THE prestigious Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards 2024 now has a new venue.
The event was set to take place in Marrakech but will now be held in Rabat on 16 December at the stunning Mohammed VI Grand Theatre.
The French Football Federation suggested the change. Rabat’s new theatre has cutting-edge facilities and a striking design after the French President, Emmanuel Macron, saw it first-hand on his recent visit to Morocco.
This is a smart move as the CAF Awards will be putting on full display one of Morocco’s world-class venues while the country hopes to host more major sports events down the line.
Super Eagles of Nigeria and Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman is a leading candidate to succeed Victor Osimhen as the 2024 African Footballer of the Year.
Among the nominees, Moroccan stars Ashraf Hakimi and Sofiane Rahimi are in the race for Africa’s Best Player, while Yassine Bounou and Brahim Diaz have been snubbed despite a stellar season with their respective clubs — Al Hilal and Real Madrid.
Last week, Princess Lalla Hasnaa and Brigitte Macron inaugurated the Grand Theatre that King Mohammed VI set in motion in 2006 with a whooping budget of MAD 1.677 billion ($170 million). Considered a cultural powerhouse, the theatre houses a 7,000-seat amphitheatre, a 1,900-seat auditorium, and a stunning 7.1-hectare layout.
Morocco is ready to welcome Africa’s best footballers and managers and show the world its new star venue.
Eighteen-Eleven Media