By Kunle Solaja, Casablanca.

Morocco’s flawless organisation of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 has sent a powerful message to the global sporting community. It is loud and clear: the Kingdom is not only ready to co-host the FIFA World Cup in 2030 with Spain and Portugal, but is equally capable of staging the Olympic Games.

From immaculate stadiums to seamless transport links, and from efficient logistics to the warmth and tolerance of its people, AFCON 2025 became a live rehearsal for football’s biggest stage. The verdict is that Morocco passed with distinction.

The Afcon 2025 was a tournament that ran like clockwork despite the drama that clouded Sunday’s final with the 14-minute Senegal’s walk-off protest and the narrow 1–0 extra-time defeat of the hosts.

 The tournament itself was delivered without major organisational hitches. The final at Rabat’s Stade Moulay Abdellah drew 66,526 spectators into a stadium built for 69,500.

This underscores Morocco’s capacity to manage large, emotionally charged crowds with professionalism and restraint.

The riotous acts of the Senegalese fans would have been met with iron-fist crushing by security men in other climes. But the professionalism of the Moroccan security outfits was at its best.

Little wonder, in the course of the tournament, a high-level delegation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States visited Morocco to review security systems used during AFCON 2025. The team checked crowd control, access points, drone monitoring, cameras, and coordination between security units.

This is yet another indication that the world has a lot to learn from Morocco.

Across the country, the six host cities offered modern facilities, efficient security coordination and a festival-like atmosphere that blended football passion with Moroccan hospitality. Visiting teams, officials, journalists and fans consistently praised the ease of movement, clarity of accreditation systems and the friendliness of volunteers.

World-Class Stadiums, World-Class Vision

Five of the six stadiums earmarked for the 2030 World Cup were already in use during AFCON 2025. The Grande Stade in Tangier, which is officially known as Ibn Battouta Stadium, with its 75,000 capacity, stands as a striking symbol of Morocco’s ambition. Located in the northern coastal city, it sits less than an hour by ferry from Spain, perfectly illustrating the geographic logic of a tri-continental World Cup.

Venues in Agadir, Fes and Marrakech proved more than adequate for top-level international football and are scheduled for further renovation and expansion ahead of 2030.

The centrepiece of Morocco’s long-term vision, however, is the proposed 115,000-capacity Stade Hassan II on the outskirts of Casablanca.

This is a mega-arena Morocco hopes will host the 2030 World Cup final, rivalling Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu not just in size, but in symbolism.

In total, Morocco plans to invest about $1.4 billion in its six World Cup stadiums.

Transport, Tourism and a Tested Infrastructure

AFCON 2025 highlighted Morocco’s biggest non-football strength: infrastructure readiness. Ten Moroccan cities already enjoy direct air links to Europe, supported by a growing network of budget airlines that make travel to the Kingdom affordable and frequent.

Africa’s only high-speed rail service, the Al Boraq, currently connects Tangier to Casablanca in about three hours. It was gathered that plans are underway to extend the line southwards to Marrakech and Agadir, creating a spine of rapid movement that would be invaluable for a World Cup and even more so for an Olympic Games spread across multiple clusters.

The tourism infrastructure, refined over decades, absorbed the influx of fans with ease. Hotels, riads, transport operators and local guides operated in sync, reflecting a country well-versed in hosting global visitors.

A Tolerant, Welcoming Society

Perhaps Morocco’s strongest asset lies beyond bricks and mortar. Throughout AFCON 2025, fans from across Africa mingled freely in stadiums, fan zones, cafés and city squares. Cultural, religious and linguistic differences were accommodated with ease, reinforcing Morocco’s image as a tolerant, open society at the crossroads of Africa, Europe and the Arab world.

This social cohesion was not accidental. It reflects a long-standing national ethos encouraged from the highest level of the state, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, who has repeatedly emphasised youth development, sport, cultural dialogue and international openness.

The royal reception of the Atlas Lions by Prince Moulay Rachid after the final further reinforced how sport is embedded within Morocco’s broader nation-building strategy.

Balancing Ambition with Social Expectations

Yet Morocco’s ambition is not without internal challenges. Youth-led unrest last September exposed frustrations over poverty, healthcare and education, with protesters questioning the scale of spending on stadiums amid social needs.

The authorities face the delicate task of maintaining momentum on infrastructure development while ensuring that economic growth translates into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens. Official statistics show poverty has been cut almost in half in recent years, but public expectations remain high.

Importantly, AFCON 2025 demonstrated that Morocco can manage security, dissent and mass gatherings without undermining its international image. This is a crucial factor for any World Cup or Olympic host.

Sporting Credibility on the Global Stage

On the pitch, Morocco’s recent footballing history adds credibility to its hosting ambitions. The Atlas Lions’ historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was the first by an African nation. This has reshaped global perceptions of African football.

Although their AFCON title drought continues, the organisational success of AFCON 2025 showed that Morocco’s football ecosystem, including administration, infrastructure and fan culture, is already operating at elite global standards.

AFCON 2025 was more than a continental tournament; it was a statement of intent. Morocco demonstrated that it can host a complex, multi-city sporting event with efficiency, dignity and warmth.

If the Africa Cup of Nations was the rehearsal, then Morocco has convincingly shown it is ready for the World Cup and, one day, the Olympic Games, not just as a host, but as a welcoming crossroads where sport, culture and tolerance meet.

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Morocco will pursue legal action over the outcome of Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final, where opponents Senegal walked off the field to protest a penalty awarded against them but later returned to win the match.

Morocco were beaten 1-0 after extra time by Senegal in the decider in Rabat, but the hosts had a chance to win the trophy with a last-gasp penalty at the end of regulation time.

Senegalese players stormed off in protest after a VAR decision to hand Morocco a spot kick for a tug on the shoulder of striker Brahim Diaz, who then squandered the kick after having to wait some 14 minutes before the Senegal side returned.

“The Royal Moroccan Football Federation announces that it will pursue legal action with the Confederation of African Football and FIFA to rule on the walk-off of the Senegalese national team from the field during the final against the Moroccan national team, as well as on the events surrounding this decision, following the referee’s awarding of a penalty that was deemed correct by all experts,” a statement said.

“This situation had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players’ performance,” it added.

It is unclear what Morocco wants to achieve with their complaint, other than being seen to formally remonstrate over the outcome of the match.

Earlier on Monday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF condemned the behaviour of Senegal players and members of the coaching staff after the chaotic scenes, saying violence and walk-offs had no place in football.

“We also witnessed unacceptable scenes on the field and in the stands – we strongly condemn the behaviour of some ‘supporters’ as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members,” Infantino said.

“It is unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner and, equally, violence cannot be tolerated in our sport; it is simply not right.

“We must always respect the decisions taken by the match officials on and off the field of play. Teams must compete on the pitch and within the Laws of the Game, because anything less puts the very essence of football at risk.”

CAF said it was reviewing footage and that disciplinary proceedings will follow, adding that it “condemns the unacceptable behaviour from some players and officials”.

-Reuters

CAF Africa Cup of Nations – Morocco 2025 – Final – Senegal v Morocco – Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco – January 18, 2026 Senegal fans react in the stand after Morocco were awarded a penalty following a VAR review REUTERS/Stringer TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY.

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Morocco’s Brahim Diaz has apologised for his Panenka penalty miss that cost his country the Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday, saying his “soul hurts” and he took responsibility for the 1-0 defeat by Senegal in the decider in Rabat.

Morocco were awarded a spot-kick in the 98th minute after Diaz was hauled to the ground by defender El Hadji Malick Diouf, an incident that sparked ugly scenes in the stands and on the pitch.

It followed five minutes after a disallowed goal at the other end and the decision, made on Video Assistant Referee review, resulted in some Senegal players leaving the pitch in protest, encouraged by their coach Pape Bouna Thiaw.

It took over 14 minutes for calm to be restored and the game to resume, only for Diaz to inexplicably attempt a weak chipped penalty that was easily caught by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

It proved one of the last actions before the game went to extra time and Senegal triumphed thanks to Pape Gueye’s superb winner.

“Yesterday I failed, and I take full responsibility and apologise with all my heart,” Diaz said via X.

“It will be hard for me to recover because this wound does not heal easily, but I will try. Not for myself, but for all who believed in me and for all who suffered with me.

“I will keep going until someday I can give back all this love and be a pride for my Moroccan people.”

Diaz, 26, plays for Real Madrid having been born in Malaga and also won a cap for Spain before switching allegiances to Morocco in 2024.

He finished as the leading scorer in the 2025 Cup of Nations after netting a goal in each of Morocco’s first five games at the tournament.

Morocco’s 50-year wait for the continental title will continue at least until the 2027 tournament.

Named after Czech footballer Antonin Panenka, the style of spot-kick is one where the player gently chips the ball into the centre of the goal rather than powerfully to either side, hoping the keeper will commit to diving.

-Reuters

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