The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Morocco is the best edition in the history of the competition, according to CAF President Patrice Motsepe. Speaking on Saturday in Rabat, on the eve of the final between Morocco and Senegal, Motsepe praised the Kingdom’s infrastructure, organization and long-term vision for African football.
World-class infrastructure and organization
In terms of infrastructure, transport, hotels, stadiums and training facilities, AFCON Morocco 2025 stands above all previous editions, Patrice Motsepe stated during a press conference. He highlighted the overall quality of facilities provided to teams, officials and fans throughout the tournament.
The CAF President took the opportunity to express his sincere gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Moroccan government and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation for their commitment and leadership in delivering an exceptional tournament.
Infrastructure as the foundation of African football development
Motsepe emphasized that infrastructure development is a fundamental requirement for the growth of football across the continent. “African football must be the best in the world. We must compete at the highest level,” he said.
He expressed his ambition for all five African regions to be capable of hosting the Africa Cup of Nations, provided they meet the required standards. “My wish is to establish strong foundations for the development of African football that will bear fruit in the years to come,” Motsepe added.
The African Nations League announced for 2029
The CAF President also confirmed that the African Nations League will be launched in 2029, with the participation of all 54 CAF member associations. Announced in December in Rabat, the competition will take place during the FIFA international window, ensuring the presence of the best African players.
Motsepe illustrated the potential appeal of the tournament by citing high-profile matchups such as Kenya vs Tanzania, Ghana vs Nigeria, Egypt vs Morocco, and Côte d’Ivoire vs Cameroon. The competition will follow a zonal format, with zone winners competing for the continental title.
CAF’s independence and future competitions
Patrice Motsepe also revealed that several countries are interested in hosting AFCON 2028 and the African Nations League in 2029. He reiterated his support for holding the Africa Cup of Nations every four years, describing the decision as carefully considered and in the best interest of African football.
“We must free ourselves as Africans and not believe that every decision we make is dictated by FIFA or Europe,” Motsepe insisted, underlining CAF’s independence. Regarding refereeing performances at AFCON 2025, he reaffirmed CAF’s confidence in African referees, stressing that all 54 member nations must be treated equally.
