Africa Cup of Nations: Motsepe: “Super edition in Morocco. 2030 World Cup deserves it”

Religious charity day at the Africa Cup of Nations and an opportunity to take a look at the future of African football. We accompanied Patrice Motsepe, president of the Caf (African Football Confederation) on his visit to the Cathedrale de St. Pierre in Rabat. The South African millionaire, through his family foundation, donated 250,000 dollars to the Catholic church of Rabat and the same amount to the Muslim community, then answered our questions on the turbulent current affairs of African football, shaken by the news of the move of the largest continental competition from every two years to every four years.

satisfied

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“I honestly think that the changes we have made to the calendar and structure of African football have not been fully understood – said the number one in African football –. The African Cup of Nations will be every 4 years, yes, but the African Nations League, what I call the African Cup of Nations+, will be played every year and we are discussing with FIFA to also have it in the year of the World Cup, which is not currently foreseen. We will involve our 54 national teams and not just 24 as here in the Cup of Africa, and obviously our best players in Europe, in America, in Asia. We want to grow all 54 of our federations, and economic resources are important: we must pay the players well and all those who work in our football. I am happy with what we are doing and what is happening.

great quality

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There are many around Africa who are not happy, and many are wondering where the 2028 Cup will be played, just announced and obviously not yet awarded just two years after the dispute. The idea that he is here again in Morocco takes shape with force: “I don’t know where the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations will be, but I know where we will be in 2027, in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The current tournament is undoubtedly the best ever in terms of organization and technical quality, and this is what we want for African football: excellence on and off the pitch. Sunday’s final between Morocco and Senegal is between the two best national teams in the continental ranking, and in the quarter-finals there were the best 8, it was an exceptional competition, no, don’t ask me who wins.”

the battle

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There is already a winner and it is Morocco which is fighting with Spain to have the final of the 2030 World Cup: “As a member of FIFA I have to be neutral, but I am excited to underline what is best for African football: we would like to have the opening match and obviously the finals in Morocco. The infrastructure here is world class”. But the Bernabeu is a great rival. Motsepe laughs heartily: “You say the Bernabeu from Rabat?”. No, we were thinking of the one under construction in Casablanca, with 115,000 seats, a huge investment for Morocco. “I love Spanish football and also Italian football, but my greatest love is for African football.” The challenge for the venue of the 2030 final will be very tough.