By Kunle Solaja.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set to enjoy a rare logistical advantage at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations when they move into their official base camp in Fez, Morocco, later this week.

With Morocco’s newly introduced base camp system for AFCON, many of the travel and accommodation challenges that have traditionally affected teams at the tournament appear to have been eliminated. For Nigeria, the benefits are immediate and significant.

The Super Eagles will be based in the historic northern city of Fez, where they are also scheduled to play all three of their Group matches. This means the team will not have to travel for games during the group phase — a luxury not shared by their opponents.

Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda, who will face Nigeria in Group play, are all based in Rabat and will have to make repeated trips to Fez for their matches against the Super Eagles. Tanzania, Nigeria’s first opponents, will stay at the Fairmont La Marina Rabat Sale & Residences, while Tunisia will be housed at The View, also in Rabat. Uganda will be camped at Rabat’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Nigeria’s base, the five-star Hotel Saharai, offers both comfort and history. Sitting proudly on a hill above Fez’s New Town, the hotel commands sweeping views of the ancient city, including the famed El Bali Medina and Mount Zalagh.

Once the summer palace of Louis Hubert Gonzalve — a French statesman, marshal and colonial administrator who lived between 1854 and 1934 — the Hotel Saharai blends history with modern elegance. The structure is a minimalist fusion of exposed Taza sandstone, floor-to-ceiling windows and contemporary Italian furnishings, reflecting refined Moroccan luxury.

Centrally located between the ancient Medina and the New Town, the hotel provides panoramic views of Fez and its surroundings. It lies about three kilometres from the 17th-century Ibn Danan Synagogue and approximately six kilometres from the historic Marinid Tombs.

Inside, the hotel features chic rooms with glass-enclosed marble bathrooms, mosaic tile and exposed stone walls. The rooms are equipped with Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions, minibars, Nespresso machines and in-room safes, while suites offer additional living spaces, with some featuring private terraces.

As AFCON 2025 approaches, Nigeria’s settled base in Fez could prove decisive, offering stability, comfort and minimal travel stress. For the Super Eagles, it is a true “home away from home” — and a potential edge in the quest for continental glory.

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Ten players have reported to the Super Eagles camp ahead of Nigeria’s proposed international friendly against Egypt scheduled for Tuesday.

The early arrivals include three goalkeepers — Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabali and Amas Obasogie — as preparations begin in earnest for the high-profile encounter.

Also already in camp are defenders Semi Ajayi, Igoh Ogbu and Bright Osayi-Samuel, while attacking star Ademola Lookman has also linked up with the team.

Midfielders Tochukwu Nnadi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro complete the list of players currently in camp.

More players are expected to join the squad in the coming days as head coach Eric Sékou Chelle intensifies preparations for the friendly, which forms part of Nigeria’s build-up to the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The Egypt match is expected to provide Chelle with an early opportunity to assess team chemistry, test new faces and fine-tune tactical options ahead of the continental tournament.

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By Kunle Solaja.

Morocco has once again underlined its growing status as Africa’s premier host of major football tournaments by introducing a landmark innovation for the Africa Cup of Nations, bringing the competition closer than ever to World Cup standards.

For the first time in the 68-year history of the Africa Cup of Nations, all participating teams will be based in exclusive training camps throughout the tournament.

When AFCON kicks off in Morocco on Sunday, each of the 24 qualified nations will operate from a dedicated base camp from start to finish — a concept long associated with FIFA World Cup organisation.

According to the AFCON 2025 Ultimate Guide, every team will enjoy a fully integrated base camp made up of a five-star hotel and a modern training centre reserved exclusively for its use.

In total, 24 such base camps have been designated across the Kingdom, marking an unprecedented structural leap for African football’s flagship competition.

“This arrangement ensures that each national team stays in its own exclusive base camp throughout the tournament,” the guide states, highlighting Morocco’s meticulous attention to detail and commitment to excellence.

The Nigeria Super Eagles will be based at Sahrai Hotel in Fez, a city noted as Morocco’s historic cultural capital. Their main rival in Group C, Tunisia, like several others, will be based in the capital city, Rabat, with The View hotel serving as its official team residence.

Scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, AFCON Morocco 2025 represents a major turning point in the organisation of the tournament.

 The introduction of base camps is designed to provide optimal preparation conditions, enhance sporting fairness and significantly improve logistical efficiency.

From a performance standpoint, the innovation is expected to have a direct impact. With access to high-quality training facilities and stable accommodation throughout the competition, teams can focus on recovery, tactical preparation, team bonding and mental well-being.

The reduction in constant travel — a long-standing challenge at previous AFCON editions — is also expected to limit fatigue and improve match quality.

Logistically, the base camp system allows for smoother coordination with local authorities, better security planning and more efficient management of team movements.

CAF officials say the camps were selected using strict criteria, including infrastructure quality, accessibility, security and proximity to match venues, ensuring international best practices are met.

Beyond football, the initiative reflects Morocco’s broader ambition to make AFCON 2025 a benchmark tournament.

Massive investments in stadiums, training centres, hotels and transport infrastructure form part of a wider strategy of sustainable development and regional enhancement, leaving a lasting legacy well beyond the final whistle.

By adopting organisational models inspired by the world’s biggest sporting events, Morocco — in partnership with CAF — is helping to modernise African football and elevate the global profile of the Africa Cup of Nations.

As the countdown to kick-off continues, the establishment of 24 World Cup–style base camps stands as a powerful symbol of a better-organised, fairer and more professional AFCON. In every sense, Morocco has raised the bar — and AFCON 2025 promises to be a defining chapter in the tournament’s history.

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