By Boris Esono
Football Writer, kick442.com-Cameroon
The president of the Confederation of African Football, Dr Patrice Motsepe has commended Morocco’s preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies AFCON 2025, promising to be the most exciting in the competition’s history. Dr Motsepe was speaking in Rabat, ahead of the draws set for Monday, January 27 at 6 pm local time.
“Let me start by saying what I always say, it’s always special for me to be back home. Morocco and the people of Morocco have a very special place in my heart,” CAF President Motsepe said. “I want to thank my brother Fouzi for the leadership, and excellent work in building football in Morocco for the benefit of the people of Morocco, but also for the benefit of the people of Africa.”
Motsepe emphasized the vital role Morocco plays in elevating African football. “When Morocco does well and when every African nation, whether it’s Nigeria or Egypt, and all the others, when they do well, they make us proud,” Motsepe said.
“I also want to thank His Majesty, King Mohammed VI. May God assist him with his support. For his love for football, for his support for my brother Fouzi and the Football Federation, and also for his help for football in Africa. We appreciate it a lot. I want to thank the Prime Minister, the government of Morocco and the people of Morocco.”
The excitement for AFCON 2025 is palpable, with Motsepe describing Morocco as the perfect host. Motsepe said: “I think (today’s draw) is going to be exciting. Everybody wants to know who Morocco is going to play against. And it is going to be the most successful, the most exciting Afcon Khan in the history of this competition. We could not have found a better place. This is the most exciting venue with the most passionate people in Morocco and the most passionate people in Africa.”
Morocco, known for its rich football culture and world-class infrastructure, has been preparing untiringly for the tournament. The country’s recent success on the international stage, including its historic run to the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinals, has solidified its position as a powerhouse in African football.
The Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco is the venue for the draws that will involve the 24 qualified teams divided into six groups of four, with the top two in each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advancing to the round of 16. Morocco automatically occupies position A1 as hosts, while the rest of the teams are seeded based on their FIFA rankings.
The various pots include:
Pot 1: Morocco (hosts), Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire (defending champions)
Pot 2: Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, Burkina Faso
Pot 3: Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Benin
Pot 4: Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana
The 2025 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
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