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Rabat – Fans and observers are already buzzing with excitement for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2025, set to take place in Morocco in December.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has shared more details about the tournament, further heightening the excitement.
On Tuesday, the continent’s football confederation highlighted that this edition will mark the second time that Morocco will host the tournament in the country’s history.
When Morocco first hosted the tournament in 1988, only eight teams competed. Now, however, the competition has expanded to 24 teams.
CAF also listed the potential venues that will host the competition, although the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has yet to officially confirm the stadiums approved.
The potential stadiums include Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, Adrar Stadium in Agadir as well as the Grand Stadium ofMarrakech. The Grand Stadium of Fez is also part of the list.
The qualifiers for Morocco’s AFCON edition will start in September. To start, Morocco’s national team will play a qualifier game on September 6 against Gabon. The Atlas Lions will play a second qualifier on September 9 against Lesotho.
The qualifiers will feature 48 nations divided into 12 groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing the tournament.
CAF has recalled Morocco’s contributions and efforts to champion football development.
“Morocco’s selection as the host for AFCON 2025 is no surprise given the country’s recent track record in successfully hosting major international football events,” CAF said in a recent statement.
The confederation further recalled Morocco’s successful hosting of major championships, including the 2022 Women’s AFCON in 2022, the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023 and the 2018 African Nations Championship.
Morocco has consistently demonstrated its capacity to organize and deliver world class football tournaments.
As a host country, Morocco and the Atlas Lions face immense pressure. The Atlas Lions are expected to deliver standout performances in order to surpass their previous disappointments.
Letting down fan’s expectations, Morocco witnessed an early exit in the previous tournament after its defeat against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
The Atlas Lions fell short of reaching their anticipated goal due to the disheartening and dramatic 2-0 loss, preventing Morocco from advancing to quarter finals.
Despite the widespread criticism, the Atlas Lions and their coach Walid Regragui have frequently expressed determination to ensure that the trophy stays in AFCON’s host country in 2025.
