By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca

The Confederation of African Football has opened formal disciplinary proceedings following incidents recorded during the quarter-final matches of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.

In a statement released, CAF confirmed that it had collected recent match reports and reviewed video evidence pointing to potentially unacceptable behaviour involving some players and officials during the quarter-final fixtures between Cameroon and Morocco, as well as Algeria and Nigeria.

CAF disclosed that the matters have been formally referred to its Disciplinary Board for investigation, stressing that appropriate sanctions would be imposed should any individuals be found guilty of wrongdoing.

In addition to on-field and technical area incidents, CAF revealed that it is also reviewing footage related to an alleged case of misconduct involving members of the media in the mixed zone area after one of the quarter-final matches.

The continental body reiterated its firm stance against any form of inappropriate behaviour at its competitions, particularly actions directed at match officials or tournament organisers.

“CAF strongly condemns any behaviour that falls short of professional standards during its events,” the statement said. “Appropriate action will be sought against anyone whose conduct is inconsistent with the values and regulations of CAF competitions.”

The outcome of the investigations is expected to be communicated in due course, as the tournament approaches its decisive semi-final stage.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

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).

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca

When Nigeria and Morocco walk onto the pitch at the elegant Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Wednesday, the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 will be more than a contest for a place in the final. It will be a collision of history, ambition and unfinished business.

The Super Eagles will arrive in Rabat chasing a fourth continental crown, having swept aside every opponent so far with five wins from five matches.

Morocco, buoyed by home support and an unbroken run of four victories and a draw, are seeking to end a long wait for a second AFCON title — their only triumph coming nearly half a century ago.

Coincidentally, both teams’ path crossed twice at the history-making 1976 AFCON, the first and only one ever played on league basis throughout.

It was at Ethiopia 1986 that Nigeria first made impression at the competition and ended up as the third-place team, a position that was celebrated as if Nigeria won the actual trophy.

Morocco on the other hand went on to win the trophy, the only success so far in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Beyond the two encounters of 1976, clashes of Nigeria and Morocco are rare and far in between.

Despite the rarity of their recent meetings, familiarity runs deep. This will be the sixth time both nations clash at the Africa Cup of Nations, and notably, every previous AFCON encounter between them has produced a winner.

It is also their first AFCON meeting in 22 years and just the second time they meet at the semi-final stage.

As it is well known, their rivalry dates back to 1976, when Morocco twice defeated Nigeria in the group stage — 3–1 and 2–1 — on the road to lifting their maiden and only AFCON trophy. Four years later, however, the balance shifted dramatically. In the 1980 semi-final, Nigeria edged Morocco 1–0, with Felix Owolabi’s ninth-minute strike sending the Super Eagles toward their first continental title on home soil.

Subsequent meetings have swung like a pendulum. Nigeria eliminated Morocco in the decisive Group D clash at AFCON 2000, winning 2–0 through goals from Finidi George and Julius Aghahowa.

Morocco had the last AFCON word in 2004, when Youssef Hadji’s late strike secured a 1–0 group-stage victory.

Beyond AFCON finals, the two nations have also crossed paths in qualifiers, most notably in the goalless two-legged second round of qualification for the 1984 tournament. Nigeria advanced only after a penalty shoot-out, underlining how tight and unforgiving this rivalry has often been.

But at the same period and in similar fashion, Morocco edged out Nigeria in the qualification for the football event of Los Angeles 1984.

Morocco currently hold the historical edge overall, with six wins to Nigeria’s three in 11 meetings, alongside two draws.

Yet trends offer intrigue rather than certainty: seven of the 11 goals scored in their AFCON encounters have come in the second half, hinting at a contest that may be decided by patience, nerve and late precision.

For Nigeria, the challenge is amplified by the identity of the opponent as tournament hosts. The Super Eagles’ record against host nations at AFCON is mixed — three wins, three draws and four defeats from ten encounters.

Fresh memories remain of the 2023 final loss to Côte d’Ivoire, where Nigeria fell 2–1 after having beaten the same opponents in the group stage.

History has not been kind to Nigeria in knockout clashes against hosts. In five such meetings, their only outright victory came in the third-place match against Mali in 2002.

Losses to Algeria (1990 final), Ghana (2008 quarter-final), Tunisia (2004 semi-final, on penalties) and Côte d’Ivoire (2023 final) still linger as cautionary tales.

Yet, if history warns, form encourages. Nigeria’s perfect record in the tournament contrasts with Morocco’s slight stumble, and the Super Eagles arrive with momentum, confidence and a sense of destiny. Morocco, meanwhile, carry the weight — and energy — of home expectation, knowing that a chance to end a 49-year title drought may not come often.

When the lights blaze in Rabat on Wednesday night, one long unbeaten run will end. Whether it is Nigeria’s quest for a fourth star or Morocco’s dream of a home-grown renaissance that survives will depend not just on history, but on who writes the next decisive chapter.

Past Encounters

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H