Zambia’s Ninth AFCON Hosting Bid Ends in Defeat
In a series of announcements made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Patrice Motsepe, the hosts for the 2025 and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have been revealed, marking a historic moment and a continuation of Zambia’s hosting bid challenges.
Morocco emerged as the host for the 2025 AFCON, replacing Guinea, who had lost the hosting rights due to concerns about infrastructure and facilities. Morocco’s bid received an overwhelming 22 votes, leaving other candidates, including Zambia and a joint bid by Nigeria and Benin, with no votes.
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania jointly secured the hosting rights for the 2027 AFCON. They won the bid over strong contenders, including Senegal, Egypt, and a late joint bid by Botswana and Zambia. This decision aligns with CAF’s intentions to implement regional rotation for hosting the tournament.
Zambia’s bid to host the AFCON has faced defeat for the ninth time. Despite hosting successfully in their first attempt in 1988, subsequent economic constraints and challenges have prevented them from securing hosting rights in later bids. Zambia’s most recent attempt for the 2025 AFCON was withdrawn, with the country opting to focus on the 2027 bid, partnering with Botswana.
Zambia’s persistence in hosting the AFCON demonstrates their commitment to becoming a significant player in African football, despite the challenges they have faced in securing hosting rights.
