Rabat – Morocco’s National Railways Office (ONCF) transported more than 250,000 football fans between host cities during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
ONCF said it carried over 95,000 passengers in a single day on fast shuttle trains, while more than 25,000 passengers traveled on Al Boraq high-speed trains. The average occupancy rate across services reached 84%.
To handle the high demand during peak match days, ONCF said it activated an exceptional transport plan. This included adding 251 extra trains and providing more than 342,000 seats, the equivalent of nearly 1,000 train services.
And to improve access to stadiums, ONCF scheduled special stops for 113 trains at Rabat’s new Hay Riyad station, located near the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex.
Meanwhile in Marrakech, 74 trains stopped at the Sidi Ibrahim station, which ONCF prepared specifically for the tournament.
As a result of this large-scale operation, overall passenger traffic increased by 7% during the AFCON period.
ONCF added that it ensured transportation for seven African national teams, as well as officials and delegations from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and high-level official guests. These trips were made using Al Boraq, Atlas trains, and fast shuttle services.
The statement added that ONCF operated a 24/7 passenger management system in nine key stations throughout the tournament. It also set up a special AFCON operations center to monitor rail services and manage passenger flows.
The rail operator worked closely with local authorities by supporting the regional operations center in Rabat.
ONCF also reported strong demand for its 100% digital “Yalla CAN” travel card. The railway sold around 20,000 cards resulting in 85,000 journeys. International customers made up 46% of users.
According to ONCF, this record performance was made possible by the full mobilization of its workforce. More than 800 staff members from commercial, technical, and security teams were deployed, along with volunteers.
