As the Africa Cup of Nations unfolds across Moroccan cities between December 21 and January 18, the continent’s biggest football tournament is drawing attention not only for its matches, but for what it reveals about Africa’s evolving approach to sustainability, infrastructure, and long-term public value.
With stadiums filled and millions following from across the continent and beyond, AFCON is playing out as both a sporting spectacle and a real-time test of how Africa manages large-scale events under growing climate, fiscal, and social pressure.
For host countries, tournaments of this scale are no longer judged only by organization and atmosphere. They are increasingly assessed by what they leave behind. Across Africa, governments face rising public scrutiny over how major infrastructure investments are financed, built, and maintained. This scrutiny is sharpened by constrained public finances and expanding climate commitments, forcing policymakers to justify not just the cost of mega events, but their long-term contribution to economic resilience and social inclusion.
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According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, African sovereign debt reached roughly 67 percent of GDP in 2024, with several countries assessed to be at high risk of debt distress. That fiscal reality has changed how large public projects are viewed. Stadiums, transport corridors, and urban upgrades linked to AFCON are no longer seen as temporary event expenses, but as assets expected to generate value long after the final whistle.
Morocco’s hosting of AFCON reflects this shift. Tournament preparations have been deliberately aligned with broader national development priorities, particularly in transport, energy, and urban planning. Stadium renovations in cities such as Rabat and Casablanca have been designed for year-round use, while upgrades to rail links and airports were framed as improvements for residents and businesses as much as for visiting fans.
The approach signals a move away from event-led construction toward city-led infrastructure planning, where sustainability is measured by longevity rather than spectacle.
Earlier this year, Kenya hosted the African Nations Championship, a tournament centered on domestic leagues that offered a smaller but instructive sustainability model. Reporting by Africa Sustainability Matters showed how stadium refurbishments in Nairobi and other host cities were planned around continued public use, while operational reforms emphasised efficiency and cost control.
Though CHAN attracted less global attention than AFCON, it reinforced a growing continental lesson: football infrastructure that cannot be repurposed quickly becomes a public burden.
Together, these experiences point to a broader shift in how African governments and development actors approach mega sporting events. Energy demand, transport emissions, waste management, and post-event utilisation have moved from the margins of planning into its core. These are no longer abstract sustainability ideals, but practical considerations shaping procurement, financing, and operations.
How fans travel to matches, how waste is handled inside stadiums, and how facilities are managed once tournaments end now form part of the public accountability equation.
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AFCON has also reopened debate around sponsorship and financing. Corporate partners remain essential to funding the tournament, yet their role is increasingly questioned by civil society and policy observers. High-profile sponsorships are now examined not just for brand visibility, but for environmental credibility.
Critics argue that sustainability claims risk becoming cosmetic if they are not tied to measurable outcomes. Supporters counter that well-structured partnerships can accelerate investment in cleaner energy, efficient logistics, and community programmes. What has changed is that transparency and reporting now matter as much as marketing.
Beyond infrastructure and finance, sustainability is also being shaped at the community level. Across host cities, local organisations, volunteers, and youth groups have used match days to promote environmental awareness, from waste reduction campaigns to neighbourhood clean-ups. These initiatives may appear modest, but they highlight football’s unique capacity to influence behaviour at scale, particularly among young people, when sustainability is visible and practical rather than abstract.
Fan behaviour itself has become part of the sustainability equation. Research cited by the United Nations Environment Programme and the UNFCCC’s Sports for Climate Action initiative shows that spectators are more likely to adopt environmentally responsible practices when venues actively promote them.
Clear recycling systems, accessible public transport, and consistent messaging can shape habits that persist beyond the event. In this sense, AFCON is not simply reflecting sustainability trends; it is helping to normalise them.
Economically, the Africa Cup of Nations remains a powerful engine. It commands one of the largest television audiences on the continent and generates significant commercial activity for host cities. The challenge is ensuring that this momentum supports inclusive growth rather than compounding environmental and social costs.
When sustainability principles are embedded into planning and operations, sporting events can help finance resilient infrastructure and support local enterprise instead of straining public budgets. Football infrastructure, once treated as separate from development policy, is now being drawn into conversations shaped by the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 and national climate strategies.
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