Organisers have insisted the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will go ahead in Morocco despite growing political unrest in the country, with the government's investment into football a key criticism.
Youth-led protests have taken place across major cities in Morocco, which have seen calls for more investment into healthcare, education and transport among the demands.
Last week, interior ministry spokesman Rachid El Khalfi said 409 people had been arrested in the protests, which have turned violent in some areas.
The government confirmed 20 protestors and 260 police officers had been injured, while some police vehicles had also been torched in the clashes.
Three people were also shot dead when attempting to storm a police station.
Protestors have targeted the Moroccan Government's investment into football, with the country hosting AFCON from December 21 and January 18.
Speaking at the Confederation of African Football meeting in the Congo, the organisation's president Patrice Motsepe insisted AFCON will go ahead as planned despite the current unrest.
'We are absolutely convinced that the CAN will take place as planned,' Motsepe said.
'Morocco is plan A, Morocco is plan B and Morocco is plan C
'CAF will co-operate and work with the government and all the citizens of Morocco to host the most successful AFCON in history.'
A total of 24 teams are set to compete in the tournament, with nine stadiums hosting matches across six cities.
Liverpool star Mohammed Salah is expected to be among the Premier League players set to feature for their nations at AFCON.
Morocco are also one of three hosts of the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
As part of the plans, the government is building a 115,000-capacity stadium, the Grand Stade Hassan II.
It is hoped the £3.7billion venue will be selected to host the final of the tournament.
The protests began on September 27, after the deaths of eight women in a maternity ward of a hospital in the city of Agadir.
Some reports suggested the deaths could have been prevented with better care, equipment and more staff.
Protestors have reportedly been heard chanting 'No World Cup, health comes first' and 'We want hospitals not football stadiums'.
Demonstrators have held up signs drawing a comparison between conditions in hospitals and proposed World Cup stadiums, with one protestor's sign reading 'invest in brains not games.'
Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has been among the leading figures to offer support to the protestors demands in recent days.
Judbcdeiku
1
we need host the African in Zambia kucalo to the world 🇿🇲🇿🇲🇿🇲
Lawcdnpry
0
must come to Ghana
Lawcdnpry
0
corrupt and biased people in leadership 💪🏽
yes u said it well. but sometimes our leaders are not helping us
Bapacdinuy
2
Most reason we can’t compare Europe with Africa God help us
lekabcmns
2
Uganda we shall do the same
vuaabdipu
0
Give it to Egypt 🇪🇬 They did amazing in the 2019 edition
Rinabilnor
1
masar koobkooda
Ceabilstu
0
Afcon can be hosted by other African country than cancelling sport event.
yeeceprtz
2
Morocco has failed Afcon few years ago if they do it once again they won't get any chance to host it again, protesting 2 months from the tournament is just foolish, they should've protested 3 years ago .
mule2020
1
corrupt and biased people in leadership 💪🏽
rupanrstyz
2
take it to angola 🇦🇴 there's good stadiums too
NFK97
1
I remember the inflation after we hosted. It's not got down. Prices of things have kept going up
babiklmsuy
0
maxaa dhacay
fahabcdkuz
4
Citizens are in poverty than Government want spent millions on AFCON
Bamidele31
5
Africa need to wake up, Why Spending such huge amount on stadium while citizens dying due to lack of standard hospitals.
waters1982
4
take it to another place that all don't need to be cancel
heeacelmyz
5
no need to cancel it just change the host nation
vaybcelort
1
they want to host the African cup of nation
Alhassank
1
so bad
Tocilostyz
1
Just cancel, it's a waste of time & causing injuries...