Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Patrice Motsepe, has expressed full confidence that Morocco will successfully host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), despite the wave of anti-government protests currently sweeping through parts of the North African country.
For over a week, thousands of young Moroccans have staged nightly demonstrations against corruption, inequality, and poor public services, calling for deep political and economic reforms. Sunday marked the ninth straight day of protests, with reports of growing unrest in major cities including Rabat and Casablanca.
Speaking at a gathering of African football leaders in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Monday, Motsepe dismissed fears that the political tension could disrupt preparations for the continent’s biggest football event.
“We (CAF) are absolutely confident the AFCON will go ahead as planned. Morocco is plan A, Morocco is plan B, and Morocco is plan C,” the CAF president declared to applause from delegates.
He reaffirmed CAF’s support for Morocco, assuring that the body was working closely with the country’s authorities to deliver a world-class tournament.
“CAF will co-operate and work with the government and all the citizens of Morocco to host the most successful AFCON in history,” Motsepe said.
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The 2025 AFCON is scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, across nine Moroccan cities. Twenty-four national teams from across the continent are expected to participate, including African football powerhouses such as Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, and Morocco itself.
This will be Morocco’s second time hosting the continental championship. The nation first hosted in 1988 and was initially slated to stage the 2015 edition but withdrew due to health concerns over the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Motsepe’s assurance comes amid rising concerns over the safety and logistics of the tournament as protests intensify. However, Moroccan officials have maintained that preparations remain on track and that the venues will be ready well ahead of schedule.
During his speech, Motsepe also addressed CAF’s broader developmental agenda, including the revival of the African Football League (AFL), which was briefly restructured after its debut edition in 2023.
“There are ongoing discussions, and we are happy about the progress made,” he said. “The African Football League is very important, and it will continue.”
Since assuming leadership in 2021 after the suspension of former CAF president Ahmad Ahmad, Motsepe has focused on restoring transparency and financial discipline to African football. Under his administration, CAF reported a net profit of $9.48 million for the 2023–2024 fiscal year and projects a surplus of $28.45 million for the next cycle.
He highlighted that revenues had quadrupled in five years, while funding for national associations and clubs has significantly increased. “We have zero tolerance for bribery and corruption. Every dollar goes into football development,” Motsepe said.
The South African billionaire concluded by reaffirming his vision for a more prosperous and competitive African football ecosystem. “We want to pay players better, support our clubs and national teams, and ensure football grows across Africa,” he said.