating African football, and they will be hosting the tournament for the very first time in 2027.
The decision reflects CAF’s ongoing efforts to expand and diversify the locations of the prestigious AFCON tournament, ensuring that different regions of the continent have the opportunity to showcase their passion for the beautiful game.
Morocco and the East African trio now have the immense responsibility and privilege of welcoming the world to witness the magic of African football in the years to come.
