Nigerian football superstar and six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, has launched a scathing critique of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), accusing the body of an “over-concentration” of major tournaments and awards in Morocco.
In a series of pointed posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the Al Hilal striker questioned the continental body’s transparency and called for a more inclusive approach to hosting African football’s biggest events.
Oshoala, who currently stars in the Saudi Women’s Premier League, did not mince words regarding Morocco’s growing influence as the unofficial “headquarters” of the continent’s footballing activities.
“The big question here is when will this whole @CAF_Online compensation to Morocco end? Awards, tournaments and all… it’s getting boring now,” Oshoala wrote. “Everything concerning African football happens in Morocco; it feels like that’s the new HQ.”
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Her comments come as Morocco plays host to the 35th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a tournament CAF defended placing there due to the nation’s “modern infrastructure and organizational capacity.”
Beyond the criticism, the Super Falcons legend proposed a strategic pivot for future tournaments: regional co-hosting. Oshoala argued that Nigeria should take the lead in uniting West African neighbors to challenge North Africa’s hosting dominance.
A joint bid between Nigeria and neighbors like Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Cameroon.
Proximity between these nations makes travel and logistics realistic for fans and teams alike.
“We can co-host with our neighbours if we are serious… you can’t tell me two of these five neighbouring countries can’t co-host AFCON.”
The timing of Oshoala’s remarks is particularly poignant. Just Wednesday night, the host nation, Morocco, secured a spot in the AFCON final after a grueling goalless draw against Nigeria, eventually winning 4–2 on penalties at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat.
While Morocco celebrates its first final appearance in 24 years, Oshoala’s outburst has reignited a fierce debate across the continent. Critics of CAF point to a perceived bias toward North African infrastructure, while supporters argue that Morocco is simply the most prepared nation, especially as they gear up for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
As the 2025 AFCON concludes in Morocco, the pressure is mounting on CAF President Patrice Motsepe to address concerns of regional imbalance. With Oshoala’s massive global following, her call for a “West African Bloc” bid may force football administrators to reconsider how they distribute the continent’s most lucrative sporting assets.
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