AFCON
Morocco gears up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
Morocco is setting the stage for an unforgettable 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with preparations reaching fever pitch, four days before the Final Draw is held in Rabat on Monday.
Known for its rich football heritage and proven track record in hosting global events, the North African nation is ready to deliver a spectacular showcase of African football.
A Legacy of World-Class Stadiums
Morocco boasts a collection of state-of-the-art stadiums that have hosted prestigious tournaments, including FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The iconic Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, set to play a central role in AFCON 2025, is steeped in history, having hosted the 1988 AFCON final.
In Rabat, the Moulay Abdellah Stadium is undergoing expansion to increase its capacity, ensuring fans have an unparalleled viewing experience.
The Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier and the Marrakech Stadium are poised to host crucial matches, offering modern amenities and vibrant atmospheres.
Further south, the Adrar Stadium in Agadir combines cutting-edge facilities with breathtaking surroundings, making it a fan favourite.
Seamless Travel and Accommodation
Morocco’s impressive infrastructure ensures smooth travel and convenience for fans.
With a robust network of international airports in cities like Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech, fans from across the globe can easily reach the host cities.
Major airlines, including Royal Air Maroc, facilitate seamless connectivity.
The country’s advanced train system, featuring the high-speed Al Boraq line, links key cities, making inter-city travel both fast and comfortable.
An extensive network of highways and public transportation further supports efficient mobility.
Fans can also look forward to a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to budget-friendly stays, ensuring comfort for all visitors.
A Proven Host for Global Football
Morocco’s hosting of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN), the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023 underscores its expertise in organizing world-class tournaments.
The country’s football infrastructure and passionate fan base have made it a natural choice for AFCON 2025 and a joint host for the FIFA 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain.
The Road to December 2025
The 2025 AFCON will see 24 teams from across the continent compete for glory, with Morocco’s Atlas Lions leading the charge as the host nation.
Following their historic performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where they became the first African team to reach the semi-finals, Morocco is determined to set a new benchmark for African football tournaments.
A Celebration of African Football
Scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, the 2025 AFCON promises to be a celebration of African talent, culture, and unity.
With its world-class facilities, unparalleled hospitality, and a nation united by a passion for football, Morocco is ready to deliver the 2025 AFCON that will resonate across the continent and beyond.
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The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) has kicked off a European promotional tour themed “Morocco, Land of Football” to boost the country’s visibility ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The roadshow, which began on June 16 and runs through June 23, is making stops in five key European cities: Madrid, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Milan.
According to a press release, the initiative is designed to enhance Morocco’s international profile through a blend of sports and cultural promotion, as the kingdom prepares to host the continent’s premier football tournament.
“Morocco is preparing to welcome Africa. Through this roadshow, we aim to tell a collective story of a country oriented towards the future, proud of its roots, and passionate about football,” said Achraf Fayda, Director General of ONMT.
The roadshow stems from a strategic partnership signed in April between the ONMT and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), with the shared goal of positioning Morocco as a leading global destination for both football and tourism by 2030.
At each stop, the tour is expected to engage over 100 travel agents, tour operators, media professionals, and African tourism experts. Participants are treated to immersive, multisensory experiences that highlight Morocco’s tourism offerings, while also facilitating networking with sports personalities.
The campaign targets travel professionals, sports industry stakeholders, and digital content creators as part of ONMT’s broader strategy to leverage AFCON 2025 for tourism development and international branding.
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The African Football Confederation (CAF) and Royal Air Maroc (RAM) have sealed a historic strategic partnership that grants Morocco’s national airline the status of “Official Global Partner” for upcoming major African football competitions.
The agreement was signed Saturday morning in Casablanca, in the presence of Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaâ.
This partnership encompasses several prestigious tournaments, including the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco (AFCON) 2025 (December 21, 2025 – January 18, 2026) and CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco (WAFCON) 2024 (July 5-26, 2025).
The agreement also covers CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, CAF Champions League 2024/2025 Finals, CAF Confederation Cup 2024/2025 Finals, and the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe voiced enthusiasm about the collaboration.
“We are excited about the partnership between CAF and Royal Air Maroc, a world-class airline that will provide comfort and fly NationalTeams participating in the CAF competitions,” he said.
“We are confident that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will be the most successful AFCON in the history of this competition.”
The agreement strengthens RAM’s footprint across Africa and globally, solidifying its role as a strategic gateway between Africa and the rest of the world. It also aligns with Morocco’s emergence as an international sports hub, with the country preparing to host AFCON 2025 and co-host the FIFA World Cup 2030.
RAM’s Chairman and CEO Hamid Addou stated: “This historic partnership with CAF aligns fully with our strategic vision as an airline deeply rooted in Africa and committed to its development.”
“Royal Air Maroc doesn’t just connect destinations; it builds bridges between cultures and passions. By supporting the continent’s biggest football competitions, we reaffirm our role as a facilitator of human and sporting exchanges,” he continued.
500,000 supporters expected
Beyond its partnership role, RAM will implement an exceptional operational system to meet increased demand during CAF competitions. The airline plans to welcome over 500,000 supporters for AFCON 2025.
“We believe we will surpass this figure by far,” revealed Addou. “We will be ready to accommodate these supporters across Royal Air Maroc’s entire network.”
The airline intends to double seat capacity from qualified countries already served by RAM, such as Dakar, Abidjan, Cairo, Tunis, Bamako, Lagos, and Douala.
RAM will also intensify flight frequencies from European cities with large African communities, including Paris, Brussels, Milan, London, Marseille, Lyon, Madrid, and Barcelona.
Additionally, the airline will establish a dedicated program for domestic air transport of national teams, shuttling them between their base camps and host cities.
This positioning establishes RAM as the primary connector between Africa and Europe through its Casablanca hub. FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaâ noted that the contract “reinforces Royal Air Maroc’s first-rate leadership role in Africa.”
“Royal Air Maroc is no stranger to football,” Lekjaâ added. “It has always supported generations of our athletes and footballers here in Morocco.”
“With this expertise and experience, they will contribute significantly to making AFCON 2025 Morocco exceptional, a historic turning point in African football, cultural coexistence and African cultural exchange,” he concluded.
Addou stressed RAM’s commitment to African unity: “We are all extremely proud to be African, and in every corner of this vast and magnificent continent, we share the same ambition—to actively contribute to Africa’s development and influence.”
The RAM CEO concluded by inviting everyone to upcoming CAF calendar events: “We’ll see you very soon for the great moments ahead in the CAF calendar, particularly the Women’s AFCON starting in July and, of course, the men’s AFCON, which kicks off on December 25.”
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The presidents of the regional councils concerned by the hosting of the matches of the Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco-2025) unanimously affirmed that the implementation of infrastructure projects in anticipation of this continental event “is progressing at a sustained pace”, declaring themselves “fully mobilized” to crown with success the major sporting events scheduled in the Kingdom.
They specified, in statements to the press in Rabat following a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior devoted to the assessment of the progress of the construction and rehabilitation works of the stadiums, that major sports infrastructure projects are underway in the six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Fez, Marrakech and Agadir.
The President of the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, Abdellatif Maâzouz, announced that the projects planned for upcoming international sporting events, in particular the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, “are proceeding under good conditions.”
The projects related to the organisation of the AFCON will be ready by next July at the latest, he assured, specifying that there is a clear vision regarding the preparations underway for the AFCON and the 2030 World Cup, both in terms of equipment and organisational arrangements related to human resources and animation.
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