CAF President Patrice Motsepe has explained why Morocco will get the full support from all 54-member associations in its joint-bid to host the 2030 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
Motsepe said all 54-member associations decided to support Morocco in its bid to host the joint FIFA World Cup in 2030 alongside two Iberian nations – Spain and Portugal.
Morocco showed interest as it is close to both countries – the north border of Africa, which makes it easy to travel and a viable option to host the FIFA premier event.
The mining mogul said it is important that Africa unites as one and all member associations throw their backing behind the joint-bid of Morocco, Spain and Portugal.
“You have to look at how it benefits various other countries on the continent because part of my focus is to allow countries like South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, and Senegal to keep growing the infrastructure and developing because they have to represent us and compete against the best in the world,” said Motsepe.
“You have countries who have poor infrastructures, poor resources because the talent is in all the 54-member association countries on the African continent.”
Motsepe also explained why the CAF Executive Committee opted to publicly put their backing behind Morocco now already, despite the 2030 World Cup still being seven years away.
“As I said for the first time when Morocco publicly announced candidature for its FIFA elections [in Kigali last month] that I had already been approached by Egypt and we had a lot of other discussions,” he added.
“The decision that was taken by the CAF executive committee last week is the right decision [to support Morocco for its joint bidding for the FIFA 2030 World Cup] and we are absolutely satisfied that we have to engage and start lobbying very soon.
“Because if you keep postponing, keep delaying, the chances of the African nation wanting to host the World Cup becomes very remote.”
When asked whether CAF’s leadership will also support for South Africa’s bid for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Motsepe laughed off the question and said it should be directed to Minister Zizi Kodwa, who was standing next to him.
So far, South Africa are the only member association of CAF that has expressed an interest to host the World Cup in 2027, having received support from government such as the South African Sports Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and also from the previous Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture Nathi Mthethwa and his replacement Kodwa.
At this point, the topic has not been voted on by the CAF Executive.
