Scandal Unfolds: CAF Considers Stripping Morocco of AFCON Hosting Rights

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Fouzi Lekjaa Faces Unprecedented Backlash Amid Infrastructure Failures and Media Suppression

Algiers, Algeria | February 18th, 2025 — In a dramatic turn of events, sources have revealed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is seriously considering withdrawing the hosting rights of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from Morocco. The North African country, which had promised world-class infrastructure for the continental tournament, is now facing mounting scrutiny over its lack of readiness, with shocking revelations exposing the dire state of its stadiums and facilities.

A Web of Deception Unraveled

Dzair Tube sources indicate that CAF officials are increasingly disillusioned by the fabricated narrative presented by Moroccan authorities regarding their preparedness for AFCON. The reality on the ground stands in stark contrast to the image painted by Fouzi Lekjaa and the Moroccan Football Federation, with live footage and eyewitness accounts exposing the alarming state of stadiums that were supposedly up to international standards.

The situation has reached a critical juncture, as CAF’s executive committee now grapples with the implications of entrusting such a high-profile tournament to a host nation whose facilities fall far below the required level. With less than ten months remaining before the competition kicks off, the possibility of relocating the tournament has become an urgent topic of discussion.

Repression to Conceal the Truth

In a move that has further intensified the controversy, Moroccan authorities have arrested a local journalist who exposed the country’s failing infrastructure. The journalist, who had shared footage of Morocco’s substandard stadiums, was targeted in what is widely seen as an attempt to suppress dissent and prevent the global football community from witnessing the unfolding debacle.

This act of repression has sparked outrage among media professionals and football stakeholders, who view it as a desperate attempt by Moroccan officials to contain a scandal that threatens to deal a severe blow to the country’s reputation on the international stage. The crackdown on independent journalism, coupled with Morocco’s failure to meet CAF’s hosting standards, has raised serious concerns about transparency and credibility in the handling of the AFCON preparations.

The Looming Fallout for Fouzi Lekjaa

Fouzi Lekjaa, the embattled president of the Moroccan Football Federation, is now at the center of a crisis that could not only cost Morocco the AFCON hosting rights but also damage his own standing within the CAF hierarchy. His assurances that Morocco was fully prepared for the tournament have been thoroughly discredited, and insiders suggest that his influence within CAF is rapidly diminishing.

With CAF under immense pressure to ensure that the AFCON is hosted in a country capable of delivering a seamless and world-class tournament, the likelihood of stripping Morocco of its hosting rights is growing stronger by the hour. The coming days are expected to be decisive, as African football’s governing body weighs its next move amid a scandal that has already sent shockwaves across the continent.

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