AFCON-2025: The Gambia Welcomes Morocco’s Successful Bid

2023-10-02

Banjul – The Gambia has welcomed the success of the Kingdom of Morocco’s bid to host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON-2025).

The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) has congratulated the Kingdom of Morocco on winning the bid to host AFCON-2025, reported the Gambian media outlet “The Standard.”

The decision was announced on Wednesday by the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the Executive Committee of the continental football governing body voted in favor of the North African country during its meeting held in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, recalled the media outlet.

GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo described the news as a very positive and well-deserved development, according to the publication. He added that with its high-quality infrastructure, no country was more deserving of hosting the 2025 edition.

Bajo paid tribute to Morocco’s pan-African gesture, which has continued to open its country and facilities to African national teams, including The Gambia, for many years, the same source added.

“Morocco’s various national teams continue to perform exceptionally well at international football tournaments, most recently the Atlas Lions, who became the first African country to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar. This is the result of the investments they have made over the years and continue to make,” highlighted Bajo.

He also referred to the bilateral cooperation between Morocco and Gambia, among others, in Africa, saying it’s time the continent also gave the Moroccan people reasons to smile.

“I have no doubt that they will organize an exceptional and extraordinary football mega-event,” Bajo said, quoted by the media.

Morocco has been awarded the 2025 African Cup of Nations to replace Guinea, which had the right to host the tournament withdrawn last year. The rights for 2027 have also been awarded to a joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

MAP

Women’s AFCON: Jorge Vilda Promises Players Will Fight ‘Until the Very End’ to Make Moroccans Proud

Morocco women’s national football team head coach Jorge Vilda said his players will approach the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off on Sunday, with total determination and a clear desire to live up to the expectations of Moroccan fans.

“Our Lionesses will give everything on the pitch. They will fight until the very end with commitment and determination. No one will be able to question their dedication. We will do everything possible to make Moroccans proud of their national team,” he told MAP on the eve of the tournament, which runs through August 16 in Rabat and Casablanca.

The Spanish coach said this edition of the Women’s AFCON carries added significance as it also serves as a pathway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, to be held in Brazil next summer.

The objective is to reach the semifinals to secure direct qualification for the World Cup. “After that, we’ll see how far we can go,” he said, while stressing the importance of staying focused on Morocco’s opening match against Kenya and taking the tournament “step by step.”

After three seasons in charge of the Atlas Lionesses, Vilda believes the national team has reached a new level. More than 100 players have been assessed during FIFA international windows and training camps before narrowing the squad down to 26 internationals.

According to Vilda, this process has gradually expanded Morocco’s talent pool while increasing competition for places within the team.

The former Spain coach said his work has focused on strengthening the team’s defensive organization while enhancing its attacking capabilities to produce a more attractive and creative style of football.

Beyond tactics, he stressed the importance of mindset, competitiveness and commitment, which he considers the foundations of the team’s progress in recent years.

Playing on home soil is not an added source of pressure but rather a powerful motivation, Vilda added.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning coach with Spain said the high expectations of Moroccan supporters reflect the confidence they have in the team.

He welcomed the opportunity to play in front of home fans, whom the Atlas Lionesses are eager to reward with performances that match the country’s ambitions.

Morocco will compete in Group A of the Women’s AFCON alongside Senegal, Algeria and Kenya.

Motsepe Describes AFCON Morocco 2025 as Most Successful in History

The President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, stated on Thursday that the final phase of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 was the most successful in the competition’s history, stressing that the achievements of this edition reflect the standing African football now holds on the international stage.

Speaking to the press upon his arrival at Rabat-Salé Airport as part of a visit to Morocco, Motsepe said that this edition achieved unprecedented success at all levels, whether in terms of organization, visibility, or audience.

In this regard, he added that Africa’s premier continental competition has once again demonstrated its ability to rise to the level of the world’s biggest football events.

However, the CAF President expressed regret over what occurred during the tournament’s final, noting that the African body has begun introducing amendments to its statutes and regulations, as well as to the specific rules of the Africa Cup of Nations, in order to address the shortcomings observed and strengthen the credibility of African competitions.

He added that these amendments aim in particular to ensure that sanctions are proportionate to certain violations, reflecting CAF’s determination to enforce respect for its rules and to enhance the image of African football as a respected and competitive sport on the global stage.

Motsepe also stressed that CAF places particular importance on strengthening trust in refereeing systems and judicial bodies, underlining that the Confederation is committed to pursuing the necessary reforms to consolidate these institutions and build on the achievements of recent years.

2025 AFCON Final Incidents: CAF Respects Appeal Board’s Decision, Motsepe Says

The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, stated on Sunday in Cairo that the body respects the decision of its Appeal Board regarding the incidents that marked the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON Morocco 2025).

“As CAF President, I respect the decision rendered by the Appeal Board,” Motsepe emphasized during a press conference held following the CAF Executive Committee meeting.

He furthermore indicated that the case relating to the 2025 AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal is now in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), emphasizing that CAF will make no further comments pending the final ruling.

In this regard, Motsepe stressed that respect for CAS decisions is a fundamental principle of governance within CAF, affirming that the body will continue its ordinary activities until a final decision is reached.

Likewise, the CAF President reaffirmed his commitment to treating all 54 member associations with equality and fairness.

He also announced the adoption of amendments to the CAF statutes to prevent a repeat of the incidents that marred the final of the last edition of the AFCON, stating that major reforms will be introduced, particularly regarding match organization and refereeing.

These amendments, he added, aim to strengthen confidence in referees, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) operators, match commissioners, as well as disciplinary and appeal bodies.

CAF Appeal Board: Britain’s The Sun Hails ‘Remarkable Ruling’

British daily The Sun on Tuesday evening described as “remarkable” the decision by the Appeal Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to declare Morocco the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, held the Kingdom from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

“In a remarkable ruling,” African football’s governing bodies upheld the appeal filed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), finding that the withdrawal of Senegalese players during the final against Morocco constituted a violation of the rules of the game, the British newspaper reported.

The paper noted that through this decision, CAF has ruled in favor of the Moroccan national team.

The CAF Appeal Board decided, in accordance with Article 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, to declare Senegal’s national team as having forfeited the final of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, with the result of the match being recorded as a 3-0 in favor of the FRMF.

The Board issued its ruling following the appeal lodged by the FRMF regarding the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, CAF said in a statement.

Under High Instructions of HM the King, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid Receives National Football Team Members, Runners-Up of AFCON Morocco-2025

Under the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid received on Monday at the Royal Guests Palace in Rabat the members of the National Football Team, finalists of the Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco-2025).

On this occasion, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid was greeted by the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, the National Team coach, Walid Regragui, and the members of the National Team, before posing for a commemorative photo.

This reception reflects the High Benevolence with which His Majesty the King, may God assist Him, has continually surrounded the youth and supported their development through sports, and the particular interest the Sovereign attaches to this sector in general, and to football in particular.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, sent, immediately after the end of the final match between the national team and its Senegalese counterpart, a message of congratulations to the members of the National Team. In this message, the Sovereign emphasized that, “through this distinguished campaign, you have demonstrated that perseverance, dedication, and team spirit are the keys to achieving excellence” and “also shown the world what Moroccan and African youth can accomplish when they believe in their talents and abilities”.

“You also proved, through determination and your heroic and honorable performance, the importance of my strategic vision to invest in human capital and modernize the Kingdom’s infrastructure, which demonstrated their resilience and their world-class level of preparation ahead of the organization of the 2030 World Cup,” HM the King stated in His message.

Four Moroccan Players in AFCON-2025 Best XI

Four Moroccan players feature in the Best XI for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, held from December 21 to January 18, as announced on Wednesday by the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG).

They are goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who “delivered an outstanding campaign, conceding just two goals in seven matches,” and his teammates Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, and Brahim Diaz, who finished as the tournament’s top scorer, according to a press release from the African body.

The list is completed by four players from Senegal, namely Moussa Niakhaté, Pape Gueye, Idrissa Gueye, and Sadio Mané, in addition to Nigerians Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Osimhen.

The tournament’s Team of the Tournament was selected by the CAF TSG, which implemented a fully integrated evaluation model, initially remotely and then on-site throughout the competition, supported by live data platforms, multi-angle video feeds, and dedicated video analysts.

Tuesday 28 July 2026