Sunday 22 December 2024

Sunday 22 December 2024

AFCON-2025: ‘Ideal’, ‘Arch-favorite’ Candidate… African Media Admires Morocco’s Infrastructural and Cultural Potential

Libreville – The special envoys of African media, staying in Morocco on the occasion of the 2023 Club World Cup of Football, have praised the “miraculous” sports infrastructure in the various Moroccan cities, calling the Kingdom as the “ideal” and “arch-favorite” candidate … for the organization of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON-2025).

More than 100 African journalists are in Morocco to cover the Club World Cup. But not only! These media representatives had the opportunity to see the potential of the country, including the Mohammed VI Football Complex, which they described as “a unique jewel”, as well as the Grand Stadiums of Tangier, Agadir, Marrakech and Rabat.

In this regard, the Senegalese News Agency (APS) described the complex, located in Maâmora near Salé, as “a jewel at the forefront of modernity” and “an architectural masterpiece that combines expertise, know-how and beauty”, arousing “already from afar the curiosity of the visitor.”

Serving as a training camp for the Moroccan national team and for the clubs that represent the country in international competitions, the facility is equipped with infrastructure that meets the standards of FIFA, it added.

The Malian newspaper “L’Essor” said that Morocco has several sports facilities that meet international standards, while describing as “a unique infrastructure in Africa” the Mohammed VI Football Complex.

The Guinean News Agency (AGP) referred to a facility “with state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment, in accordance with FIFA standards”.

“The Mohammed VI Sports Complex is “an architectural jewel with infrastructure and equipment for the development of Moroccan soccer,” wrote the Ivorian News Agency (AIP).

The Cameroonian newspapers, “l’Economie quotidien”, and “Intégration” noted that “Morocco has the best sports infrastructure on the continent”, noting that the Kingdom has accumulated solid experience in organizing sporting events.

For its part, the Rwandan News Agency (RNA) stressed that the quality and advanced infrastructure created by the Kingdom raise the Moroccan sport to the level of perfection and world reference.

The Gabonese newspaper “L’Union” referred to the art of the Kingdom to organize events while stressing that “this art” has ended up, over time, by becoming a tradition.

The Gabonese News Agency (AGP) said that “with its experience in organizing major sporting events, in addition to the quality of its infrastructure, Morocco is naturally the favorite to host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON-2025)”.

The Nigerian news website “Sportsvillagesquare” indicated that the breathtaking and colorful opening ceremony of the Club World Cup has highlighted “a diverse, ancestral, modern, open, and hospitable Morocco”, a “passionate” country about soccer.

The Kenyan media “KBC” underlined that Morocco has scored important points in its bid to host the finals of the African Cup of Nations.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) is of the same opinion, stating that Morocco is in pole position to host the AFCON-2025 with state-of-the-art sports facilities.

“Morocco is the favorite to host the AFCON-2025,” wrote the Congolese newspaper “Forum Des AS”, while highlighting the infrastructure that meets international standards and sports diplomacy of the Kingdom.

Indeed, confirms the Djibouti newspaper “La Nation”, the Kingdom is the most favored candidate for the organization of the AFCON-2025, thanks to the assets and comparative advantages it has.

MAP

Related news

The Moroccan national football team dominated their Gabonese counterparts by 5 goals to 1 on Friday at the Franceville stadium, for the fifth Group B fixture of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN-2025) qualifiers.

Gabon’s striker, Dénis Bouanga, fired first in the 5th minute before the Atlas Lions retaliated with a downpour of goals scored by Jamal Harkass (17′), Brahim Diaz (21′, 23′), Youssef En-Nesyri (81′) and Ismael Saibari (90′).

In the same group, Lesotho beat the Central African Republic on Thursday (1-0).

Following today’s fixtures, Morocco consolidated their position at the top of Group B with 15 points from five wins, ahead of Gabon, who qualified for the CAN (7 points). Lesotho are third with 4 points, while the Central African Republic are dead last with 3 points.

Morocco’s national soccer team thrashed Lesotho 7-0 (5-0 in 1st half-time ) on Monday evening at the Stade d’Honneur in Oujda, as part of the 6th and final matchday of Group B qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco-2025).

The Atlas Lions won thanks to a hat-trick from Brahim Diaz (5′, 15′, 42′), two goals by Sofiane Rahimi (37′, 45’+2 penalty) as well as Youssef En-Nesyri (68′) and Ismael Saibari (70′).

With this win, the national team finishes top of its group with 18 points from 6 wins, ahead of Gabon (10 pts), who already qualified for the next AFCON and defeated this evening the Central African Republic (1-0).

Morocco’s football head coach, Walid Regragui, selected 26 players for the two upcoming matches against Gabon in Franceville on November 15 and Lesotho at Oujda’s Honor Stadium on November 18, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said on Thursday.

These two matches are part of the 5th and 6th Group B qualifiers fixtures for the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), to be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.

According to the same source, the national head coach will hold a press conference next Tuesday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé at 6:00 pm (local time), followed by a training session open to the press for the first 15 minutes.

Here follows the list of players called up:

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal/Saudi Arabia), Mounir El Kajoui (Renaissance Berkane), Salaheddine Chihab (Maghreb Fès), Ayoub El Khayati (AS FAR)

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United/England), Abdelkabir Abkar (Alaves/Spain), Jamal Harkas (Wydad Casablanca), Nayef Aguerd (Real Sociedad/Spain), Adam Massina (Torino/Italy), Adam Aznou (Bayern Munich/Germany), Yahya Attiyat-Allah (Al Ahly/Egypt)

Midfielders: Sofiane Amrabat (Fenerbahçe/Turkey), Amir Richardson (Fiorentina/Italy), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco/France), Oussama Targhaline (Le Havre/France), Azzeddine Ounahi (Panathinaïkos/Greece), Bilal El Khanous (Leicester City/England), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands).

Forwards: Ilyas Akhomach (Villarreal/Spain), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid/Spain), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Aïn/United Arab Emirates), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos/Greece), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahçe/Turkey), Osame Sahraoui (Lille/France), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Betis/Spain).

The Moroccan national football team comfortably beat their Central African counterpart in a 5 to null thrashing on Saturday at Oujda’s Honor Stadium, in the 3rd day of Group B of the African qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (18’), Azzeddine Ounahi (38’, 45 ‘+2), Achraf Hakimi (45’) and Soufiane Rahimi (pen. 71’) signed their names on the scoresheet in this demolition job.

The Atlas Lions, who have already qualified for the 2025 AFCON finals as hosts, consolidated their position at the top of Group B with 9 points after wins over Gabon (4-1) and Lesotho (1-0) on the first two matchdays.

Morocco’s national football coach, Walid Regragui, has announced the 25-man squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against the Central African Republic. The matches are set to take place on October 12 and 15 at the Stade d’Honneur in Oujda, as part of the qualification campaign for the 2025 AFCON, which Morocco will host.

Although Morocco has already secured its place in the 2025 AFCON as the host nation, the team is competing in Group B alongside Gabon, the Central African Republic, and Lesotho. The Atlas Lions have made an impressive start to the qualifiers, defeating Gabon 4-1 and Lesotho 1-0 in their first two matches.

Goalkeepers:

– Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane)

– Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia)

– Salaheddine Chihab (Maghreb of Fez)

Defenders:

– Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, France)

– Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids, Egypt)

– Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United, England)

– Abdelkabir Abqar (Deportivo Alavés, Spain)

– Nayef Aguerd (Real Sociedad, Spain)

– Adam Aznou (Bayern Munich, Germany)

– Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal (Stade Rennais, France)

– Jamal Harkass (Wydad Casablanca)

Midfielders:

– Sofyan Amrabat (Fenerbahçe, Türkiye)

– Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands)

– Bilal El Khannous (Leicester City, England)

– Oussama Targhaline (Le Havre, France)

– Azzeddine Ounahi (Panathinaikos, Greece)

– Reda Belahyane (Hellas Verona, Italy)


Forwards:

– Ilias Akhomach (Villareal CF, Spain)

– Amine Adli (Leverkusen, Germany)

– Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain, UAE)

– Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos, Greece)

– Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahçe, Türkiye)

– Iliesse Ben Seghir (AS Monaco, France)

– Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis, Spain)

– Osame Sahraoui (Lille, France)

Morocco’s national team coach Walid Regragui will hold a press conference in Agadir on Thursday ahead of the game against Gabon on the first matchday of Morocco-2025 Africa Cup of Nations group B qualifiers. 

After the press conference, to be held at the Grand Stade d’Agadir’s conference room at 6:30 p.m., a training session will be open for photography for the initial 15 minutes starting 7:00 p.m., the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said.

In turn, Gabonese team’s coach Thierry Dieudonné Mouyouma will hold his pre-match press conference at 5.45 p.m. on Thursday, the Federation wrote on its website.

Morocco’s game against Gabon is scheduled for next Friday at the Grand Stade d’Agadir at 8:00 p.m.