Lekjaa hails ‘new dimension’ of AFCON 2025 as Morocco football chief highlights record revenue and infrastructure leap

Morocco’s football leadership has pointed to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as a turning point in the competition’s modern history, with the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, describing the tournament as part of a long-term continental project extending to 2030.

In an interview with French publication Onze Mondial, Lekjaa outlined what he believes sets the 2025 edition of the tournament apart, stressing that changes in organisation, infrastructure, and financial performance marked a significant shift in African football’s flagship competition.

He noted that the tournament was staged across nine stadiums and introduced an unusual format in which only one match was played per venue, a departure from previous editions where double-headers were common.

According to him, this structural adjustment was matched by strong standards in infrastructure and pitch quality, which he described as “exceptional,” alongside what he presented as improved hosting and security arrangements across the host nation.

Lekjaa also highlighted administrative reforms aimed at easing travel and participation across the continent, including simplified entry procedures and the introduction of electronic visa systems, with free visas reportedly granted to citizens of several African countries.

Economically, he described the 2025 tournament as a watershed moment. Citing official figures from the Confederation of African Football, Lekjaa said net revenue from the competition exceeded $300 million.

He contrasted that performance with previous editions, pointing to far lower figures—approximately $5 million in Cameroon and around $80 million in Côte d’Ivoire—arguing that the competition has undergone a dramatic financial transformation.

“I am only repeating official figures here. I am not inventing anything; I am simply reading them,” he said, adding that the tournament had evolved “in dimension, rhythm, and level.”

The remarks, originally published in Onze Mondial, reflect growing claims from Moroccan football authorities that AFCON is entering a new era of commercial strength and organisational scale, with the country positioning itself as a central player in the competition’s future development.