Morocco has been designated as the host nation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, taking over the hosting rights that were revoked from Guinea last year. Additionally, the hosting rights for the 2027 tournament have been awarded to a joint bid by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Morocco was selected by default after Algeria, Zambia, and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria withdrew their bids before the vote by the Confederation of African Football's executive committee in Cairo on Wednesday. Morocco was the clear favorite and sees this decision as a boost to their aspirations of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain.
The joint East African bid for the 2027 tournament was a surprise winner, marking the return of the finals to the region for the first time since 1976. They triumphed over competing bids from Botswana, Egypt, and Senegal, with Algeria also withdrawing its bid.
Kenya had previously been awarded the hosting rights for the 1996 edition but was stripped due to inadequate preparations. The country recently had a FIFA ban, imposed for government interference in the administration of its football federation, lifted.
"The tournament has to be spread around the regions and contribute to the development of football," said CAF president Patrice Motsepe.
The 2025 finals will mark only the second time that Morocco has hosted Africa's most popular sporting event, the first time being in 1988, almost four decades ago.
