The video interview with Mustapha Hadji is available for editorial use only – click here.

The 1998 African Footballer of the Year, Mustapha Hadji believes the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Morocco 2025 will be a major chance for his country to prove their proficiency on and off the pitch.

Ahead of the Final Draw on Monday, 27 January at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat at 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT/ 20h00 Cairo time), Hadji believes Morocco will be a superb host for the 24 qualified teams and adds whoever lifts the trophy, it will be hard won.

A former midfielder, Hadji has experienced this competition in all its forms: the euphoria of victory, the pain of elimination, but also the pride of being at the heart of an event that brings together an entire continent.

As a Moroccan, the 2025 edition of AFCON, which will be held on his home soil from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, takes a particularly symbolic turn for him.

The former star name of Morocco’s national team remembers his first steps in this competition, but also the highlights and hardships he went through.

The emotions and memories of those moments remain engraved in his mind, like the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, which he believes is much more than just a sports tournament.

It is a true cultural phenomenon that inspires and nurtures the dreams of younger generations across Africa.

Hadji gives his views on the stakes of this edition and on the evolution of African football.

Cafonline.com: Mustapha Hadji, we are a few hours away from the draw for the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025. As a Moroccan, how do you feel?

Mustapha Hadji: I feel good, still euphoric. We have to stay positive. You know, the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON is something exceptional, an extraordinary experience. I was lucky enough to experience it as a player, and I can tell you that it is a unique event. Afterwards, I also participated in this competition as a coach, whether in Egypt or Cameroon, and as a spectator in Côte d’Ivoire.

Today, the African continent continues to progress, and the level of the spectacle is simply remarkable. The last edition in Côte d’Ivoire was extraordinary, whether in terms of the public, the atmosphere or the welcome. And this year, in Morocco, I am convinced that it will be just as exceptional.

Morocco benefits from an ideal geographical location. For our brothers in the African diaspora, this represents a great opportunity, travelling here will be easier. We are only two hours from Barcelona, and three from Paris.
For Africans living in Europe or even Morocco, this AFCON may be the opportunity to attend such a competition live for the first time.

The AFCON is above all a celebration. A celebration for the whole continent, for all African children. It allows them to dream, nurture ambitions, and above all, to have hope. You know, in Africa, football is much more than a sport. It’s a real religion.

The last time Morocco hosted the AFCON was in 1988… (Hadji cuts in)

That’s a long time, isn’t it? Very long, even. I was 17 years old at the time. Today, with the modern infrastructure and the evolution of our country, it was time for Morocco to host this great competition again.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI has contributed enormously to the development of football, not only in Morocco, but also throughout the African continent. Thanks to this vision, our country is now a key player in world football.

Morocco made history recently by reaching the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup (in 2022), becoming the first African nation to achieve this feat. And, in a few years, we will be co-hosts of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The

AFCON 2025 is a bit like a foretaste of what awaits us: the preparations, the atmosphere, the enthusiasm.

Since 1988, it has been far too long. But today, it is finally Morocco’s time. As a true football country, hosting this competition is a huge honour and pride for Moroccans.

We know that expectations are enormous. So, in your opinion, what are the challenges that Morocco will have to overcome to meet them?

The challenge is immense, gigantic. We must not leave thinking that we are 100% winners. You have to respect all the opponents. African football today is full of great talents and great teams. There are no more small nations. No one can say that a match will be easy or won in advance, no matter who the opponent is.

It is true that Morocco currently has an exceptional generation, with great talents. But this will not be enough. We will have to prove it on the pitch. We will have to work hard, and this, in front of a crowd that expects a lot. Playing at home adds extra pressure. It’s never easy to play at home and win AFCON.

We remember the example of Côte d’Ivoire, where Morocco gave them a decisive hand. But the context is different.

Today, we have to prepare seriously. We have great players, a great team and a President of the Federation (Fouzi Lekjaa) who is very invested in Moroccan football. Since he has been at the head of the Federation, Moroccan football has undergone a spectacular transformation, going from the darkest hours to global recognition.

All this pushes us to be up to the task. I wouldn’t say it’s an obligation, but we have to have a great TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.

With a Moroccan team that plays attractive and spectacular football, do you think that in order to win, it will have to put aside its playing identity and adopt a more pragmatic style, adapting to its opponents?

Yes, certainly. It’s also the role of the coach to find this balance. It’s true that we have a pleasant football, a game that deserves to be admired. But in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, this is not enough.

As you mentioned, the AFCON is a very physical tournament, with a repetition of demanding matches. When you face teams like Gabonese, Ivorians, Senegalese, or others, you should expect an intense athletic challenge. The road to the final is long and strewn with hardships. We will have to be ready to deal with injuries, to exhaust ourselves physically.

That said, Morocco’s playing identity remains a strength. But to win this competition, we will have to go beyond what we have shown so far. That’s what makes the charm of the AFCON: you can be the best team on paper and still get out in the first rounds. We have seen this in the past.

I think that Morocco has a great card to play. But the pressure will be there, especially when playing in front of a home crowd. We will have to work even harder, surpass ourselves physically, and play at 150% of our abilities.

Technical qualities and beautiful play will not be enough. We will have to add commitment, combativeness, and an ability to adapt. It is this combination that will make the difference.

Who will be Morocco’s major rivals for the AFCON 2025 trophy?

All teams! As I mentioned before, there is no such thing as a small team. All the matches will be fiercely contested. As the football expression goes, it will be played with a knife. There are no easy matches, there are no opponents to underestimate.

There is no room for calculations. We will have to win every match and go all the way. We can’t tell ourselves that we can afford to lose against a team that finished third. This is where the danger lies. If you start calculating, that’s when you have to wake up and remember that every match has to be taken seriously.

Maybe it’s even more advantageous to play against a team that finishes third in a group than against the first. A team that finishes third will often have extra motivation. But when you face a team that finishes second or third, you may let your guard down a little, thinking that it will be easier. And this is precisely where we can make mistakes and be surprised by opponents.

What are the best memories you have of this competition?

I had the honour of competing in this competition, which holds such a special place in my heart. I love Africa. And what I love most of all is seeing the children.

When I come out of a match and I leave the stadium by bus, and I see these children running behind the bus, it touches me deeply. It gives me goosebumps, because that’s the essence of this sport: to give hope, to make people dream.

To see these young people, to see them watch the players they love, it’s a magical moment. It is to offer them a dream, a place of hope. And that’s the most beautiful thing.

Of course, winning the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON for your people is very important, but there is nothing more precious than seeing these children dream.

They believe in these stars, these role models who show them that great things are possible in Africa. Stars offer hope to children, and that’s what matters most. You can tell me what you want, but that’s the beauty of this sport.

We can win the AFCON, we can win anything. But when you leave a stadium, when you are on a bus, and you see the smiles of the children, you see them running and happy … that’s what is more beautiful than the AFCON.

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