AFCON
One Year to 2025 AFCON: Behold Morocco’s magnificent stadiums for the tournament
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is one year to the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. And the clock ticks down to the first Africa Cup of Nations finals to be held in the month of December and the first to spill into the following year.
The tournament kicks off on Sunday 21 December and ends on 18 January 2026.
Morocco 2025 holds great significance and is signalling even bigger events ahead – the 2030 World Cup. But a great event is already being anticipated even as the Local Organising Committee is yet to announce the host cities.
Yet, calculated guesses can be made with almost 99 per cent success assurance. Morocco boasts many big stadiums with great historical and architectural importance.
Sports Village Square has visited virtually all existing major stadiums in the Kingdom of Morocco. They are mainly managed by Société nationale de réalisation et de gestion des stades (SONARGES) which in English translates to National Stadium Construction and Management Company.
Each of the stadiums has its peculiarity. Some of the stadiums are also time-honoured. Here are some of them.
Grand Stade d’Agadir; where the Atlas Mountains blend with the sports facility
Occasionally, structural designers attempt a blend of nature with constructions. This is very apparent in the design of Grand Stade d’Agadir, one of the arenas that Morocco is proposing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The stadium is lying at the foot of the Atlas Mountain from where the Morocco national team derived their appellation, Atlas Lions, is one of the stadiums that the North African nation is putting forward for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Sports Village Square visited the arena in 2023. According to Hitcham Allouli, the stadium’s director, the 45,480-capacity Grand Stade Adrar Agadir was designed to form part of Morocco’s bid for the 2010 World Cup.
Early construction works kicked off in 2003 but works progressed slowly and stalled when South Africa got awarded the World Cup instead of Morocco.
Construction works resumed in 2007 and were completed in October 2013 and hosted some matches of that year’s edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Located on the eastern edge of the Agadir at the foot of the Atlas Mountain range, the stadium is about five kilometres from Agadir’s centre and beachfront.
The arena’s director said that the stadium is estimated to have been constructed at cost of one million euro.
The design was by a Moroccan architect, Sad Benkirane in conjunction with a foreign firm, Gregotti Associati International.
Outwardly, the stadium in colour and in shape, is designed to have a perfect harmony with the surrounding hills as outside walls have sloped elevations.
Hitcham Allouli, the director at the stadium informed that the arena, with natural grass, has a media tribune that can hold 288 journalists as well as 12 commentary boxes.
The three-tiered grandstand has three VVIP zones and each has a capacity for 250 guests. This is in addition to 12 lounges that can host 300 guests.
The locker rooms have facilities for ice rooms as well as sauna baths.
The ability of the arena to host major international tournaments, especially the Africa Cup of Nations has already been proven as the Grand Stadium d’Agadir hosted international matches and also the FIFA Club World Cup in 2013.
Stade de Marrakech offers first-ever ever-rectangular-shaped stadium with elliptical running tracks
Stade de Marrakech
The Stade de Marrakech which is some 11 km from the city centre has a unique architectural design.
It is the first stadium in the world to be both rectangular and also incorporate an elliptical running track for athletics.
Sports Village Square gathered that the arena was designed by Italian firm, Gregotti Associati International. It is adorned in brick red colour outwardly to have harmony with the ancient city that is noted for its trademark red walls.
Generally, Marrakech, the city that hosted the 2023 and 2024 CAF Awards, is nicknamed “Red City” as most buildings are constructed in red sandstone.
The stadium outwardly cut the picture of an ancient fort and has four towers at the corners of the unique arena.
Each tower carries a set of halogen lamps that illuminate the natural lush green grass and the main bowl.
This may not be a coincidence. As the director of the stadium, Rachid Naifi explained, the shape refers to fortifications on one hand and to local architecture in general.
That’s why massive elements dominate the geometrical forms and give the stadium rhythm and colours that are all-natural, from white to brown.
The Marrakech Stadium was opened in January 2011. It holds 45,240 spectators in its bowel.
Of this, 200 seats are allocated as the royal stand, while another 600 are for the very important persons.
The media tribune can hold 1,130 journalists. Provision is also made for the physically challenged spectators as an area that can accommodate 700 of them is carved out.
The stadium is essentially for football and athletics. Just before the 12 locker rooms is a vast yard-like enclosure which can be used for warm-up indoors.
According to Rachid Naifi, the director of the arena, four of the 12 locker rooms are for footballers while eight are for those featuring in athletics.
The Grand Stade de Marrakech hosted some matches of the 2013 and 2014 FIFA Club World Cup.
It has also hosted the 2014 IAAF Continental Cup and the 2014 African Championships in Athletics.
Fez Stadium honours World Cup goal hero with a big, framed photograph
Kunle Solaja at Fez Stadium
Fez is the second largest city in Morocco and the northern inland part of the country has the Fez Stadium which is a potential host arena for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
It is in this arena that a goal-scorer who qualified an African team into the semi-final of the World Cup is honoured.
Youssel En-Nesyri who leapt an incredible height of 2.78 metres to score Morocco’s winner against Portugal at the last World Cup has a huge photograph that captured the goal episode, adorning the Fez Stadium.
The stadium which seats are in green and red depicting the national colours of Morocco, is one of the arenas to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
En-Nesyri’s incredible jump cum goal set an eye-catching record as it reportedly outperformed Ronaldo’s famous 2.56-metre jump during a game with his former club Juventus in the 2019-2020 football season.
Youssel En-Nesyri picture adorns the Youssel Fez Stadium
Both El-Nesyri and Ronaldo are of the same height. El-Nesyri is a native of the city of Fez. His astounding jump above Portugal’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defender, Ruben Dias culminating in a header into the net was described as the highest jump in football goal-scoring episodes.
His native Fez in Morocco has honoured him. According to Anass Erghnouni, the director of the Fez stadium, El-Nesyri started his football career as a youth player at Maghreb Association Sportve de Fes (MAS Fes) before moving to Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat.
En-Nesyri later joined Malaga CF in Spain. The home boy is not the only player hounored at the Fez Stadium. A huge emotion-laden photograph of Achraf Hakim kissing the forehead of his mother adorns the opening room of magnificent Fez Stadium.
More significant is perhaps the life-sized photograph that King Mohammed VI took with the Atlas Lions upon return from Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The use of photographs that capture Morocco’s passion for football may not be a surprise. Erghnouni, the director of the stadium and top official at Morocco’s stadium management company, SONARGES explained that Fez is one of the biggest cultural centres of Morocco and harbouring over 12 centuries of history.
The simplicity of the stadium’s design is to showcase the city’s old century of culture, explained Erghnouni. The pitch of the stadium has lush green natural grass.
The resident clubs at the 45,000-capacity stadium are Maghreb Association Sportive de Fès (MAS Fes) and Wydad Athletic de Fès.
Though in existence since 1997, it was officially commissioned 10 years later.
It has four locker rooms for football teams, making it very good for double-header matches for which the Africa Cup of Nations’ group games adopted.
It means that while a game is on, the two other teams who are to take on the pitch later have their locker rooms.
Four huge slanting flood light pillars each carry 50 halogen lamps to ensure a brilliant spectacle both for spectators and television viewers.
Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca: Old but modern arena
This is one of the oldest stadiums in Morocco, yet it meets the present-day specifications. It was inaugurated on 6 March 1955.
Situated in the commercial capital, Casablanca, the Stade Mohammed V is named after one of the past monarchs of Morocco after whom the city’s international airport is also named.
This stadium is the home ground of local rivals, Raja Casablanca and Wydad Athletic Club. In 1997, the stadium set a record attendance of 110,000 during the Casablanca derby and a match between the Moroccan national team against Ghana. The same record attendance was repeated during Morocco’s match against Argentina in 2004.
Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier
Tangier boasts of Ibn Batouta Stadium, one of those used at the 2022 Club World Cup. Nigeria also played against Liberia at the arena in one of the qualifying duels for the 2022 World Cup. It is named after a Moroccan scholar and explorer.
The architectural marvel, located at the tip of the continent, has a capacity of 65,000 after renovation construction is finished.
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AFCON
Morocco Rejects Claims of Delay, Defends Legal Process in Case Involving Senegalese Supporters
Morocco’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has firmly rejected allegations of unjustified delays and poor detention conditions in the ongoing case involving Senegalese football supporters arrested after unrest linked to a recent continental fixture in Rabat.
In an official clarification, judicial authorities described circulating claims as “unfounded,” insisting that the legal proceedings have been conducted in accordance with Moroccan law and international standards.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office categorically denied any suggestion that the case has been deliberately delayed. Authorities stated that all procedural timelines have been respected and that adjournments were made strictly within the framework of due process.
According to the statement, postponements of hearings were granted at the request of the defendants themselves to allow adequate time to prepare their defence and to ensure the presence of their legal representatives.
Judicial officials also dismissed reports alleging that the detainees were on hunger strike. They confirmed that the accused are receiving their meals regularly and that detention conditions comply with applicable regulations.
“The rumours suggesting otherwise are without basis,” the statement noted.
Authorities explained that one of the hearings was attended by a lawyer registered with a Bar Association in France. However, the absence of a consultation office in Morocco, coupled with the defendants’ preference to be tried in the presence of their chosen lawyers, led to a postponement of the hearing until February 12, 2026.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office emphasised that these postponements were legitimate and aimed at safeguarding the defendants’ right to a fair trial.
Translation and Language Support
In response to concerns about language barriers, the court confirmed that it provided a sworn French-language interpreter during proceedings. French is reportedly mastered by all defendants.
Additionally, authorities coordinated with the Deputy Consul of Senegal in Morocco to make available an interpreter in Wolof, the defendants’ mother tongue, further ensuring that they fully understood the proceedings.
Officials also clarified that Moroccan law does not require the presence of an interpreter during the preliminary investigation phase if the judicial police officer understands the language of the individual concerned, provided that official reports are read and explained to them.
The Moroccan authorities reiterated their commitment to transparency, due process and the protection of the rights of all foreign nationals within the kingdom.
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A Moroccan court on Thursday sentenced 18 Senegalese football supporters to prison terms ranging from three to 12 months after finding them guilty of hooliganism during last month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final.
The supporters had been in pre-trial detention since 18 January, the day Senegal defeated hosts Morocco 1–0 in a tense and controversial final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
According to the court’s ruling, nine of the defendants received one-year prison sentences and were fined 5,000 Moroccan dirhams (approximately $545). Six others were handed six-month terms alongside fines of 2,000 dirhams (about $218), while three supporters were sentenced to three months in prison and fined 1,000 dirhams (around $109).
Prosecutors had sought a maximum penalty of two years, arguing that the accused “deliberately sought to disrupt the proper conduct of the match” and engaged in “acts of violence broadcast live on television.”
Chaos at the Final
The AFCON final was overshadowed by dramatic scenes late in regulation time following a contentious penalty awarded to Morocco after a VAR review. Senegalese players protested the decision vehemently, surrounding the referee and causing play to be halted for nearly 20 minutes.
Amid the tension, some Senegalese supporters reportedly attempted to invade the pitch, while others threw objects — including chairs — onto the field. Players from both sides temporarily left the pitch before returning after intervention from security officials and match authorities.
Authorities said their case was supported by stadium surveillance footage and medical reports detailing injuries sustained by security personnel during the unrest.
However, defence lawyers rejected the charges and described the sentences as excessive.
“The footage does not contain irrefutable proof showing that any one of them struck or assaulted anyone,” defence counsel Naima El Guellaf told the court.
Another lawyer, Patrick Kabou, called the verdict “incomprehensible,” arguing that his clients were “victims” rather than perpetrators. The defence team has confirmed plans to file an appeal.
The ruling comes as football authorities continue to grapple with the fallout from a final that, despite Senegal’s historic victory, was overshadowed by controversy both on and off the pitch.
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French coach Herve Renard has reopened the debate around the controversial “towel incident” that marred the closing stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.
Renard, who previously coached Morocco and now manages the Saudi Arabia national football team, addressed the episode in a recent interview with Jeune Afrique, describing it as a complex issue rooted partly in African football culture.
“The towel story is long and complicated. It has a certain significance, that’s all,” Renard said. He suggested that, if anyone attempted to remove the towel, it could have been intended to unsettle the opponent psychologically.
“In Europe, people don’t understand that there is something behind it. Was the towel charmed? In Africa, these are beliefs, and everyone is free to believe what they want,” he added.
Renard stressed that cultural context is often overlooked by outsiders. “Those who don’t know Africa cannot understand. In this case, Moroccans would never allow anyone to cross that line,” he said, while admitting he was unsure whether events unfolded exactly as widely portrayed. Drawing from his extensive coaching experience across the continent, he noted that similar charged atmospheres are not uncommon in high-stakes African fixtures.
The incident occurred during the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Final in Rabat, where Senegal defeated Morocco 1–0 to lift the continental crown.
Late in the match, attention shifted away from the ball to Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s towel, which had been placed inside his goal to dry his gloves amid wet conditions. As tensions rose in the closing minutes, substitute goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf attempted to safeguard the towel, resulting in a chaotic scene inside the penalty area.
Television footage — quickly dubbed a “towel tussle” — showed Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari blocking Diouf as he tried to return the towel to Mendy, while a ball boy also reached for it. Diouf later insisted he had merely been assisting Mendy and had no intention of disrupting play.
Images circulating after the match appeared to show Moroccan players attempting to remove the towel, sparking a heated debate. Some observers viewed it as gamesmanship designed to unsettle the Senegalese goalkeeper, while others linked the episode to longstanding superstitious beliefs within segments of African football culture.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) disciplinary committee subsequently sanctioned Saibari with a two-match suspension and a $100,000 fine. The midfielder later apologised to Mendy, stating that his actions had been misunderstood.
CAF’s refereeing chief, Olivier Safari, also addressed the matter in an interview with Canal+ Afrique.
“The towel is not part of a goalkeeper’s official equipment. Its use must remain within the spirit of fair play,” Safari explained. “If it influences the match, it must be removed from the playing area.”
His comments underscored the regulatory grey area surrounding auxiliary items such as towels, which are not formally recognised as playing equipment under the Laws of the Game but are commonly used for practical reasons.
While the final result stands and Senegal’s victory remains uncontested, the towel episode has lingered in public discourse — not merely as a fleeting controversy, but as a symbol of the psychological and cultural layers that often accompany African football.
Renard’s remarks add nuance to the debate, suggesting that what may appear trivial to some can carry deeper meaning in different footballing contexts.
Nearly a year after Senegal’s triumph in Rabat, the “towel incident” continues to provoke reflection, less about fabric inside a goalmouth, and more about the intersection of belief, psychology and competition at the highest level of African football.
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