Morocco to host AFCON qualifier matches on behalf of Nine African countries without proper stadiums

Despite not being on the hosting list, Morocco is set to stage the designated home matches for nine African national teams during the forthcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Official reports from organizers reveal that Casablanca has been compelled to handle the AFCON matches due to the fact that the other host countries are constrained of stadium compliance issues.

In other words, Morocco is hosting the AFCON qualifier matches on behalf of Niger, Lesotho, the Central African Republic (CAR), Liberia, Benin, Togo, Guinea, Madagascar, and Somalia.

These nine African countries thus are now being compelled to stage designated home matches in Morocco because of stadium compliance issues.

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027, dubbed ‘Pamoja Tournament,’ is being jointly hosted by three East African Countries, that is Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with matches to be staged in Arusha, Dar-es-salaam, Dodoma, Kampala, Kisumu and Nairobi.

The affected matches are expected to include fixtures during the September international window. Some of the teams are also scheduled to play in Morocco in March, including the Central African Republic, Guinea, Madagascar, Niger, Lesotho, and Togo.

Morocco has become a frequent alternative venue for African national teams unable to stage international matches at home, with several Moroccan stadiums meeting the Confederation of African Football Associations (CAF) requirements for continental competitions.

It should also be recalled that Morocco is bidding to host future FIFA World Cup tournaments.

Meanwhile CAF have settled the debate that flared up over the past few hours regarding the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, after media reports claimed the tournament would feature an increased number of teams.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe confirmed that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be held with 24 teams.

Reports of a change to the number of participants, according to CAF are “inaccurate”,.

The continental football body insisted that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will run through June and July, with qualifiers kicking off in September and October 2026.

All this followed a wave of speculation that the upcoming edition, set for Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, would be staged with 28 teams.

The Africa Cup of Nations underwent the largest expansion in its history at the 2019 edition in Egypt, when the number of participants jumped from 16 to 24.

That format carried on through the 2021, 2023 and 2025 editions, and it stays in place for 2027.