By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca

Away from the roar of stadiums and the tension of Africa Cup of Nations semi-final battles, a different side of Morocco came into focus in Casablanca.

Facilitated by the Moroccan National Association of Media and Publishers, visiting journalists were hosted at CFC First, the flagship complex of Casablanca Finance City—a modern business district redefining Morocco’s economic identity.

From a tourist’s perspective, the contrast was striking. Casablanca’s older quarters tell stories of colonial history and Atlantic resilience, but CFC First speaks the language of the future. Sleek glass towers, wide boulevards and carefully landscaped spaces present an image more commonly associated with global financial capitals than a traditional North African city.

According to the tour guide, Marzouk Abdeltif, the place was previously used as an air strip before it was converted to an economic nerve centre. Virtually all global brands have offices at the CFC. There are incentives to make them stay and even attract more global brands.

The ease of doing business in Morocco is so attractive that the kingdom is fast becoming an economic hub, not just in Africa, but across the globe.

CFC First stands at the heart of Casablanca Finance City, a project launched in the 2010s to position Morocco as a leading financial and business gateway to Africa.

The financial hub as observed from one of the adjornig highrise buildings.

The hub hosts multinational corporations, regional headquarters, banks, insurance firms, consulting companies and fintech operators, all drawn by Morocco’s political stability, strategic location and investor-friendly reforms.

Guided through the district, visitors quickly grasp how the project has impacted the Moroccan economy.

Casablanca Finance City has attracted billions of dollars in foreign direct investment, created thousands of high-skilled jobs and strengthened Morocco’s role as a bridge between Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Many companies operating from CFC coordinate activities across West and Central Africa, making Casablanca a decision-making centre for the continent.

The economic ripple effects extend beyond finance. Real estate development, hospitality, transport and professional services have all expanded alongside the hub. Cafés, hotels and residential projects surrounding CFC First reflect a growing expatriate and professional community, contributing to Casablanca’s evolving urban lifestyle.

For journalists in town primarily for football, the visit offered a broader narrative. Just as Morocco has demonstrated organisational excellence in hosting the Africa Cup of Nations, Casablanca Finance City reflects long-term planning and economic ambition.

The same efficiency seen in match logistics and media coordination is mirrored in boardrooms and trading floors.

As the AFCON drama continued elsewhere, CFC First quietly underscored another Moroccan success story—one measured not in goals or trophies, but in capital flows, continental influence and sustainable growth. For visitors, it was a reminder that beyond the passion of football, Morocco is steadily positioning itself as one of Africa’s most important economic hubs.

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By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca.

As Nigeria and Morocco renew their Africa Cup of Nations rivalry, memories of one of Nigeria’s most defining football nights have resurfaced — the 1980 semi-final in Lagos, settled by a thunderous strike from left-back Felix Owolabi.

Forty-six years ago, the then Green Eagles edged Morocco 1–0 in a titanic semi-final clash at the 12th Africa Cup of Nations, booking a place in the final and setting Nigeria on course for their first continental title.

Speaking in reflection, Owolabi recalled the heavy odds Nigeria faced against a Moroccan side widely regarded as one of the strongest teams in the tournament.

“Many sports lovers didn’t believe in us beating Morocco because they were a strong force in the championship,” he said. “They came all the way from Group B in Ibadan, and the expectation was that they would overpower us.”

For Owolabi and his teammates, however, the semi-final was about more than a single match. It was driven by years of near-misses and unfinished ambition.

“All the players of our era were bent on making history for ourselves and the nation, having lost out in 1976 and 1978,” he explained. “For us, it was either the Cup or nothing more.”

That determination was ultimately expressed in the 9th minute of the match when Owolabi unleashed what he described as a “bullet shot” from 24 metres — a strike that beat the Moroccan goalkeeper and sent the Lagos crowd into rapture.

“Our zeal and ultimate commitment were to go all out and beat Morocco,” he said. “And that is exactly what happened when I scored the only goal to book Nigeria a ticket to the final.”

Nigeria would go on to defeat Algeria in the final, lifting the AFCON trophy for the first time and cementing the 1980 team’s place in African football history.

Looking ahead to the present-day Super Eagles, Owolabi believes the current generation can surpass their achievements if they remain focused.

“I believe our boys can do better than what we did,” he said. “Nothing should distract them. All they need to do is go with the philosophy I have always believed in — team spirit, teamwork, discipline and attitude.”

With Nigeria and Morocco set to meet once again on the continental stage, Owolabi’s words serve as both a reminder of past glory and a rallying call for a new chapter to be written.

“Say to yourself, and so shall it be,” he added. “Good luck to them.”

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By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca.

A visit to Casablanca is incomplete without standing before the awe-inspiring Hassan II Mosque, a monument that rises boldly from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and blurs the boundaries between faiths, cultures and architectural traditions.

The free match days of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco offer an opportunity to visit the iconic structures which combine elements of education, culture and faith. According to the tour guide, Morocco, though an Islamic kingdom, is also tolerant of other faiths, as there are Jews in Morocco as well as Christians.

From a tourist’s perspective, the first striking feature is its location. Built partly over the Atlantic, the mosque appears to float above the sea, with waves rolling beneath its foundations. The constant murmur of the ocean lends the site a natural soundtrack, reinforcing the spiritual symbolism of water in Islamic tradition while creating a serene atmosphere for visitors.

The tolerance explains why Morocco seems to be galloping ahead of most modern states in terms of all-around development. Arabic and French are the official languages; English is also widely spoken in Morocco.

Tour guide, Marzouk Abdeltif, a retired university lecturer, explained that the kingdom has always been blessed with good leaders.

Standing with my tour guide, a retired university professor

The Hassan II Mosque was the brainchild of King Hassan II, who, while passing by the location, asked what the place was for. It was actually an abandoned public swimming pool by the ocean side. That was the origin of the religious, educational, and cultural project that also contributes meaningfully to the ever-growing economy of Morocco.

Thousands of tourists visit the place, irrespective of their faith and culture. For instance, a tourist pays 140 Moroccan Dirhams (MAD), which is about $15.

Dominating the skyline is the mosque’s minaret, which is reputed to be the tallest in the world at about 210 metres. It is visible from almost anywhere in Casablanca and serves as both a spiritual beacon and a geographical reference point.

At night, a laser beam from its summit points toward Mecca, blending modern technology with religious symbolism.

The imposing mosque is built partly on the Atlantic Ocean

Inside, the Hassan II Mosque reveals one of its most fascinating peculiarities. An architectural language that crosses cultural and religious divides. While firmly rooted in Islamic design, the interior carries an unmistakable cathedral-like outlook.

The vastness of the prayer hall, the soaring columns, the sense of vertical lift and the orchestration of light evoke elements commonly associated with great European cathedrals. This fusion creates a space that feels both familiar and universal, even to first-time visitors from non-Islamic backgrounds.

Moroccan craftsmanship remains at the heart of the design. Hand-carved cedarwood ceilings, intricate zellige tilework, sculpted plaster and polished marble reflect centuries-old artisan traditions.

Yet woven into these details are influences from other cultures, subtly incorporated through symmetry, spatial arrangement and decorative rhythm, giving the mosque a cosmopolitan identity befitting Morocco’s historical role as a crossroads between Africa, Europe and the Arab world.

Among its modern features is a retractable roof that opens to the sky, allowing sunlight and fresh air to flood the prayer hall within minutes. Heated marble floors and elaborately designed ablution areas further underline the mosque’s blend of comfort, innovation and reverence.

Unlike many mosques of its scale, the Hassan II Mosque is open to non-Muslim visitors through guided tours, reinforcing its role as both a religious sanctuary and a cultural bridge. Tourists walk its halls in quiet admiration, often struck by how seamlessly the building accommodates devotion, dialogue and discovery.

Inside the cathedral-like mosque

More than a landmark, the Hassan II Mosque is what Casablanca is best known for—a monument that unites tradition and modernity, Islam and global culture, the land and the sea. For visitors, it stands not just as a place of worship, but as a powerful symbol of coexistence, openness and architectural ambition on the Atlantic edge of Africa.

The mosque features 25 gates, 20 of which are for men, four for women and the central one is designated as the Royal Gate for the King. He can move straight to the front and pray behind the Imam. In a normal worship session, the mosque holds about 20,000 male worshipers, while another section is designated for the females and can hold 5,000 of them.

During Ramadan, the bowl of the vast cathedral-like mosque can accommodate slightly over half a million worshipers. It is forbidden for the Imam to make political preaching. According to the tour guide, the sermons are written.

The ladies in Morocco also dress freely, as King Hassan II was quoted to have remarked that worship is in the heart. Morocco practices Sunni Islam. The guide explains the symbolism of the Moroccan flag, which comprises a five-pointed outlined green star over a red background.

The red background symbolises power. The green of the star indicates peace and freedom. The five-sided star, which closely resembles the Seal of Solomon, is explained as indicating the five tenets of Islam – symbolising the strong bond between God and the nation, peace, hope, and the five pillars of Islam (faith, prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage).

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