Morocco Rules out Future Bids for Hosting CAF Tournaments

Morocco has announced that it will no longer submit bids to host CAF tournaments in the coming years, following months of controversy surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final between Morocco and Senegal.

The statement was confirmed by Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, in remarks reported by the sports website Hesport. 

He said, "Morocco will not submit any further applications to host any African football tournament,” adding that the country wishes success to any nation taking on future hosting duties.

The decision comes after a series of appeals and legal proceedings linked to the 2025 AFCON final, which ultimately saw the Senegal national team declared to have withdrawn from the match. 

The African football governing body’s appeals committee later awarded the title to Morocco, in a ruling that sparked widespread debate and became one of the most controversial episodes in the competition’s history.

Despite the controversy, Morocco’s hosting of the 2025 tournament had previously been praised for its organization, stadium quality, and modern infrastructure. 

However, the events surrounding the final and the legal disputes that followed cast a shadow over the competition and triggered extensive discussion across the continent.

Officials stressed that Morocco’s decision is not linked to its ability or readiness to host major events. 

The country continues to prepare, alongside Spain and Portugal, to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, while also investing heavily in sports infrastructure as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its position as a global hub for major sporting events.