Taiwo Exclusive: AFCON 2025 a litmus test for Morocco

AFCON 2025 a litmus test for Morocco

Morocco is gradually cementing its spot as Africa’s major football hub by winning the hosting rights of global football tournaments in the next five years.

The North African country is prepared to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in December after staging the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July and the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in October. 

To crown their emerging dominance, Morocco has joined forces with Portugal and Spain to co-host the FIFA World Cup in  2030.

The country has invested in financial and manpower resources to build infrastructure and accelerate the development of football in the country.

During the AFCON 2025 draw in Rabat on Monday, former Morocco player Mustapha Hadji told Rant Sports that this year’s tournaments will be a foretaste of the upcoming 2030 experience.

Hadji played for the Atlas Lions for over a decade and he was crowned as the African Footballer of the Year in 1998. 

“His Majesty King Mohammed VI has contributed enormously to the development of football, not only in Morocco, but also throughout the African continent. Thanks to this vision, our country is now a key player in world football.” Hadji told Rant Sports.

“The TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025 is a bit like a foretaste of what awaits us: the preparations, the atmosphere, the enthusiasm. Since 1988, it has been far too long. But today, it is finally Morocco’s time. As a true football country, hosting this competition is a huge honour and pride for Moroccans.”

Morocco’s plans for AFCON 2025

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in nine stadiums across six Moroccan cities – Rabat, Tangier, Casablanca, Fes, Agadir and Marrakech. 

This year’s celebration of Africa’s flagship football tournament is projected to be the biggest edition since its inception because of the format, as it will run through two years (December 2025 to January 2026). 

Morocco is rated as one of the key contenders for this year’s title as a result of their hosting and results in international games (the 2022 FIFA World Cup where they reached the semi-final).

However, they are yet to win the AFCON since their only triumph in 1976, but Hadji has cautioned the Atlas Lions not to underrate any team in their group.

“In Africa, there are no small teams again, you have to prepare yourself to fight. It will be difficult to beat any team you play against,” Hadji told Rant Sports.

“It is difficult to play football in Africa. There is no small team, better team or best team. We can put it on paper that Nigeria, Cameroon, Morocco but the reality is in the 90 minutes on the pitch.

“We have the six big teams in Africa as we saw in the pots, but the category doesn’t mean anything.” 

Morocco are pitched against Comoros, Mali and Zambia in Group A. They will play the opening match against Comoros in Rabat on December 21.

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