Morocco will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has announced.
A joint East African bid from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania has also won the rights to hold the 2027 tournament.
Morocco replace Guinea, who were stripped of the tournament in October last year because of concerns about infrastructure and facilities.
Zambia and a joint Nigeria-Benin bid were also in the running for 2025. But they agreed to withdraw in order to allow Morocco to prove its worth in the hope it will increase the chances of Africa hosting the World Cup.
Morocco is jointly bidding for the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
Patrice Motsepe, president of organisers CAF, said all of the options for both tournaments would have made Africa “proud”.
He added the decisions had been based on the level of infrastructure made available by bids, including facilities, accommodation and hospitals.
“The decision that was taken today was to focus on African unity, development and growth, in the context of those countries withdrawing,” Motsepe said of Morocco’s success, which also came after Algeria withdrew on the eve of the vote.
“A huge amount of money is being spent on Morocco for 2025. The bid from Morocco to host the World Cup is not just for Morocco, but for the whole of Africa.”
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania’s selection represents the first time nations from the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) will stage the tournament since Ethiopia in 1976.
Source:BBC
