By KUNLE SOLAJA, Rabat, Morocco.

On the eve of a high-stakes World Cup qualifier that could see Morocco become the first African team to book its place at the 2026 finals, the country unveiled another symbol of its sporting ambition: the transformed Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

.On Thursday evening, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan presided over the inauguration of the stadium in Rabat, ushering in a new era for one of the kingdom’s most iconic arenas.

The timing was more than symbolic.

 As the Atlas Lions prepared to face Niger Republic, their home ground was revealed as an architectural gem befitting a team now synonymous with African excellence on the world stage.

Once considered an enviable facility in African football, the stadium has now been reimagined into something far beyond its original form.

The old structure before the remodeling

The renovation, carried out under the directives of King Mohammed VI, aligns with Morocco’s preparations for two monumental events: the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and the FIFA World Cup in 2030, which Morocco will co-host.

The result is nothing short of spectacular. With a capacity of 68,700, the new Moulay Abdellah Stadium gleams with modernity, sustainability, and connectivity—principles that guided every detail of its reconstruction.

 The new Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

Built entirely by Moroccan expertise, the arena now meets, and in some respects exceeds, the highest international standards.

Its most striking feature is Africa’s first hybrid natural lawn, a surface combining natural grass and synthetic fibres to guarantee durability, drainage, and rapid recovery while ensuring player safety.

The pitch represents not just technological progress, but Morocco’s determination to lead the continent in sporting infrastructure.

Beyond the playing field, the stadium offers 110 private boxes, five luxury lounges accommodating nearly 5,400 guests, and fully accessible facilities for people with reduced mobility.

 Three tiers of hospitality spaces ensure that fans of every stripe—from diehard supporters to VIP guests—will experience world-class comfort.

Journalists, too, have been considered. A large media centre equipped with the latest technical and logistical resources reflects Morocco’s understanding that modern sport thrives as much in storytelling as in spectacle.

The inauguration of Moulay Abdellah Stadium sends a clear message: Morocco is not only preparing for the future, it is setting the pace for it.

With AFCON 2025 and World Cup 2030 on the horizon, the kingdom is making sure its facilities reflect its growing stature in global football.

For the Atlas Lions, the hope is that the grandeur of their new home will inspire performances to match—starting with Friday’s clash against Niger Republic, where history beckons once again.

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Equatorial Guinea produced the day’s most dramatic turnaround, rallying from two goals down at half-time to beat São Tomé and Príncipe 3–2, as a busy window of CAF World Cup 2026 qualifiers delivered significant moves in Groups H, I, A and D.

Group H – São Tomé and Príncipe 2–3 Equatorial Guinea

São Tomé seemed in complete control after a relentless first half.

Lumungo converted from the spot on eight minutes and struck a second penalty on 42 minutes, either side of a finish from Reis Tavares Semedo (37’) to open up a 2–0 lead.

But Equatorial Guinea reset during the interval and came flying out. Pablo Ganet halved the deficit with a low strike on 53 minutes, Iban Salvador levelled nine minutes later, and the comeback was complete when Nabil tucked away the winner on 70 minutes after a sweeping move down the right.

The result lifts Equatorial Guinea to the edge of the runners-up race behind leaders Tunisia and second-placed Namibia, while São Tomé remain bottom without a point.

Group I – Madagascar 2–0 Central African Republic

Madagascar underlined their rapid progress with a controlled win that moves them firmly into the Group I argument.

Caddy broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time (45+2’) after a bright opening, and Randrianantenaina doubled the lead on 59 minutes, both goals arriving from incisive work by Raheriniaina, who was involved in the build-up to each.

The Barea were compact without the ball and managed the remainder without alarm.

Victory sends Madagascar to 13 points, tightening the chase on leaders Ghana (16) before the Black Stars host Mali (9) later in the window; Comoros (12) also remain firmly in the mix.

Group A – Guinea-Bissau 1–1 Sierra Leone

Guinea-Bissau salvaged a point after Sierra Leone took a late first-half lead. The Leone Stars went ahead on 45+1 minutes when K. Kamara finished off a quick transition, moments after J. Encada had been booked for the hosts.

The home side made three changes just past the hour and the pressure finally told as Mama Baldé equalised midway through the second period (listed at 73’), steering in after sustained pressure.

Both teams chased a late winner—Sierra Leone turned to Buya Turay and Fornah off the bench—but a draw keeps the Leone Stars at eight points and the Djurtus on seven, with Egypt (16) and Burkina Faso (11) still dictating the top of the section.

Group D – Angola 0–1 Libya; Mauritius 0–2 Cape Verde

Libya earned an eye-catching away win in Luanda, striking shortly after half-time. Ezo El Mariamy met a low cross to sweep in the decisive goal on 48 minutes, moments before Jaddour was booked as the visitors dug in.

Angola had introduced M’Bala Nzola and Maestro at the break and later pushed Fortuna and Clinton Mata higher up the pitch, but clear chances were scarce against Libya’s disciplined block.

A late yellow card for Saleh (90+7’) underlined the intensity as Libya protected a precious three points that keep them in touch with the top two.

Elsewhere in the group, Cape Verde negotiated a potentially awkward trip to Mauritius, winning 2–0 to maintain control of the pool ahead of a looming top-of-the-table meeting with Cameroon.

The Blue Sharks’ result, coupled with Libya’s victory, tightens the race for the play-off picture behind the frontrunners.

What it means

• Group H: Equatorial Guinea’s comeback lifts them to 10 points, a timely jolt to their campaign behind Tunisia (16) and Namibia (12).
• Group I: Madagascar move to 13 points and sits between Ghana (16) and Comoros (12), with Mali (9) still dangerous.
• Group A: Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone share the points; Egypt and Burkina Faso retain a healthy cushion at the summit.
• Group D: Cape Verde stay out in front after victory in Mauritius, while Libya’s win in Angola keeps their challenge alive.

With another matchday to come in this window, fine margins—particularly among the runners-up—could yet decide who remains on course for North America.

-CAFonline

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Morocco is planning to set up judicial committees in stadiums to swiftly handle potential offences by fans during the 2030 FIFA World Cup it will co-host with Spain and Portugal, justice minister Abdellatif Ouahbi said.

The move is among various judicial reforms taking place ahead of the tournament to prevent courts from being overwhelmed by minor cases, Ouahbi told Reuters.

“Committees presided over by prosecutors, working with judicial and security services inside stadiums, will ensure swift handling of incidents while respecting due process,” he said in written responses to questions.

Morocco expects the event to boost visitor arrivals to 26 million in 2030, up from 17.4 million in 2024.

To shape its legal strategy, Morocco is examining previous sporting events, including recent Olympic Games and past World Cups, the minister added.

Morocco will sign a judicial cooperation agreement with Spain and Portugal to speed up any potential extraditions or case transfers, and to provide mutual legal assistance, Ouahbi said.

It is currently revising family and penal codes and introducing alternative penalties – such as electronic bracelets- to reduce prison overcrowding, which is partly driven by high rates of pre-trial detention.

Concerning alcohol consumption in fan zones, Ouahbi said Morocco had always been able to balance its cultural traditions with openness and “international expectations.”

While alcohol is available in predominantly Muslim Morocco, public drinking is banned.

“Discussions are ongoing about possible regulatory frameworks to address practices common among international supporters, including alcohol consumption, strictly within designated zones and under clearly defined conditions,” he said.

Additional preparations would include multilingual judicial counters to assist foreign visitors, specialized training for judges in sports, tourism, and consumer disputes, and expanded use of mediation and alternative dispute resolution to ease court workloads, he said.

“The 2030 World Cup will not only be a sporting celebration but also a demonstration of Morocco’s political will to modernise its legal system and show that justice can serve both citizens and international partners,” Ouahbi said.

Morocco has announced major infrastructure upgrades ahead of the tournament, including new stadiums, expanded rail and airport networks, increased hotel capacity, and urban renovations.

-Reuters

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