AFCON
AFCON 2025: Morocco is home away from home for African teams
Morocco has always been the ultimate destination in Africa for football tourists and major competitions. Even before their spectacular run at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Morocco had played major role in the qualifying series.
In the run-up to Qatar 2022, many African countries with lower standard in stadium facilities ceded their home games to Morocco.
This is easily noticed in November 2022 when a five-day seven-match festival of World Cup qualifying matches were played in Morocco.
The series involved 10 countries, thus turning Morocco to become the preferred destination for African sports events due to its world-class infrastructure. The encounters were:
- Morocco faced Sudan on Friday 12 November 2021 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Complex in Rabat at 8:00 p.m. Sudan was the home team, playing Morocco in Morocco.
- Also on Friday 12 November 2021, Burkina Faso played Niger at Grand Stadium in Marrakech at 2:00 p.m. Burkina Faso was the home team.
- On Saturday 13 November 2021 in Group C, Liberia played against Nigeria in Tangier Grand Stadium at 5:00 p.m. Liberia Liberia was the home team.
- The next day, Sunday 14 November, it was the turn of Mali facing Uganda on at Agadir Grand Stadium before facing their Central African Republic counterpart on 16 November 2021 in Tangier at 5:00 p.m
- On Monday 15 November 2021, Guinea Bissau and Sudan in Group E faced off at the Marrakech Grand Stadium at 5:00 p.m.
- The encounter between Morocco and Guinea took place at 8:00 p.m. on 16 November 2021 at Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca.
Before the November 2021 feast of football, Morocco had previously hosted eight African qualifying matches for Qatar World Cup 2022, from October 12 to 16 in 2021.
If the seven matches are added to the eight Morocco had earlier hosted within the qualifying series for Qatar 2022, the country is on record as having most Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying matches.
Having played hosts to many African countries, Morocco is bidding to host the 24-nation Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 after the initial rights to Guinea were withdrawn.
According to official documents, CAF is asking for six stadiums from the bidding countries.
Two of the stadiums must have capacity for 40,000 crowd. Two others are to have 20,000 capacity while another set of two must have 15,000 capacity.
Morocco have stadiums that overwhelmingly have capacities way above what CAF has asked for.
The Grand Stade d’Agadir is a capacity of 45,480, thus having a surplus capacity of 5,480. The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat has capacity for 52,000 which is 12,000 more than the requirement.
The Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier, currently co-hosting the FIFA Club World Cup with the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, is even more breathtaking.
It’s capacity of 65,000 means that the stadium has 25,000 capacity more than requirement. The Grand Stade d’ Marrakech holds 45,240 in its rectangular bowel. This is 4,524 more than the uppermost requirement that CAF is asking for.
The 45,000 capacity Hassan II stadium also exceeds the maximum requirement from CAF, so also that of the 65,000 capacity Stade Mohammed in Casablanca.
AFCON
Nigerians, other nationals can apply, as CAF and Morocco Launch Volunteer Programme for AFCON 2025
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Morocco have launched the official Volunteer Programme for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, billed to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
According to CAF, more than 4,000 volunteers will be recruited to play a central role in ensuring the success of Africa’s most prestigious football tournament, which will be staged across six cities and nine stadiums in Morocco.
Applications are now open at volunteers.cafonline.com and will close on 8 October 2025. The opportunity is open to anyone above the age of 18.
Volunteers will be deployed across multiple functional areas, including media operations, spectator services, accreditation, hospitality, and fan engagement. Selected individuals will receive professional training ahead of the competition and work behind the scenes to deliver a memorable AFCON.
CAF stated that the programme is designed not only to support tournament operations but also to create an alumni network of skilled Africans who can contribute to future sporting events across the continent. Successful applicants will benefit from:
- Training and skill development.
- Official uniforms and certificates of participation.
- Networking opportunities with peers and professionals.
- The chance to contribute to Africa’s football legacy.
Volunteer registration opened on 17 September 2025. Selection and training will take place in October and November, with operations commencing in mid-December through to the tournament’s conclusion on 18 January 2026.
CAF described the initiative as an “exciting opportunity” for Africans to contribute to the growth of the continent’s flagship sporting event, which is expected to draw millions of visitors to Morocco.
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AFCON
CAF Security Chief, Nigeria’s Emeruwa, Leads Inspection of Tangier Stadium Ahead of Major Tournaments
Nigeria’s Dr. Christian Emeruwa, President of the Security and Safety Division of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), on Thursday, September 18, led an inspection visit to the Grand Stade de Tangier as preparations intensify for upcoming continental and global football events.
Emeruwa, who heads CAF’s continental security architecture, was joined by CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba, senior Moroccan officials, and executives of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).
The delegation also included managers of operational companies at the Grand Stade and SONARGES executives.
According to Le 360, the Nigerian official expressed satisfaction with the stadium’s facilities after touring key operational areas, including the main control room with its giant surveillance screen, as well as spectator, player, and VIP access zones.
The inspection was bolstered by the presence of Morocco’s top security and administrative officers—the regional commander of the Royal Gendarmerie, officials of the Auxiliary Forces and Civil Protection, the Wali of Security, the governor in charge of Internal Affairs, and representatives of the National Agency for Public Equipment (ANEP).
A technical meeting followed the tour, where engineers presented recent safety and security upgrades. Among the highlights was the planned installation of a FIFA-standard tarpaulin roof to enhance the venue’s compliance with global hosting requirements.
For Nigeria, the spotlight on Dr. Emeruwa underscores the country’s growing influence in African football administration, particularly in the critical areas of safety and security management for CAF competitions.
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Morocco has received 723 high-end buses from Chinese manufacturer Yutong as part of preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicks off on December 21.
Yutong said on social media that the fleet “has officially rolled off the production line” and will provide “comprehensive transport services and reliable operational support” during the tournament.
An official handover ceremony was held on Friday at the company’s facility in Zhengzhou, Henan province, attended by Moroccan representatives and Yutong executives.
The buses were designed to cope with Morocco’s terrain and climate, including steep slopes, heat and sandstorms. They feature an independent front axle suspension to navigate narrow city streets and Yutong’s in-house “Blue Core System” for fuel efficiency.
The delivery is the largest single order of Chinese buses in Africa. Yutong will station more than 100 technicians in Morocco to provide training, maintenance and round-the-clock support during AFCON.
The deal is part of Morocco’s broader transport strategy, which includes plans to purchase 7,000 new buses by 2030—half of them electric—as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
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