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Rabat – Algerian newspaper Echourouk has posted a racially-charged statement on Facebook following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) announcement of the hosts of their upcoming continental tournaments.
CAF announced on Wednesday Morocco as the hosts of the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), a day after Algeria withdrew their own bid to host the continental competition.
Following the announcement, Echourouk’s Facebook page posted a group of renders of planned Algerian stadiums with the caption, “Sorry Africa, our stadiums will not have to deal with your smells.”
The statement predictably prompted outrage, with commenters online and readers condemning the publication for its obviously racist comments.
This prompted the newspaper to seemingly amend their statement in the post’s comments, saying: “Sorry Africa, our stadiums will not have to deal with the smells of CAF officials and those who take dirty bribes.”
Algeria’s Football Federation (FAF) announced on Tuesday the withdrawal of their bid to host the tournament.
On Wednesday, CAF awarded Morocco the right to host the continental tournament in 2025, while the joint bid of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda won the hosting rights for the 2027 edition.
This is not the first time that a prominent Algerian figure or publication accuses CAF of corruption in this matter, with Algerian football commentator Hafid Derradji making a similar accusation last year.
“Before introducing the bids, and before presenting and studying them, as well as voting on them on the 10th of next February, it looks like ‘the circle’ has decided to grant Morocco the 2025 AFCON hosting rights, Nigeria and Benin the 2027 tournament, and Algeria in 2029,” he wrote in December.
Morocco has received praise in the past few years for its ability to organize international sporting events, notably the 2022 Club World Cup and the 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
