BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Morocco’s football federation and tourism office have signed a groundbreaking agreement to establish the country as a major football and tourism destination leading to the milestone 2030 World Cup when the global football tournament clocks a century.

The Moroccan football body and the Tourism Office are building on the national team’s recent international success.

Though with just one success in the Africa Cup of Nations, Moroccan football soars higher than the rest in Africa and the Arab world at the World Cup.

Apart from being the only African and Arab country to have reached the World Cup semi-final stage, Morocco in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico became the first African team not to be defeated in a World Cup match when they forced Bulgaria to a 1-1 draw on 11 June.

Again, in Mexico, this time at the 1986 World Cup, Morocco became the first African team to top a group and cross the group stage.

They were just two minutes away from a major upset of West Germany in the round of 16 before Lothar Matthäus’ back-breaking goal.

The success of the football team and the tourism potential of Morocco have found a harmonious chord.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the National Moroccan Tourism Office (ONMT) will work together under the banner “Morocco, Land of Football,” placing the sport at the heart of the country’s tourism strategy.

“More than an institutional partnership, this convention is a shared vision: that of a Morocco that shines through football and makes it a lever for promotion, pride and tourist attractiveness,” ONMT said in a statement released after the signing.

The timing of this collaboration is strategic, coming ahead of two major sporting events: the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

The initiative builds on widespread public enthusiasm following the Atlas Lions’ historic World Cup performance in 2022.

Under the agreement, both organizations will implement an integrated communication strategy combining visibility campaigns, influence marketing, and joint promotional activities.

The initiative will mobilize iconic figures from Moroccan football to bring this vision to life, to showcase the country’s world-class sporting facilities, rich cultural heritage, and diverse tourist attractions.

ONMT has launched a major offensive at making Morocco, the ultimate tourism and business destination as the clock ticks down to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations holding in December.

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The Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca, which underwent a significant renovation, reopened on Saturday as Wydad and Raja played to a 1-1 draw during the 26th matchday of the Botola Pro D1 “Inwi” football league.

The stadium is one of the designated venues for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations holding in December.

The redevelopment project of the iconic stadium in Morocco’s economic capital is part of the broader program to upgrade sports venues in preparation for upcoming major sporting events, notably the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Launched in March 2024 and completed in March 2025, the works included, according to the National Agency for Public Facilities (ANEP), the replacement of 45,000 seats in this temple of Moroccan football, the upgrading of the press stand, sound system, video surveillance, and access control systems.

The renovations also covered the development of four changing rooms and warm-up areas, the creation of a mixed zone and a new central players’ tunnel, the replacement of the turf with the latest-generation hybrid grass, refurbishment of the athletics track, lighting upgrades, and replacement of the advertising screens.

Additionally, the project involved the construction of a regulation building to manage and fully separate different access flows, the development of a new ramp for team buses, VIP and VVIP parking areas, and the TV compound.

The works also included the renovation of VIP and media lounges, the construction of a new press conference room, the creation of private boxes, the upgrading of restrooms, food and beverage areas, and public infirmaries, as well as an increase in the number of gates and access control points.

Outside the stadium, the renovations focused on the refurbishment of sidewalks and green spaces, upgrading of exterior lighting, renovation of the surrounding fence, and refurbishment of the annex area.

Officially inaugurated in 1955, the Mohammed V Sports Complex has hosted the greatest sporting events and tournaments in the Kingdom. Morocco, a true land of sports and athletes, is increasingly positioning itself as a leader in the sports sector—not only in Africa but also on the global stage.

Indeed, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco is pursuing an ambitious policy of developing its sports infrastructure in preparation for hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

This proactive strategy aims to meet the international standards required by FIFA and CAF, while strengthening Morocco’s position as a continental, regional, and global sports hub.

In this regard, Morocco continues to invest heavily in its sports infrastructure to host large-scale international events such as the AFCON and the 2030 World Cup.

Ongoing projects include the construction of the Hassan II Stadium in Benslimane, the reconstruction of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, and the expansion and upgrading of the Grand Stade of Tangier in accordance with FIFA’s specifications.

The rehabilitation of the main stadiums in Fez, Marrakech, and Agadir is also underway, initially to meet CAF standards, followed by a second phase aimed at aligning with FIFA’s requirements. Studies for this second phase are already complete, with work scheduled to begin right after AFCON 2025.

Finally, ongoing efforts also include the reconstruction of the Al Barid Stadium and the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Morocco.

Excitements continue to build in Morocco as the clock ticks down to the commencement of big sporting activities in the kingdom. Now the Under 17 Africa Cup of Nations is holding in the country.

Next on the card is the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to be held in July and the biggest of them all, the continent’s sports flagship, the Africa Cup of Nations will be held in December and run through to January 2025.

It will be the first to be held in December and to spill into the following year. These offer a special flavour to what Morocco is offering.

Beyond having the best sporting facilities in the continent to host major events, even the World Cup in 2030, the kingdom is preparing to welcome fans, teams, and media from across the continent and beyond.

It is not just for sports, it also opens new business opportunities for people and opens the doors for all to see the explore the kingdom’s tourism potential.

The Moroccan National Tourism Office (MNTO) has launched a dedicated promotional strategy to boost visibility across African markets.

It organised a major familiarization trip for travel professionals from key African countries. The visit also included two pan-African workshops connecting Moroccan operators with counterparts from markets such as Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Angola.

The essence, according to Ahmed Oumaarir, the head of the MNTO, is to co-develop tailored travel packages for those attending AFCON 2025 and also spotlight Morocco’s diverse tourism offering.

Ahmed Oumaarir, the head of the MNTO flanked by Nigerian journalists, Suleiman Uba Gaya (left) and Kunle Solaja.

Already, the kingdom has the potential to make it the ultimate tourism destination in Africa.

There was a coordinated tour of some major tourist centres in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech and Agadir.

Those cities are full of historical and modern monuments and activities worth exploring. Marrakech which has back-to-back staged the annual CAF Awards in 2023 and 2024 offers more than just sports.

Casablanca is the commercial heartbeat of Morocco. It is famous for its white buildings.

The city is the home of two major Moroccan football teams, Raja Casablanca and Wydad Athletic Casablanca. The city hosted the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations final match where Nigeria lost 1-0 to Cameroon.

For the AFCON 2025, the city will host its first match on Christmas Eve when Burkina Faso will face Equatorial Guinea.

The third-place match is one of the eight duels to be hosted by the city. One of the biggest monuments to behold in the city is the Hassan II Mosque, completed in 1993.

It is standing partly over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and has a 210-metre minaret topped with lasers directed toward Mecca.

The majestic Hassan II Mosque is viewed from the Atlantic Ocean.

The Capital City of Rabat will host the opening and final matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The famous Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium is undergoing almost complete remodelling.

A major area of interest is the Mohammed VI Football Complex which also houses the Moroccan National Team Football Museum.

An architectural masterpiece, the new offices of Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) are the latest addition to the sumptuous Mohammed VI Football Complex.

Setting the pace in documentation, the football museum stands to inspire current and future footballers while also paying tributes to past heroes.

The serene setting of the place offers good camping and medical facilities for teams. Within the area is also, the new headquarters of the new headquarters of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) which was inaugurated in July 2023.

“The excellent headquarters that we visited and the world-class stadiums and football infrastructure in Morocco are good examples of the success and accomplishments that can be achieved through partnerships between our African Governments and our National Football Associations”, CAF president, Dr. Patrice Motsepe remarked during the inauguration of the complex two years ago.

Hassan Kharbouchi, the director of the Mohammed VI Complex gave an overview of the project and enunciated the vision of King Mohammed VI.

As for the football museum, Zayd Ouakrim, the curator remarked that the complex was to illustrate the glorious past, the glowing present and the promising future.

In Marrakech, it was sheer excitement to experience the hot air balloon flight and float over 300 metres above the land and hills of the city of luxury with its famous medina.  

The hot air balloon flights are spectacular and also refreshing offering a splendid experience.

There were over 30 flights at the time of experiencing the splendid activities. The flight commandant of the hot balloon that I took, Pierre Barre explained the mode of flight and the scenes below as the balloon flew majestically over some of the adjourning hills around Marrakech.

Hot Air balloon pilot, Pierre Barre (left) explains the thrills attendant to the adventure

At the end of the flights which take approximately an hour, tourists are given flight certificates as souvenirs. One of the hot air balloon flight companies has been ballooning over Marrakech’s rural areas, especially Oulad El Garn village since 1990.

According to the information gathered, most of the inhabitants earn their living from the proceeds of the air balloon activities, thus the project is contributing to the locals’ health care and sustainability.

So, AFCON teams and fans of South Africa, Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Comoros, Gabon and Sudan have other activities to look out for while in Marrakech. Another activity is biking with the Marrakech Insiders for a different biking experience.

Getting a new biking experience in Marrakech.

Agadir is where the Atlas Mountains blend with sports facility

Agadir, set at the lower part of the range of the Atlas Mountains, is where Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Gabon will play some of their group matches, harbours some historical monuments that have turned the coastal city into a tourist attraction.

The stadium itself pays tribute to the range of mountains which in some places are snow-capped.

The Stade d’Agadir is shaped like the Atlas Mountains range.

The Grand Stade d’Agadir will host its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations match that pitches Egypt against Zimbabwe on 22 December, where the Atlas Mountains blend with a sports facility.

Visitors will see how a stadium is shaped in the form of a mountain. The exterior colour also blends with the brownish appearance of the mountains.

Agadir is where the ruins of the tragic 1960 earthquake were well documented and turned into a tourist attraction for visitors.

A tour guard offered some heart-wrenching recalls at the peak of the Kasbah, a historic fortress on a hilltop overlooking Agadir.

Pointing to a barren land below, he remarked: “This is where some of our great and grandparents are buried alive.”

The earthquake of 29 February 1960 wiped off about 15,000 people. That was about a third of the city’s population at the time. The earthquake occurred just some 20 minutes to midnight leading to high casualty as most were already in bed.

It is the most destructive and deadliest earthquake in Moroccan history. It destroyed nearly 90 percent of the ancient city of Agadir which historically dates back to 1325.

The ruins of the old city are now preserved with no building allowed as a tribute to the dead. Two years ago, the tourist potential of the place got a boost with the construction of Morocco’s first cable car system.

This offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city and the Atlantic Ocean.

The passage between the two cable car stations, with disengaged cabins, allows one to view the bay of Agadir.

Passengers embarking and disembarking from cable cars at the base station.

It takes a breathtaking six to seven minutes to move from the base station to the Kasbah, a historic fortress on a hilltop. The Kasbah, meaning “fortress” in Arabic, was built in 1572 to protect the port of Agadir. 

It is a combination of thrill and fear as passengers find themselves dangling some 1,700 metres above the ground.

Each cabin of the 36 cars takes eight passengers hanging over 1,700 meters. The cable car project is part of the national strategy to promote investment in Morocco’s tourism sector. The ambitious project aims to strengthen and enhance existing tourism infrastructure while diversifying its offerings to increase the region’s appeal.

A panoramic view of Agadir from one of the cable cars.

Not done yet, in Agadir are two disused aircraft converted into hanging aeroplane restaurants overlooking the harbour and the majestic Atlantic Ocean.

The aircraft-turned-restaurant is set on hills, just behind the Kasbah. From other sources, Sports Village Square gathered the aeroplane restaurant will open to visitors in June this year, just in time for visitors and teams attending the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in July and December respectively.

Viewed from the Atlantic Ocean in a cruise boat, the hills on which the Kasbah is built have an Arabic inscription. Saad Allah Moudden, a member of the MNTO team translated it thus: “God, the Homeland (Morocco), the King.”

He explained that the inscription which is on the most visible parts of the Atlas range of mountains, forms the motto of Morocco where God is exulted, the Kingdom of Morocco and the King are revered. It is an expression of loyalty and patriotism.

According to Majida Chtioui, the trade manager at MNTO, the next activity is a European roadshow with the aim of targeting countries with strong African diaspora communities, connecting Moroccan tourism operators with specialized travel agents to further promote AFCON-related travel.

Through targeted communication and promotional efforts in key markets, MNTO aims to strengthen Morocco’s tourism appeal and elevate its image far beyond the African continent.

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