Morocco will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), organisers the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has announced.
A joint East African bid from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania won the right to hold the 2027 tournament.
Morocco replace Guinea, after the country was 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 agreed to withdraw in order to allow Morocco to prove its worth as a host nation in the hope that it will increase the chances of Africa hosting the World Cup.
Morocco is jointly bidding for the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
Caf president Patrice Motsepe said all of the options for both tournaments would have made Africa “proud” and said 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 win, 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) have hosted the tournament since Ethiopia in 1976.
“The three nations came together because our standards and requirements are very high,” said Motsepe, likening expectations for the organisation of tournaments to those held by European administrative body Uefa and the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol).
“Sometimes it requires hundreds of millions – sometimes billions – in infrastructure. It makes me proud when football brings countries together. Afcon 2027 is going to be a huge success.”
The next tournament will take place in Ivory Coast from 13 January until 11 February 2024. The draw will take place in Abidjan on 12 October at 1900 GMT.
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