Kenya initially won the bid to host the African Clubs Association headquarters but unexpectedly lost it to Morocco due to alleged financing issues.
On December 21, 2023, Kenya was unanimously chosen as the host for the headquarters of the newly established African Clubs Association (ACA).
The announcement, made amidst pomp at the Marriot Mena House in Cairo, was seen as a milestone for Kenya’s sports diplomacy.
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However, in a dramatic turn of events, Kenya has now lost this prestigious position to Morocco.
Just four months after the initial excitement, sources close to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have revealed that Morocco will now house the ACA.
This shift comes as Morocco commits to not only hosting the headquarters but also financing it, demonstrating a robust support structure for African football.
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Collins Okinyo, a former SuperSport journalist, first broke the news.
“Kenya had been chosen as the headquarters of African Clubs Association (ACA) but, as is our norm, sports comes last. No one was even willing to register the body. Morocco has taken over; they will host and in addition provide the much-needed financing. You can see the serious countries, and they don't talk a lot,” he expressed in disappointment on his social media pages.
This development is a significant setback for Kenya, which has been looking to assert itself more prominently on the international sports stage.
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Recently, Kenya and Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding on sports and creative arts development, although it was not linked to the ACA.
The inaugural ACA president, Eng. Hersi Ally Said of Tanzania, and vice presidents, Jessica Motaung of South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs and Paul Bassey of Nigeria’s Akwa United, are now expected to shift their focus to Morocco.
Morocco’s rise as a key player in African sports is further underscored by its recent wins in securing the 2025 AFCON and the co-host rights for the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
Meanwhile, Kenya, slated to host the Pamoja AFCON’27, is keen to learn from Morocco’s successful strategies.
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