AFCON
Morocco Targets Tourism Boost Beyond Football as AFCON 2025 Approaches
As Morocco gears up to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, attention is shifting beyond the football to the tournament’s wider impact on the country’s tourism ambitions.
Moroccan officials view AFCON not merely as a continental sporting spectacle but as a strategic opportunity to strengthen the Kingdom’s standing as a global tourism destination. The tournament has been fully integrated into Morocco’s Tourism Roadmap 2023–2026, which focuses on upgrading infrastructure, improving service quality, diversifying destinations and attracting sustainable investment.
The hot air balloon flights in Marrakesh are spectacular and also refreshing, offering a splendid experience to AFCON fans.
Rather than operating in isolation, AFCON 2025 is expected to accelerate the objectives of the national tourism plan.
Tourism figures suggest the sector is already enjoying strong momentum. By late 2025, Morocco had welcomed an estimated 18 million visitors, exceeding expectations and surpassing the roadmap’s target of 17.5 million arrivals set for 2026.
Morocco offers more than just football; it is the ultimate destination for tourism and business opportunities, says Majida Chtioui, the trade manager at Moroccan National Tourism Office (MNTO)
The summer season reinforced the trend, with 4.6 million tourists recorded in July and August alone — a six per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
These gains were achieved ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, underlining Morocco’s solid position as it enters the tournament period. Officials believe AFCON will further enhance the country’s international visibility, attract new visitor markets and showcase its capacity to successfully host large-scale global events.
It is a combination of thrill and fear as passengers find themselves dangling some 1,700 metres above the ground
The ambition, authorities say, is not simply to fill hotels during the tournament, but to build lasting confidence in Morocco’s tourism sector and leave a long-term legacy that reinforces the country’s reputation as one of Africa’s leading destinations.
AFCON 2025 is already generating significant global exposure. Ticket sales have exceeded 800,000, with several matches sold out, promising packed stadiums and vibrant host cities. The resulting international attention is seen as visibility that would be difficult to replicate through conventional tourism marketing campaigns.
For the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Engineering (SMIT), the tournament represents a long-term investment rather than a one-off event. SMIT Director General Imad Barrakad said the focus is on leveraging AFCON’s global reach to strengthen investor confidence and support sustainable tourism development.
In recent years, both public and private stakeholders have shifted emphasis from expanding capacity to improving quality. Hotels have undergone renovations, new dining concepts highlighting Moroccan gastronomy have been launched, and leisure and entertainment zones have been developed to enhance visitor experience. Crucially, these projects are designed to remain economically viable long after the final whistle of AFCON 2025.
Moroccan planners are also keen to avoid the risk of “white elephant” infrastructure — facilities that fall into disuse after major events. To counter this, AFCON-related investments are being aligned with broader urban and regional development plans. Stadiums, transport upgrades, cultural routes and regeneration projects are being integrated into long-term strategies aimed at supporting local economies and improving city life.
As Morocco prepares to welcome Africa and the world, officials are confident that AFCON 2025 will serve not only as a football celebration but also as a catalyst for sustainable tourism growth with benefits that extend well beyond the tournament itself.
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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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