AFCON
AFCON 2025: Morocco is home away from home for African teams
Morocco has always been the ultimate destination in Africa for football tourists and major competitions. Even before their spectacular run at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Morocco had played major role in the qualifying series.
In the run-up to Qatar 2022, many African countries with lower standard in stadium facilities ceded their home games to Morocco.
This is easily noticed in November 2022 when a five-day seven-match festival of World Cup qualifying matches were played in Morocco.
The series involved 10 countries, thus turning Morocco to become the preferred destination for African sports events due to its world-class infrastructure. The encounters were:
- Morocco faced Sudan on Friday 12 November 2021 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Complex in Rabat at 8:00 p.m. Sudan was the home team, playing Morocco in Morocco.
- Also on Friday 12 November 2021, Burkina Faso played Niger at Grand Stadium in Marrakech at 2:00 p.m. Burkina Faso was the home team.
- On Saturday 13 November 2021 in Group C, Liberia played against Nigeria in Tangier Grand Stadium at 5:00 p.m. Liberia Liberia was the home team.
- The next day, Sunday 14 November, it was the turn of Mali facing Uganda on at Agadir Grand Stadium before facing their Central African Republic counterpart on 16 November 2021 in Tangier at 5:00 p.m
- On Monday 15 November 2021, Guinea Bissau and Sudan in Group E faced off at the Marrakech Grand Stadium at 5:00 p.m.
- The encounter between Morocco and Guinea took place at 8:00 p.m. on 16 November 2021 at Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca.
Before the November 2021 feast of football, Morocco had previously hosted eight African qualifying matches for Qatar World Cup 2022, from October 12 to 16 in 2021.
If the seven matches are added to the eight Morocco had earlier hosted within the qualifying series for Qatar 2022, the country is on record as having most Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying matches.
Having played hosts to many African countries, Morocco is bidding to host the 24-nation Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 after the initial rights to Guinea were withdrawn.
According to official documents, CAF is asking for six stadiums from the bidding countries.
Two of the stadiums must have capacity for 40,000 crowd. Two others are to have 20,000 capacity while another set of two must have 15,000 capacity.
Morocco have stadiums that overwhelmingly have capacities way above what CAF has asked for.
The Grand Stade d’Agadir is a capacity of 45,480, thus having a surplus capacity of 5,480. The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat has capacity for 52,000 which is 12,000 more than the requirement.
The Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, currently co-hosting the FIFA Club World Cup with the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, is even more breathtaking.
It’s capacity of 65,000 means that the stadium has 25,000 capacity more than requirement. The Grand Stade d’ Marrakech holds 45,240 in its rectangular bowel. This is 4,524 more than the uppermost requirement that CAF is asking for.
The 45,000 capacity Hassan II stadium also exceeds the maximum requirement from CAF, so also that of the 65,000 capacity Stade Mohammed in Casablanca.
Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has praised Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for what he described as a powerful gesture of unity and reconciliation following the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe expressed deep appreciation on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations, hailing the Moroccan monarch’s decision as a demonstration of football’s ability to foster peace and solidarity across the continent.
“I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president said the pardon reflected Morocco’s enduring commitment to African unity and highlighted football’s growing role as a bridge between nations and cultures.
“CAF has consistently emphasised its commitment to utilise football to contribute to uniting our people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide.”
Motsepe also revealed that during recent visits to both Morocco and Senegal, he had been struck by the deep historical and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
“I was amazed and impressed when I was briefed about the historic and extensive ties between the people of Senegal and Morocco,” he added.
The statement further reinforced Morocco’s rising influence within African football, especially after successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading football destinations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe also extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that the continent’s teams would perform strongly on the global stage.
Among the African nations mentioned were Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Former African champions Algeria and Zambia are set for an early showdown after the release of the Group I fixtures for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria host Zambia on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of the qualifying campaign, while Togo entertain Burundi in the group’s other opening tie.
The Desert Foxes are favourites to qualify, but Zambia’s growing consistency and Togo’s unpredictability could make the race highly competitive.
Algeria travel to Burundi on Matchday Two before facing Togo in back-to-back encounters across Matchdays Three and Four. Zambia also meet Burundi home and away during the same period.
The potentially decisive fixture comes on March 22, 2027, when Zambia host Algeria in a clash that could determine the final standings.
Group I Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Algeria vs Togo
- Zambia vs Burundi
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Togo vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Zambia
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Zambia vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Togo
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Togo vs Zambia
- Algeria vs Burundi
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By Kunle Solaja.
African heavyweights Senegal will launch their quest for another Africa Cup of Nations appearance with a home clash against Mozambique in Group J of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, among the continent’s strongest teams in recent years, headline a group that also includes Sudan and Ethiopia.
Senegal host Mozambique on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Sudan tackle Ethiopia in the other opening encounter.
Senegal are strong favourites to dominate the group, but Sudan and Mozambique are expected to battle fiercely for qualification points.
The key fixtures may emerge in the double-header between Senegal and Sudan across Matchdays Three and Four, while Mozambique and Ethiopia also face each other home and away.
Senegal travel to Mozambique on Matchday Five before ending their campaign at home against Ethiopia on March 30, 2027.
Group J Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Senegal vs Sudan
- Mozambique vs Ethiopia
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Sudan vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Mozambique
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Mozambique vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Sudan
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Sudan vs Mozambique
- Senegal vs Ethiopia
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