The Moroccan Football Federation has no intention of stepping in to “save” the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as the race to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations gathers pace, amid growing concern inside the continent’s governing body.
CAF’s current dilemma has been deepened by the impact of Morocco’s “World Cup-level” organisational standards, which have raised the bar and, at the same time, frightened off several potential AFCON 2028 candidates who fear they cannot match what Morocco has delivered in recent tournaments and what it is preparing for the 2030 World Cup.
Within CAF, there is increasing anxiety that the list of credible bids for 2028 could shrink, leaving the confederation under pressure to find a host that can guarantee infrastructure, logistics and commercial success on the scale modern tournaments now demand.
However, Morocco has signalled it will not play the role of the “rescuer” this time, after what the article revealed were “stabs of betrayal” in previous dealings, a reference to past episodes that left Rabat unwilling to shoulder responsibility whenever CAF faces a hosting crisis.
The stance comes despite Morocco’s proven track record in staging major events and its reputation for delivering top-class organisation, which many in African football now see as the benchmark for future AFCON editions.
With CAF still weighing the next steps for AFCON 2028, Morocco’s refusal to step in under pressure adds another layer to the uncertainty around who will ultimately be able to meet the required standards and secure the tournament.
