AFCON
Nature Meets Architecture: Grand Stade d’Agadir Prepares for AFCON 2025
By KUNLE SOLAJA, Agadir, Morocco.
At the foot of Morocco’s mighty Atlas Mountains, where the country’s national football team—the Atlas Lions—draws their proud name, rises a stadium that mirrors its surroundings.
The Grand Stade d’Agadir, one of the venues for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations this December, is not just a sports arena; it is a bold attempt to blend nature with architecture.
From afar, the stadium seems carved out of the brown slopes of the mountains. Its steep exterior walls, painted in earthy tones, echo the rugged terrain around it.
Step inside, however, and the scene changes: a sea of green seats blends seamlessly with the lush playing turf, interrupted only by pockets of red in the grand pavilion—a subtle nod to Morocco’s national colours.
On Monday, stadium director Hitcham Allouli revealed that while the current capacity of 42,480 will remain for AFCON, a more ambitious second phase of renovation will follow in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host.
Grand Stade d’Agadir director, Hitcham Alloul with Sports Village Square’s Kunle Solaja
“The first phase focused on minor upgrades—improving vegetation around the arena, expanding parking space, and adding modern facilities like ticketing and accreditation booths,” Allouli explained. “But the next stage will be transformative.”
That transformation includes lowering the pitch by 10 metres to increase capacity by about 4,000 seats, removing the athletics track to bring fans closer to the action, and extending the upper terrace into a fully covered sports city.
The shape of what Grand Stade de Agadir will look like towards the 20230 World Cup.
The model follows the grandeur of the Grand Stade de Tanger, Morocco’s northern showpiece.
Security has also been modernised, with the introduction of facial recognition cameras, aligning the stadium with international standards.
The locker room at the Grand Stade Agadir
The journey of the Grand Stade d’Agadir reflects Morocco’s long quest for global football recognition.
Originally designed as part of the country’s 2010 World Cup bid, construction began in 2003 but stalled after South Africa won hosting rights.
Work resumed in 2007, and by October 2013, the arena was complete, making its debut on the global stage during the FIFA Club World Cup.
Designed by Moroccan architect Saad Benkirane in collaboration with Gregotti Associati International, the stadium is an architectural ode to its environment.
Its sloped exterior elevations mimic the Atlas foothills, while its interior is tailored for international sport and comfort: a natural grass pitch, a media tribune for 288 journalists, 12 commentary boxes, three VVIP zones (each seating 250 guests), and 12 luxury lounges that can accommodate 300.
Players’ facilities include modern locker rooms, ice baths, and saunas.
As AFCON 2025 draws near, the Grand Stade d’Agadir is set to welcome Africa’s finest footballers while showcasing Morocco’s ability to fuse natural beauty with modern sporting ambition.
Its mountainside silhouette will remind fans and players alike that football here is played under the watchful gaze of the Atlas.
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AFCON
Nigerians, other nationals can apply, as CAF and Morocco Launch Volunteer Programme for AFCON 2025
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Morocco have launched the official Volunteer Programme for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, billed to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
According to CAF, more than 4,000 volunteers will be recruited to play a central role in ensuring the success of Africa’s most prestigious football tournament, which will be staged across six cities and nine stadiums in Morocco.
Applications are now open at volunteers.cafonline.com and will close on 8 October 2025. The opportunity is open to anyone above the age of 18.
Volunteers will be deployed across multiple functional areas, including media operations, spectator services, accreditation, hospitality, and fan engagement. Selected individuals will receive professional training ahead of the competition and work behind the scenes to deliver a memorable AFCON.
CAF stated that the programme is designed not only to support tournament operations but also to create an alumni network of skilled Africans who can contribute to future sporting events across the continent. Successful applicants will benefit from:
- Training and skill development.
- Official uniforms and certificates of participation.
- Networking opportunities with peers and professionals.
- The chance to contribute to Africa’s football legacy.
Volunteer registration opened on 17 September 2025. Selection and training will take place in October and November, with operations commencing in mid-December through to the tournament’s conclusion on 18 January 2026.
CAF described the initiative as an “exciting opportunity” for Africans to contribute to the growth of the continent’s flagship sporting event, which is expected to draw millions of visitors to Morocco.
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AFCON
CAF Security Chief, Nigeria’s Emeruwa, Leads Inspection of Tangier Stadium Ahead of Major Tournaments
Nigeria’s Dr. Christian Emeruwa, President of the Security and Safety Division of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), on Thursday, September 18, led an inspection visit to the Grand Stade de Tangier as preparations intensify for upcoming continental and global football events.
Emeruwa, who heads CAF’s continental security architecture, was joined by CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba, senior Moroccan officials, and executives of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The delegation also included managers of operational companies at the Grand Stade and SONARGES executives.
According to Le 360, the Nigerian official expressed satisfaction with the stadium’s facilities after touring key operational areas, including the main control room with its giant surveillance screen, as well as spectator, player, and VIP access zones.
The inspection was bolstered by the presence of Morocco’s top security and administrative officers—the regional commander of the Royal Gendarmerie, officials of the Auxiliary Forces and Civil Protection, the Wali of Security, the governor in charge of Internal Affairs, and representatives of the National Agency for Public Equipment (ANEP).
A technical meeting followed the tour, where engineers presented recent safety and security upgrades. Among the highlights was the planned installation of a FIFA-standard tarpaulin roof to enhance the venue’s compliance with global hosting requirements.
For Nigeria, the spotlight on Dr. Emeruwa underscores the country’s growing influence in African football administration, particularly in the critical areas of safety and security management for CAF competitions.
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Morocco has received 723 high-end buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong as part of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicks off on December 21.
Yutong said on social media that the fleet “has officially rolled off the production line” and will provide “comprehensive transport services and reliable operational support” during the tournament.
An official handover ceremony was held on Friday at the company’s facility in Zhengzhou, Henan province, attended by Moroccan representatives and Yutong executives.
The buses were designed to cope with Morocco’s terrain and climate, including steep slopes, heat and sandstorms. They feature an independent front axle suspension to navigate narrow city streets and Yutong’s in-house “Blue Core System” for fuel efficiency.
The delivery is the largest single order of Chinese buses in Africa. Yutong will station more than 100 technicians in Morocco to provide training, maintenance and round-the-clock support during AFCON.
The deal is part of Morocco’s broader transport strategy, which includes plans to purchase 7,000 new buses by 2030—half of them electric—as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
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