2025 AFCON will hold in Morocco despite protests, says CAF President Motsepe

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has reaffirmed that the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will proceed as scheduled in Morocco, despite ongoing anti-government protests that have swept across the country.

Motsepe, speaking at a high-level CAF event attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, expressed “absolute confidence” in Morocco’s ability to host the continent’s premier football tournament amid rising concerns over national stability.

“Morocco is Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C,” Motsepe declared.

“CAF will work closely with the government and the people of Morocco to deliver the most successful AFCON in history.”

AFCON 2025 Scheduled Amid Growing Unrest

The 2025 AFCON is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, across nine venues in Morocco, with 24 national teams set to compete.

However, the host nation is currently experiencing its ninth consecutive night of protests, driven by frustration over corruption, poor social services, and growing economic inequality.

On Sunday, thousands of mostly young protesters took to the streets across major cities, calling for a complete overhaul of the Moroccan government.

The unrest has raised questions about the country’s preparedness and security capabilities ahead of the month-long tournament.

CAF Unfazed, Eyes Historic Tournament

Despite the unrest, CAF maintains that no contingency plan is being considered, as Motsepe emphasized full trust in Morocco’s ability to deliver.

“We are absolutely confident the AFCON will go ahead as planned,” Motsepe reiterated.

The 2025 edition is expected to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with top-ranked teams including Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, and the host nation Morocco vying for continental glory.

Morocco was awarded the hosting rights after Guinea was stripped of the tournament due to infrastructure and readiness concerns.

What’s at Stake

• Dates: December 21, 2025 – January 18, 2026

• Host Country: Morocco

• Participating Teams: 24

• Venues: 9 across multiple cities

• Concerns: Anti-government protests, political unrest, public safety

CAF officials are expected to continue monitoring the situation closely but, as of now, remain fully committed to Morocco as the sole host.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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