Morocco are hosts of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations…
The last three years have been big for Morocco and Moroccan football. Three years ago the Moroccan men’s team became the first African team to reach the semifinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
During the 2024 Olympics, the Under-23 team went all the way to win their first-ever bronze medal. They have also dominated the CHAN, winning the 2018, 2020, and 2024 editions.
All of these achievements are just the fruits of investments into sports and sporting facilities.
Morocco’s historic World Cup run isn’t a coincidence. Back in 2007, King of Morocco, Mohammed VI spent £12million to reshape national football.
This was used to produce the next generation of Moroccan footballers amidst worries of poor facilities & other issues. (1/5) pic.twitter.com/FOg1alRvpA
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) December 11, 2022
Morocco has now even become a hub for countries that don’t have stadiums to use, as they possess some of the finest stadiums in the world.
Those stadiums will be in active use during the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in December － AFCON 2025. From the Adrar Adrar Stadium, Agadir, to the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, there will be action from the 21st of December to the 18th of January.
How about that for a #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 opening game venue?
Ladies and gentlemen, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. pic.twitter.com/945EVUFgBn
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) September 5, 2025
As hosts, they will be looking to make sure that the AFCON trophy does not leave the country, just as Ivory Coast did in the last edition of the competition.
But it will likely be an uphill task, as the Atlas Lions are massive underachievers on the continent, having won the AFCON just once － 1976.
Since then, they have always flattered to deceive. However, thing might change this year.
The Silver Lining For Morocco This Year
Going into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco have several things going for them.
First of all, they have the momentum. Aside from all the achievements stated earlier, their under-20 team just won the 2025 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco achieved a historic feat by beating Spain and then Brazil in quick succession in the U20 World Cup.
A Moroccan success, but above all a strong message : African football is progressing and has nothing to envy from the major nations.#Destination2Morocco pic.twitter.com/rM0mfDNAXr
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) October 2, 2025
Recall how Senegal were winning everything in football between 2023 to 2024 from the youth teams up to the senior team.
So the onus is now on the Moroccan senior team to bring glory to the nation － in front of their home fans, which is another advantage for them.
Meanwhile, it is important to note that Morocco has one of the best teams on the continent. In fact, this is the best squad they have had, you wouldn’t be mistaken if you even tag them the golden generation.
Morocco’s Star-Studded Team
Morocco have never had it this good. They have stars in every position in every department on the pitch.
The Atlas Lions have arguably the best left-back in the world in PSG’s Achraf Hakimi.
They also have some exciting young midfielders like Ismael Saibari, Neil El Aynaoui, Bilal El Khannouss.
Then, in attack, there’s Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz, who would walk into the starting eleven of most top clubs in Europe.
According to Transfermarkt, Morocco have the most expensive squad in Africa at €370 million. To prove the gap, no other squad on the continent has a squad that is worth up to €300 million.
They also have a brilliant coach in Walid Regragui, who has been with the team for the past three years.
He knows most of these players very well, as he blooded them into national team system himself.
The team already showed a bit of what they can do in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. They flexed their muscles with arrogance.
The Atlas Lions won all 10 of their games in the qualifying series and conceded just two goals. They were solid, ruthless, and deadly.
Can They Do It?
Going into the 2025 AFCON, Morocco look like they have everything going for them. Team home advantage, the momentum, the squad, and the preparation, so you can easily say that they are bang-on favourites to strike gold.
However, they had this same squad at the 2023 AFCON that was played in 2024. In that competition, they looked very good in the group stage, but they were knocked out by South Africa in the round of 16 after a 2-0 loss.
Moreover, they don’t exactly have great history on the continent, having won just one AFCON in 1976.
Nonetheless, history is meant to be broken, and Moroccan fans will be hoping that it will be their year.