Faced with rumors of a possible withdrawal of the 2025 African Cup of Nations from Morocco, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, sought to put an end to all speculation. Present at the body's General Assembly this Monday, the South African leader clearly reaffirmed CAF's full confidence in the Cherifian Kingdom.

"Morocco is Plan A, Plan B and Plan C," Motsepe told the assembly, dismissing any suggestion of a possible change of host country.

In recent days, several media outlets and observers have raised the possibility of withdrawing from the tournament, amid social tensions in the country.

Indeed, numerous demonstrations have recently taken place in Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, and other major cities, called by the citizens' collective GenZ 212. This movement, led by a largely mobilized Moroccan youth, is calling for a thorough reform of the education system as well as an improvement in public health services. These demands have found an echo even within the ranks of the Atlas Lions.

Players such as Yassine Bounou, Nayef Aguerd, Sofyan Amrabat, Bilal El Khannouss, Hamza Igamane and Hakim Ziyech - who was excluded from the national team - have publicly expressed their support for the movement, increasing the visibility of this protest.

But for Patrice Motsepe, there is no question of calling into question the organization of the African Cup of Nations in Morocco. On the contrary, the CAF president even spoke of the ambition to make it "the most successful AFCON in history," in close collaboration with the Moroccan government and people.

"We are absolutely confident. We, as CAF, will cooperate and work with the government, citizens and all the people of Morocco to host the most successful AFCON in history," he said.

The CAN is scheduled from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.