Fouzi Lekjaa Accuses Algeria of Sabotage-Ahead of CAN 2025

With just weeks to go before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Moroccan football chief Fouzi Lekjaa has stirred controversy by indirectly accusing Algeria of plotting to undermine Morocco’s hosting of the tournament.

Speaking before the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, Lekjaa—also Deputy Minister in charge of the Budget—claimed that Morocco’s competitor for hosting CAN 2025 had launched a campaign to discredit the country’s organizational capabilities.

Although Algeria was not named directly, Lekjaa’s remarks clearly pointed to it. He referenced criticism over stadium delays, stray dogs, and even claims that photos of the new Mouley Abdellah stadium were digitally altered.

Algeria had submitted a strong bid with stadiums meeting international standards, including Miloud Hadefi (Oran), Nelson Mandela (Baraki), and Hocine Aït-Ahmed (Tizi-Ouzou). At the time, Morocco had not yet constructed new stadiums.

Lekjaa had publicly declared Morocco would host CAN 2025 months before the Confederation of African Football (CAF) made its official announcement, raising concerns about behind-the-scenes lobbying and favoritism.

The rivalry over the tournament’s hosting rights has intensified diplomatic and sporting tensions between Algeria and Morocco. Lekjaa’s recent comments have further strained relations, with accusations of conspiracy adding fuel to the fire.

As the tournament approaches, the dispute between Algeria and Morocco over CAN 2025 continues to escalate. The coming months will reveal whether these tensions impact the event’s success or regional cooperation.