AFCON
Morocco 2025 will be best ever AFCON, says Fouzi Lekjaa
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Morocco.
FIFA Council member, Fouzi Lekjaa who also doubles as the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has promised an excellent service delivery when Morocco hosts the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025.
Morocco was an overwhelming winner of the bidding process that led to the award of the continental premier sports competition earlier in the year.
The intense confidence reposed on Morocco has apparently brought pressure on the Moroccan football federation which has promised not to disappoint.
Just after the CAF Awards on Monday, the FRMF went into its general assembly on Thursday. Lekjaa, who is also a a senior Moroccan civil servant and Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget in the Kingdom of Morocco told the general assembly of FRMF that both the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 World Cup will be of the highest in terms of service delivery.
Delegates at the General Assembly of Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) on Thursday.
He rolled out Morocco’s most notable recent accomplishments in the world of football as well as becoming the ultimate destination for football competitions in Africa. It is however not a bed of roses as Lekjaa outlined the most important challenges awaiting the kingdom in the upcoming years.
The first of the challenges is the construction and renovation of several football stadiums.
During the assembly, Lekjaa urged the presidents of national clubs, regional leagues, and all the actors in the field of football to work on making the 2025 AFCON and the 2030 World Cup successful.
“You are responsible for the success of a historic royal project in the year 2030,” Lekjaa told the officials in question.
He went on to say that before 2030, Morocco will be able to demonstrate its capabilities by hosting the 2025 AFCON, the first time that Morocco organizes such event in 37 years. Morocco last hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1988. Cameroon and Nigeria played the final match.
Therefore, “responsibility has doubled, as we have to prove to the world that we are capable of organizing the World Cup, and that we will organize the best African Cup that the continent has ever seen,” he added.
Additionally, Lekjaa urged the leaders of the regional leagues to facilitate the infusion of fresh talent so that they can contribute additional value in the upcoming years.
In order to achieve more inclusive football success, the president noted that the country must improve football performance within the various leagues, including the women’s and amateur leagues.
“We must balance the reputation of our country with our endeavor to organize the World Cup and major demonstrations successfully, as well as develop our presence at the continental and global levels,” the president concluded.
AFCON
Nigerians, other nationals can apply, as CAF and Morocco Launch Volunteer Programme for AFCON 2025
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Morocco have launched the official Volunteer Programme for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, billed to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
According to CAF, more than 4,000 volunteers will be recruited to play a central role in ensuring the success of Africa’s most prestigious football tournament, which will be staged across six cities and nine stadiums in Morocco.
Applications are now open at volunteers.cafonline.com and will close on 8 October 2025. The opportunity is open to anyone above the age of 18.
Volunteers will be deployed across multiple functional areas, including media operations, spectator services, accreditation, hospitality, and fan engagement. Selected individuals will receive professional training ahead of the competition and work behind the scenes to deliver a memorable AFCON.
CAF stated that the programme is designed not only to support tournament operations but also to create an alumni network of skilled Africans who can contribute to future sporting events across the continent. Successful applicants will benefit from:
- Training and skill development.
- Official uniforms and certificates of participation.
- Networking opportunities with peers and professionals.
- The chance to contribute to Africa’s football legacy.
Volunteer registration opened on 17 September 2025. Selection and training will take place in October and November, with operations commencing in mid-December through to the tournament’s conclusion on 18 January 2026.
CAF described the initiative as an “exciting opportunity” for Africans to contribute to the growth of the continent’s flagship sporting event, which is expected to draw millions of visitors to Morocco.
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AFCON
CAF Security Chief, Nigeria’s Emeruwa, Leads Inspection of Tangier Stadium Ahead of Major Tournaments
Nigeria’s Dr. Christian Emeruwa, President of the Security and Safety Division of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), on Thursday, September 18, led an inspection visit to the Grand Stade de Tangier as preparations intensify for upcoming continental and global football events.
Emeruwa, who heads CAF’s continental security architecture, was joined by CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba, senior Moroccan officials, and executives of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The delegation also included managers of operational companies at the Grand Stade and SONARGES executives.
According to Le 360, the Nigerian official expressed satisfaction with the stadium’s facilities after touring key operational areas, including the main control room with its giant surveillance screen, as well as spectator, player, and VIP access zones.
The inspection was bolstered by the presence of Morocco’s top security and administrative officers—the regional commander of the Royal Gendarmerie, officials of the Auxiliary Forces and Civil Protection, the Wali of Security, the governor in charge of Internal Affairs, and representatives of the National Agency for Public Equipment (ANEP).
A technical meeting followed the tour, where engineers presented recent safety and security upgrades. Among the highlights was the planned installation of a FIFA-standard tarpaulin roof to enhance the venue’s compliance with global hosting requirements.
For Nigeria, the spotlight on Dr. Emeruwa underscores the country’s growing influence in African football administration, particularly in the critical areas of safety and security management for CAF competitions.
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Morocco has received 723 high-end buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong as part of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicks off on December 21.
Yutong said on social media that the fleet “has officially rolled off the production line” and will provide “comprehensive transport services and reliable operational support” during the tournament.
An official handover ceremony was held on Friday at the company’s facility in Zhengzhou, Henan province, attended by Moroccan representatives and Yutong executives.
The buses were designed to cope with Morocco’s terrain and climate, including steep slopes, heat and sandstorms. They feature an independent front axle suspension to navigate narrow city streets and Yutong’s in-house “Blue Core System” for fuel efficiency.
The delivery is the largest single order of Chinese buses in Africa. Yutong will station more than 100 technicians in Morocco to provide training, maintenance and round-the-clock support during AFCON.
The deal is part of Morocco’s broader transport strategy, which includes plans to purchase 7,000 new buses by 2030—half of them electric—as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
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