The President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, has announced that Morocco will no longer put itself forward as a candidate to host future African football competitions.
“Starting today, Morocco will no longer submit any bids to host African competitions, regardless of their nature. If other countries wish to organize them, we wish them the best,” Lekjaa said in his new interview with Al Jazeera 360 (via Morocco World News).
He dismissed suggestions that Morocco benefits unfairly when it hosts continental tournaments, arguing instead that what some label as “advantages” simply involves taking on events that other nations are unwilling to stage.
The FRMF president also touched on several issues, including the disputed AFCON final against Senegal.
Africa Cup of Nations final was marred by chaotic scenes and accusations exchanged between both camps, with Morocco facing backlash during and after the match held on January 18.
The situation escalated following Senegal’s walk-off, an incident attributed to Pape Thiaw, which disrupted the flow of the final and contributed to widespread disorder involving pitch invasions and vandalism.
Six months after what has been described as one of the most high-profile editions in CAF history, Morocco has now signaled it is stepping back from bidding to host future tournaments on the continent.
Responding to the criticisms raised by Senegal regarding security arrangements during the competition, Lekjaa maintained that no formal complaints were made before the final.
“On the contrary, their federation president even said the stadium was world-class, and everything was perfect,” Lekjaa said.
He further explained that the Senegalese federation had released a statement indicating the team’s arrival time in Rabat, which he said led supporters to gather in large numbers to welcome them.
According to him, this crowd buildup resulted in fans surrounding the team, after which Senegal’s federation raised concerns about insufficient security protection.
Lekjaa insisted that Morocco has since reinforced its security measures across stadiums and host cities to guarantee the safety of players, officials, and supporters.
He also stressed that Morocco’s security arrangements should not be a subject of praise or doubt, noting that the country is already widely recognized internationally for its strong organizational and safety standards.
