Moroccan Football President: “We Changed the Face of AFCON”

Moroccan Football President: “We Changed the Face of AFCON”

Sampson Adedeji

The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekja, has claimed that Morocco transformed the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) with its hosting of the 2025 tournament, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Lekja highlighted several innovations in this edition of AFCON, which was staged across nine stadiums with a new format: for the first time, only one match was played per stadium on matchdays, compared to the traditional doubleheaders.

 He also praised the quality of the infrastructure, the condition of the pitches, and the robust security and hosting arrangements. 

Notably, Morocco facilitated easier access for visitors through measures such as free visas for many African nations and the introduction of electronic visa systems.

Economically, Lekja said the tournament marked a turning point. 

“According to official CAF financial data, the net revenue for this edition exceeded $300 million,” he noted, comparing it to approximately $5 million in Cameroon and $80 million in Côte d’Ivoire in the previous two editions.

Lekja concluded: “With modesty but objectivity, we can say the Africa Cup of Nations has changed in dimension, rhythm, and level.”