Rabat – Maclean Letshwiti, President of the Botswana Football Association (BFA), has expressed his support for the Moroccan bid to host the 2026 World Cup.
The news was confirmed by Botswana’s news outlet, Weekend Post.
“Maclean Letshwiti is expected to throw his weight behind Morocco for their bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said the sports news outlet.
Botswana has joined the list of African countries that have voiced their full support for Morocco’s candidacy, several of which did so during the sidelines of CAF’s 40th Ordinary General Assembly that took place recently in Casablanca.
Tunisia, Algeria and Nigeria have welcomed Morocco’s bid. The CAF congress that was held in Morocco last month saw African member states “setting fire to the desire of hosting the showpiece on African soil, eight years from now,” according to the Weekend Post.
BFA has also supported the bid, emphasizing that, “it is only through cooperation and hard work that the world showpiece can return to Africa once more.”
The President of the African Football Confederation, Ahmad Ahmad, has shown strong and firm support for Morocco’s candidacy since the submission of its bid in August 2017.
During CAF’s 40th Ordinary General Assembly, Ahmad said, “I can reassure you that I will not be neutral. I say it loud and clear.” His statements come in response to remarks from FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, who had earlier urged CAF to remain neutral: “I ask you to do everything possible to make the process as healthy as possible. It is about our credibility.”
Ahmad, who was quoted by Cafonline.com, said that, “There are many World Cup procedure manuals in relation to the various FIFA reforms, ethical requirements and regulations.”
Morocco submitted its candidacy to host the tournament on August 11, 2017. Ahmed claimed, “Morocco has all the assets to organize a major world event, and it would be an honor for all of Africa if Morocco wins the right to host the 2026 World Cup.”
Morocco will compete in the 21st World Cup tournament that will take place this summer in Russia.
