CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe says African football is currently experiencing a golden period, citing Morocco’s performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as clear evidence of the continent’s continued progress on the global stage.
Morocco became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, a feat Motsepe described as a reflection of growing quality and competitiveness across African football.
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Quarter Final – Morocco v Portugal – Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar – December 10, 2022 Morocco’s Achraf Dari and Morocco’s Walid Cheddira celebrate after the match as Morocco progress to the semi finals REUTERS/Carl Recine
Dr Motsepe delivered his remarks during the media launch of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, held at SuperSport on Thursday. He highlighted that the upcoming tournament will play an important role in further elevating African football, both on the field and in broader development areas.
And we are now in what we call the golden period, the revolution that’s taking place in African football.
One of the most magnificent manifestations of that growth in African football is morocco qualifying for the semifinals in Qatar, because we know that African football is world-class, but we also recognize that at the highest level in the world, we have to compete against the best in the world and win.
We’ve proven it in the past and the Afcon that’s taking place in morocco is an important building block. he said
CAF has emphasized that the event will be used as a platform to strengthen football structures, expand youth development pathways and create long-term investment opportunities across the continent.
As preparations progress, the focus remains on delivering a world-class tournament that builds on Africa’s growing influence in international football.
We’ve always emphasized that we will invest in our youth, because they will see with the hundreds of millions of football lovers and those who will be watching the games on TV.
In Cote D’ivoire, we had 1.5 billion people worldwide in approximately 180 countries watching the Afcon.
And we expect that this is going to be a celebration of the best quality football, not just in the African continent, but worldwide, the Afcon in morocco but it’s also a celebration of diaspora. he added
The 2025 edition of AFCON will be hosted in Morocco and is scheduled to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
A total of 24 national teams will compete for the continental title, with the tournament expected to draw significant global attention during a period usually reserved for major club football.
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