AFCON
Morocco savours the sweetness of victory in AFCON 2025 bid
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The kingdom of Morocco is relishing the sweetness of winning the bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations which is most likely be the first to fall in line with the often disrupted calendar that CAF set in 2012 which set the continental competition to hold on the odd numbered year.
Since then, the Africa Cup of Nations has for 10 years suffered either a shift in timing or change of hosts.
The 2013 edition which originally was allocated to Libya had to move to South Africa. The same applied to the 2019 which moved from Cameroon to Egypt and the 2021 moved from Cote d’Ivoire to Cameroon and hosting the following year.
The 2023 allocated to Cote d’Ivoire also has to move to 2014. The sound organisational ability of Morocco coupled with good facilities looked set to restore dignity to the Africa Cup of Nations.
It was therefore not surprising that the 22-man CAF Committee overwhelmingly acclaimed Morocco.
Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), has emphasized the uniqueness of the unanimous decision . He called it “ a culmination of development spearheaded by His Majesty King Mohammed VI over the past two decades across various domains.
Lekjaa also underlined that the choice of Morocco also underscores the country’s readiness to host major sporting events under optimal conditions.
“Today, Morocco, with unanimous African approval and without any debate, has the honour of hosting the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. It is the crowning achievement of extraordinary work led by a Great King. It is also the finest reward for a football-loving nation,” he said.
He went on to state that hosting 2025 AFCON in Morocco is the first step, to be followed by another significant endeavour: bidding to host the 2030 World Cup jointly with Spain and Portugal.
In this regard, Lekjaa stressed that the Kingdom will transform this event into a “rebirth of Mediterranean civilization between the north and south of the Mediterranean,” noting that the African continent will rally behind Morocco to achieve this goal, which is also an African aspiration.
For his part, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, congratulated Morocco on its nomination to host the 2025 AFCON.
“I’m proud of Morocco,” said Motseppe, expressing his admiration for the Kingdom’s potential for organizing major sporting events.
Last February, Morocco welcomed several African journalists on a “media tour” to highlight its infrastructure and organizational capabilities to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The tour primarily served to demonstrate that Morocco satisfies all CAF standards in terms of stadiums, training grounds, accommodations, and health infrastructure to host the African football event.
Excellent sporting facilities dot the kingdom from Rabat to Casablanca, Fez, Tangier, Marrakesh and Agadir among others. Morocco has the honour to have hosted the Club World Cup thrice in 2013, 2014 and 2023.
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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