Morocco has made significant progress in its bid to host the 2025 AFCON finals after passing the stringent FIFA requirements for hosting an extended, restructured FIFA World Cup.
In the stringent FIFA prerequisite criteria requirements on sports, hotels, health, and infrastructural facilities that make a country eligible to host the FIFA World Cup under its revised version of an increase from 32 to 48 teams, the North African nation became the only nation on Wednesday to successfully get the go-ahead.
They were successfully selected by the continental body CAF and are now subject to a vote during a conference set for February 10.
The other contenders for the same event are South Africa, Nigeria and Benin (joint bid), Algeria, and Zambia.
Inevitably, Nigeria and Benin might be out of the running, given the fact that the 2023 Afcon finals will be hosted by Ivory Coast early next January.
Algeria, who hosted the just concluded African Nations Championship (Chan) finals might have used the tournament as a new negotiating chip to reinforce their bid to host the 2025 edition. Qualifiers for the tournament begin once the host is confirmed, and fans around Africa can register and place their bets with 1xbet with their generous welcome bonuses in 2023 and beyond.
Then, 2012 winners Zambia are hoping to host Afcon for the first time and are backed up by recently hosting the 2017 U20 Afcon finals.
South Africa meanwhile held Afcon a decade ago, three years after organizing a successful Fifa World Cup.
Of course, the dominating tournament has been marred by Morocco’s reluctance to play despite winning the past two CHAN editions on home soil in 2018 and Cameroon two years later.
Morocco pulled out of the Chan 2022, citing political heat with Algeria after the latter barred its airspace to Moroccan aircraft and services.
The two North African countries now square off in search of the Afcon 2025, but Lekjaa is confident of gaining the rights. Morocco has not hosted Afcon since 1988, whereas Algeria organized the tournament in 1990.
Lekjaa’s candidacy is bolstered by a recent surge in infrastructure as the country, going by their 2014 plan, currently boasts more than 200 synthetic turf fields, 20 stadiums with natural grass and lighting, five regional training centers, and the iconic Mohammed VI Football Complex.
This is not the first time that Morocco has received praise. In 2018, a Task Force of hundreds of specialists traveled around the country for many months before deciding that Morocco received an above-average rating, making the Kingdom’s candidacy for the 2026 World Cup eligible.
After Liberia President George Weah spearheaded vociferous requests from African luminaries for Morocco to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, the news was announced just a few days later.
The 1995 Ballon d’Or winner, still the only African to have ever won the title of the greatest player in the world, is a huge supporter of Morocco’s substantial financial commitment to the sport.
President Weah said in an official statement that Liberia wholeheartedly supports Morocco’s ambition to host the 2025 African Cup of Nations.
The 56-year-old added that Morocco is a shining example on and off the field. During his 18-year illustrious career, he played for prominent European teams, including Monaco, AC Milan, and Chelsea.
