CAF President Defends Morocco Hosting African Football Events

Fez – The President of the African Football Confederation (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has defended the African confederation’s decision to choose Morocco as the host country for many CAF events, including the African Champions League final, the CAF Awards, and the 2022 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Speaking at the South African National Editors’ Forum held on Saturday in Parktown, Johannesburg, Motsepe stressed that, as well as the much-needed government support, Morocco meets all the necessary standards and criteria to host world-class events.

“There are many countries who want to compete for hosting of CAF events but you can’t compete without the government support,” said Motsepe.

The president of Africa’s football governing body also refuted the favoritism allegations about the confederation’s choice of Morocco as a destination for CAF events over other countries. “No country, club, or nation is going to enjoy preferred status” during his presidency, Motsepe emphasized.

CAF’s decision to host the African Champions League final between Morocco’s Wydad AC and Egypt’s Al Ahly earlier this year in Casablanca irked many, most notably Al Ahly’s leadership and other influential Egyptian football figures who urged the Cairo-based club to withdraw from the competition.

In May, BeIN Sports’ famous football analyst and former Egyptian center-forward Mohamed Aboutrika called on Al Ahly to withdraw from the final due to “injustice” from CAF.

“I’d wish Al Ahly’s managing board to withdraw from this competition and keep its reputation intact against CAF injustice. I’m sorry to speak publicly but I had no other choice. Good luck to our beloved club,” tweeted Aboutrika.

The Egyptian club also sent an official letter to the president of CAF demanding a “neutral” venue for the final.

Al Ahly’s letter stressed that the game should not take place in one of the countries of the four teams competing in the CAF Champions League semi-finals. A neutral venue would provide equal chances for the competing teams, it argued.

Yet, CAF upheld its decision to hold the Champions League final in Morocco, asserting that the North African country met all CAF criteria to host the game.

The much-anticipated final went ahead as scheduled: at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, on May 30. And Wydad AC went on to lift the prestigious continental trophy after beating Al Ahly 2-0.

After losing the game, the Egyptian club remained steadfast in its stance against CAF’s decision to choose Morocco as host of the final. Al Ahly argued that the African confederation did not take the necessary steps to ensure that the final was played at a “neutral” venue.

Reacting to these demands, CAF’s president announced that the African confederation is seriously thinking of reversing the decision it took in 2018 to have the finals of the Champions League and Confederation Cup played over one leg in one country. A two-legged final, with home and away legs, will ensure fairness to the competing teams, Motsepe said.