CAF ‘absolutely confident’ AFCON will go ahead in protest-hit Morocco

African shot brag Patrice Motsepe said connected Monday helium is “absolutely confident” the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations volition spell up successful Morocco, the country of regular anti-government protests for much than a week.

Young Moroccans took to the streets connected Sunday for a ninth consecutive nighttime of protests, calling for an extremity to corruption and a alteration of government.

The protesters person demanded reforms to societal services, particularly wellness and education, and voiced choler implicit societal inequality.

Morocco is scheduled to signifier the Cup of Nations (AFCON) from December 21 to January 18 astatine 9 venues, with 24 nationalist teams competing successful the premier African shot competition.

Stars similar Egypt and Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah and Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi are among the players acceptable to participate.

Speaking during an yearly gathering of African shot bosses successful Kinshasa, Confederation of African Football president Motsepe said: “We (CAF) are perfectly assured the AFCON volition spell up arsenic planned.

“Morocco is program A, Morocco is program B and Morocco is program C,” helium told his audience, including FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“CAF volition co-operate and enactment with the authorities and each the citizens of Morocco to big the astir palmy AFCON successful history,” said Motsepe, a South African billionaire businessman.

Morocco hosted the 1988 AFCON — past an eight-nation tourney — and withdrew arsenic hosts of the 2015 mentation citing Ebola microorganism fears.

– African Football League ‘important’ –

Motsepe said CAF hoped to revive the African Football League, which was launched amid overmuch hype lone to beryllium discontinued successful 2023 aft 1 radically changed edition.

Instead of 24 entrants, playing a minimum of 14 matches each, and grounds prize wealth for an African nine competition, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa won a watered-down eight-team tournament.

“There are ongoing discussions. We are precise blessed astir the advancement made. The African Football League is precise important and it volition continue,” said Motsepe, without giving details.

Motsepe inherited a CAF heavy successful indebtedness erstwhile helium replaced Ahmed Ahmed successful 2021 aft FIFA banned the Malagasy for breaching codes related to loyalty, maltreatment of presumption and misappropriation of funds.

He rapidly improved the concern and a nett net of $9.48 cardinal for the 2023-24 fiscal twelvemonth was announced successful Kinshasa. CAF foretell determination volition beryllium a surplus of $28.45 cardinal adjacent year.

“We person been enormously palmy successful the past 5 years. Revenues person quadrupled. Zero tolerance of bribery and corruption is important. All the wealth goes into shot development,” said the president.

“What subordinate associations get has doubled. We privation to wage players much and assistance our nationalist teams. Football indispensable make and turn successful Africa.

“We springiness $100,000 to each nine that does not suffice for the radical signifier of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup. It is not enough, but helps with transport and different things.”

The station CAF ‘absolutely confident’ AFCON volition spell up successful protest-hit Morocco appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.