AFCON
Afcon 2023 teams set up seven pre-tournament camps in the Middle East and Africa
With the clock ticking down to the 13 January kick-off date for the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the 24 teams have set up seven camps in the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa and West Africa as well as some remaining at home.
The camps are in Saudi Arabia, UAE, West Africa, South Africa, Tunisia, Algeria as well as some remaining in their home countries.
In the United Arab Emirates are six teams from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Cape Verde Angola and Guinea.
Fourth in the last edition, Burkina Faso chose to set up camp in Dubai on December 28, where the Stallions will play a mini-tournament with Nigeria and the DR Congo.
The Congolese and Burkinabes will face off on January 10.
It’s worth noting that Sébastien Desabre’s men are expected in Abu Dhabi at the end of December.
These two teams will be joined by Cape Verde, fine-tunning its preparation in Abu Dhabi before flying to Rades in Tunisia where they will face the Carthage Eagles on January 10.
Abu Dhabi is a carefully considered choice for Kaba Diawara: “Initially, we will meet in Conakry on December 28 and do everything related to flag presentation, celebration, receiving the head of state, and saying goodbye to families on our soil.
“We will be in Abu Dhabi on the 31st to start training. We will leave there for Cote d’Ivoire on January 11 or 12, 2024,” explained the Guinean coach.
Nigeria chose to set up in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates during their preparation. The Super Eagles will face the DR Congo and Burkina Faso during this period.
Nigerians will likely encounter Angola, who also chose Dubai for their training camp.
At the Saudi Arabia training camp are the quartet of Cameroon, Gambia, Zambia, and Cape Verde which also will partly be in UAE and later Tunisia.
Cameroon and Gambia, the two teams set to face each other on January 23 in Group B of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, will prepare in the same country of Saudi Arabia.
According to the Cameroonian press, a contingent of 23 Indomitable Lions will travel to Jeddah on December 27.
Gambia will stay in Saudi Arabia from December 27 to January 5 before heading to Morocco, where a match against the Atlas Lions is planned on January 7.
After a brief gathering with local players, Zambia will fly to Riyadh, with a friendly match scheduled around January 7.
South Africa is another training centre where Ghana and Mozambique will be. Ghanaians will spend New Year’s Eve together in South Africa. The Black Stars will undergo a 10-day training camp where the press and the public will not be able to attend their sessions.
A test match against Botswana is scheduled for Chris Hughton’s men on January 8 before flying to Abidjan.
Mozambicans will also travel to South Africa before the Africa Cup of Nations.
The trio of Algeria, Guinea Bossau and Namibia opted to set up camp in West Africa
Algeria heads to Togo. From January 1 to 10, the Fennecs will conduct their preparation stage in Lomé. The 2021 African champions will play against Togo on January 5 and Burundi on January 9.
Guinea Bissau will go to Mali. The Djurtus will face the Eagles on January 3 before heading to Ivory Coast on January 7. Namibia will be in Ghana.
Both Mauritania and Zambia opted to set up training camp in Tunisia. After Abu Dhabi, Cape Verde will go to Tunisia, where a match against the Carthage Eagles is scheduled.
Mauritania will start its preparation in Tabarka, a coastal city in northwest Tunisia. Amir Abdou and his team will be there until January 11 and will face Tunisia on January 6.
Tanzania will prepare on the side of Annaba in Algeria. Two friendly matches against nations participating in the AFCON are under discussion.
Eight nations have decided to carry out their preparation at home, including Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia, Mali, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, the host country of the competition.
With just one month to the Africa Cup of Nations, Moroccan defensive stalwarts Achraf Hakimi and Nayef Aguerd have offered fans a reassuring glimpse into their accelerated recovery programmes after both players shared photos of an intense gym session on social media.
Aguerd, who has been sidelined with pubalgia, is currently on a strict rehabilitation schedule aimed at ensuring his return in December.
Hakimi is also racing against time, recovering from a severe ankle sprain sustained earlier in the season.
The PSG full-back began his treatment ten days after Aguerd and was initially projected to miss six to eight weeks, but he has since intensified his workload with focused indoor sessions.
Images posted by Aguerd show the duo in high spirits, smiling as they pose beside the African Ballon d’Or recently won by Hakimi on November 19.
Other photos portray a more serious mood, with both players fully concentrated, executing tailored exercises in what appears to be a private training space — a clear testament to their determination.
Morocco will be banking on the timely return of the pair as they look to reunite with captain Romain Saïss and the rest of the squad ahead of the continental showpiece.
Their progress will be closely watched as the Atlas Lions aim to arrive at AFCON with their defensive backbone fully restored.
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With the Africa Cup of Nations just a month away, Morocco has launched a major promotional drive to sell itself as the continent’s top football destination ahead of AFCON 2025 kicking off on December 21.
The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) rolled out the “Morocco, Land of Football” campaign on Tuesday in Rabat, working in partnership with the country’s football federation (FRMF) under a long-term agreement running until 2030.
ONMT boss Achraf Fayda said the plan uses the “power of football” to showcase Morocco as a world-class tourist hotspot, backed by a series of new measures to attract visitors during the tournament.
The campaign includes special AFCON travel packages, increased flight options, global roadshows targeting African diaspora communities, and a 90-second promotional film featuring national stars Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz.
Digital tools have also been upgraded, including the YALLA app and a new AFCON section on Visit Morocco, while 24 international content creators will tour host cities to boost online visibility.
Fan zones will open across several cities, and officials say the campaign is already driving up interest and ticket demand.
Former Moroccan star Salaheddine Bassir praised the initiative, noting the country’s top-tier hotels, transport systems, stadiums and famous hospitality.
Morocco hopes the campaign will project a vibrant image of the Kingdom as it prepares to host Africa’s biggest football showpiece.
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By Kunle Solaja.
The countdown to the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 has taken a vibrant turn, as the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has launched a nationwide campaign to engage citizens across the kingdom in what promises to be a grand celebration of African football.
The initiative, which began on November 11, will run for 30 days, covering all 12 regions of Morocco and reaching more than 60 municipalities. The first two stops of the tour were held in Tahannaout and Boufakrane, drawing enthusiastic participation from residents.
According to the LOC, the program aims to make AFCON 2025 truly a “CAN for all Moroccans” by bringing football excitement to every corner of the country, from major cities to remote communities.
At each stop, locals can take part in friendly football matches, interactive games, freestyle exhibitions, musical performances, and meet-and-greet sessions with Moroccan football legends. Merchandise stands and cultural showcases will also form part of the festivities, creating a carnival-like atmosphere ahead of the continental showpiece.
“This is more than a football tournament—it’s a national celebration,” an LOC spokesperson said. “We want every Moroccan, whether in urban centers or rural areas, to feel part of the story and share in the joy of hosting Africa’s biggest sporting event.”
The roadshow will continue through December, ensuring that by the time the tournament kicks off on December 21, 2025, the entire country will be united in festive anticipation of welcoming Africa to Morocco.
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