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.
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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