Morocco’s AFCON 2025 generated $1.8bn economic impact – CAF boss Patrice Motsepe

CAF president Patrice Motsepe says Morocco’s hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations generated an estimated $1.8 billion economic impact for the country.

Motsepe disclosed the figure while speaking in Tanzania during a CAF delegation visit to assess preparations for the 2027 AFCON.

Morocco hosted the tournament between December 2025 and January 2026, with Motsepe citing an assessment by global research and data company Nielsen on its economic impact.

“When they did an assessment of the impact on the Moroccan economy of the AFCON 2025, 2026, their assessment was that the economy of Morocco benefited to the value of $1.8 billion,” Motsepe said.

“$1.8 billion from the AFCON that took place in Morocco in December last year and in January this year.”

Motsepe used Morocco’s experience to highlight the potential economic and developmental benefits of hosting the continental tournament.

He said AFCON should be seen as more than a football competition, arguing that it provides host countries with an opportunity to improve infrastructure that can benefit local communities long after the tournament.

“The AFCON is about a celebration of the enormous talent that we have on the continent and to show the rest of the continent the exceptional talent in Tanzania, in Kenya, in Uganda and on the African continent,” he said.

“But it’s also about building football infrastructure, making sure that our stadiums are world-class and the stadiums will be here to serve our people many years after the AFCON.

“The football pitches, the hotels, the hospitals, the transport.”

Motsepe also pointed to the tournament’s potential to boost tourism, create jobs and attract investment, while promoting greater integration among the three East African host nations.

He said the 2027 tournament should help demonstrate the benefits of using football as a driver of economic development and regional cooperation.

“The AFCON is also about uniting our people, uniting East Africa and making sure that we show the best of African football but also the best of unity, economic development, growth, job creation, investment through football,” he added.

Motsepe is currently in Tanzania as part of CAF’s assessment of preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

CAF has deployed teams of experts across the three countries to assess stadiums, training facilities, pitches, accommodation, transport and other infrastructure ahead of the tournament.