Fauzi Lekja says Morocco's AFCON 2025 hosting transformed the tournament
President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekja, has stated that Morocco’s hosting of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations marked a major transformation for the competition.
Lekja pointed to several innovations introduced during the tournament, which was played across nine stadiums using a new matchday format. For the first time in AFCON history, only one game was scheduled per stadium on matchdays, replacing the traditional doubleheader system.
He also praised the quality of the infrastructure, playing surfaces, security arrangements and overall hospitality provided throughout the competition.
According to Lekja, Morocco made travel easier for supporters and visitors by introducing measures such as visa-free access for several African countries and electronic visa systems.
Economically, the Moroccan football chief described the tournament as a turning point for African football.
“According to official CAF financial data, the net revenue for this edition exceeded $300 million,” Lekja said.
He compared the figures to previous tournaments, noting that the competition generated about $5 million in Cameroon and around $80 million in Côte d’Ivoire.
“With modesty but objectivity, we can say the Africa Cup of Nations has changed in dimension, rhythm, and level,” he concluded.
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