Morocco’s ambitions to host the Africa Cup of Nations twice within three years could face a major setback, as reports suggest the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is contemplating cancelling the 2028 edition of the tournament.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe had previously announced that, starting in 2028, the continental tournament would be held every four years instead of every two. The 2027 edition is set to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, with Motsepe explaining that the shift would allow more African countries to invest in infrastructure and develop their facilities.
Despite these plans, Ghanaian journalist Mickey Junior reported that CAF has received three official bids to host the 2028 edition: Morocco, Ethiopia, and a joint bid from South Africa and Botswana. Morocco, which hosted the 2025 tournament won by Senegal, was widely expected to be a strong candidate.
However, The Guardian has revealed that CAF is reportedly considering scrapping the 2028 AFCON entirely. The newspaper highlighted concerns over the readiness of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to host a 24-team tournament across 10 cities, citing infrastructure challenges, security issues, and difficulties with ticketing during the recent African Nations Championship (CHAN) in the region. The scheduling of qualifiers is also proving complicated due to the possibility of 10 African teams competing in this summer’s World Cup.
The CAF Executive Committee is scheduled to discuss the proposal at a meeting in Dar es Salaam on Friday. The potential withdrawal of Morocco from hosting the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations next month is also expected to be addressed.
If CAF proceeds with the cancellation, Morocco’s hopes of hosting AFCON twice in three years would be dashed, coming on the heels of administrative sanctions imposed on the country following controversies in the 2025 final against Senegal.
The potential cancellation is reportedly linked to CAF’s broader plans to launch the first African Nations League in 2029, which could replace both the AFCON and the African Nations Championship for local players, creating a significant new revenue stream for the confederation.
Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, set to begin on March 17. South Africa has indicated readiness to step in as host if Morocco is unable to organise the tournament. Neither CAF nor the Moroccan Football Federation has confirmed a relocation, but a final decision is expected during Friday’s Executive Committee meeting.
