“CAF” reveals the identity of the hosts for the 2025 and 2027 editions amidst reports of Algeria's withdrawal

The African Football Confederation (CAF) will announce on Wednesday in Cairo the two host countries for the 2025 and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, amid reports of Algeria withdrawing its bids.

Algeria is competing with Morocco and a joint bid from Nigeria and Benin for the 2025 edition, and with Senegal, Botswana, and a triple joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda for the 2027 edition.

Recent hours have seen rumors about Algeria withdrawing its bids for the 2025 and 2027 editions, including reports from local newspapers, with no official announcement from the Algerian Football Federation.

A source from the African Confederation told AFP that CAF has not received any communications from its Algerian counterpart regarding withdrawal from the competition to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations so far.

The CAF Executive Committee will hold a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday, followed by a press conference where its president, South African Patrice Motsepe, will announce the identities of the two host countries for the 2025 and 2027 editions.

No communications

The source confirmed that “as of Tuesday afternoon, the federation had not received any communications from the Algerian federation regarding this matter,” adding “if any official communications are received, they will be directed to the Executive Committee, which alone has the authority in the organization of the Africa Cup of Nations.”

Regarding the rumors about the Executive Committee's intention to announce the identities of the hosts for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, 2027, and 2029 all at once, the source said, “This matter pertains to the Executive Committee, and if its members see fit to include the announcement of the host country for the 2029 edition in the Wednesday meeting, it is the legitimate right of the Executive Committee and its members.”

The African Confederation previously withdrew hosting the 2025 edition from Guinea in October due to delays in completing the host facilities for the tournament. Since then, the African Confederation has received hosting bids without determining the identity of the host country, before Motsepe announced last month that the reveal of the host country would take place on September 27, with confirmation that the assignment of hosting the 2027 edition would be decided on the same day.

Both Morocco and Algeria, along with a joint bid from Nigeria and Benin, submitted requests to host the 2025 edition of the largest African tournament for national teams, which features 24 teams.

Later, sources within the African Confederation revealed that Algeria would focus its efforts on hosting the 2027 edition, competing against bids from Senegal and Botswana, and a joint bid from East African trio Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the existence of an Egyptian bid for hosting the 2027 edition, with some sources confirming it, while officials from the Egyptian Football Federation denied it.

Morocco and Algeria are likely to be chosen to host the 2025 and 2027 editions respectively.

The African Confederation was supposed to determine the identities of the host countries at the beginning of this year, but it postponed its decision multiple times before finalizing it for the 27th of this month.

A senior CAF official stated to AFP that “the host countries will definitely be named on September 27.”

The 24 members of the Executive Committee will vote after reviewing the independent assessments of each bid, but politics and the promise of regional rotation have complicated matters.

The relationship between the neighboring countries Morocco and Algeria has been tense for decades due to the dispute over Western Sahara, and it has intensified in the last two years following Algeria's decision to sever official relations with Rabat, accusing it of “hostile acts... since Algeria's independence” in 1962. For its part, Morocco expressed regret over Algeria's decision and rejected “its false justifications.”

The prohibition of Moroccan planes flying over Algeria led to the withdrawal of the Atlas Lions from the African Cup of Nations for local players at the beginning of this year.

Morocco requested to fly directly to Algeria via the local airline, the official sponsor of the team, but its request was denied by Algeria, leading to its withdrawal from the tournament where it was strongly favored to win the third title in a row.

Both countries have excellent stadiums and infrastructure, along with passionate football fans, and they are both capable of hosting a world-class continental event.

Côte d'Ivoire will host the 2023 edition, which has been postponed from June and July to January and February to avoid the rainy season.