Morocco was officially awarded the host of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals on Wednesday, succeeding Guinea, who was stripped of hosting rights last year.

A combined proposal by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda was also given the rights to the 2027 event.

Algeria, Zambia, and a combined candidature from Benin and Nigeria withdrew from competition before the decision of the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee in Cairo, and Morocco was chosen as the host for the 2025 AFCON. Morocco was largely anticipated to win the hosting rights, which may improve its hopes of hosting the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain.

The East African joint candidature for the 2027 AFCON was a surprising triumph, bringing the finals back to the area for the first time since 1976. The proposal outperformed rivals Botswana, Egypt, and Senegal. Algeria was also a candidate but withdrew a day before the election.

Notably, Kenya had previously been offered hosting rights for the 1996 AFCON but had failed to capitalise on the occasion owing to insufficient preparations. A FIFA suspension imposed due to government meddling in the operation of the country’s football association was recently removed.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe emphasised the need of spreading the event across different areas to help football flourish. Morocco will host the popular sports event for the second time in 2025, with the last time being over four decades ago in 1988.

If elected President in the 2024 general elections, Alan Kyerematen has promised to supervise investment in the creation of “world-class” sporting facilities in Ghana.

On Monday, the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential candidate announced his departure from the party, proclaiming his desire to run as an independent candidate in the 2024 elections.

Speaking on his 15-point Great Transformational Plan (GTP), Mr Kyerematen outlined his proposal of “investing in world-class new generation sports facilities in selected competitive sporting disciplines.”

He stated that his administration would “encourage the participation of the private sector in the development of sports infrastructure around the country.”

He stated that this would entail the construction of sports academies.

In recent months, the status of the country’s athletic infrastructure has been a significant talking topic, with many decrying the lack of quality standard facilities and the poor upkeep of those that do exist.

Ghana’s Black Stars head coach, Chris Hughton, believes that player exodus in Ghana’s leagues cannot be prevented.

According to him, players would continue to leave the country to play elsewhere since it is unavoidable that players will desire to ply their trade in Europe.

In an interview with the media following his visit to Sunyani to observe the Ghana Premier League game between Bofoakwa Tano and Real Tamale United FC, the coach explained why he believes players would continue to seek better pastures.

“This is a question for every Head Coach in the last couple of years,” he told Akwaaba Radio.

“There will always be, of course, players that leave here [Ghana] and go and play in Europe and this is something that has happened for quite some time.”

“If you generally gauge the national team, the Black Stars squad has most of the players playing abroad.”

“This is always the challenge, this is a challenge for the local league, the premier league to be at level, a competitive one that, whoever the Black Stars coach is, can look at it and pick from it,” he added.