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.
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has praised Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for what he described as a powerful gesture of unity and reconciliation following the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe expressed deep appreciation on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations, hailing the Moroccan monarch’s decision as a demonstration of football’s ability to foster peace and solidarity across the continent.
“I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president said the pardon reflected Morocco’s enduring commitment to African unity and highlighted football’s growing role as a bridge between nations and cultures.
“CAF has consistently emphasised its commitment to utilise football to contribute to uniting our people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide.”
Motsepe also revealed that during recent visits to both Morocco and Senegal, he had been struck by the deep historical and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
“I was amazed and impressed when I was briefed about the historic and extensive ties between the people of Senegal and Morocco,” he added.
The statement further reinforced Morocco’s rising influence within African football, especially after successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading football destinations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe also extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that the continent’s teams would perform strongly on the global stage.
Among the African nations mentioned were Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Former African champions Algeria and Zambia are set for an early showdown after the release of the Group I fixtures for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria host Zambia on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of the qualifying campaign, while Togo entertain Burundi in the group’s other opening tie.
The Desert Foxes are favourites to qualify, but Zambia’s growing consistency and Togo’s unpredictability could make the race highly competitive.
Algeria travel to Burundi on Matchday Two before facing Togo in back-to-back encounters across Matchdays Three and Four. Zambia also meet Burundi home and away during the same period.
The potentially decisive fixture comes on March 22, 2027, when Zambia host Algeria in a clash that could determine the final standings.
Group I Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Algeria vs Togo
- Zambia vs Burundi
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Togo vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Zambia
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Zambia vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Togo
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Togo vs Zambia
- Algeria vs Burundi
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By Kunle Solaja.
African heavyweights Senegal will launch their quest for another Africa Cup of Nations appearance with a home clash against Mozambique in Group J of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, among the continent’s strongest teams in recent years, headline a group that also includes Sudan and Ethiopia.
Senegal host Mozambique on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Sudan tackle Ethiopia in the other opening encounter.
Senegal are strong favourites to dominate the group, but Sudan and Mozambique are expected to battle fiercely for qualification points.
The key fixtures may emerge in the double-header between Senegal and Sudan across Matchdays Three and Four, while Mozambique and Ethiopia also face each other home and away.
Senegal travel to Mozambique on Matchday Five before ending their campaign at home against Ethiopia on March 30, 2027.
Group J Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Senegal vs Sudan
- Mozambique vs Ethiopia
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Sudan vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Mozambique
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Mozambique vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Sudan
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Sudan vs Mozambique
- Senegal vs Ethiopia
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