PanOrient News | Morocco’s hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations positions it as a global player

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Morocco’s hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations positions it as a global player

Thursday, January 22, 2026

(MNA)

Morocco and the Africa Cup of Nations 2025:
A Culmination of Strategic Vision and Ascendancy to Global Standards

PanOrient News

Rabat (Morocco): The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 hosted by Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, represented a pivotal moment in the history of African football, not only in terms of sports level but also in terms of organization, infrastructure and international prominence. This edition elevated the tournament to the ranks of global sporting events and solidified Morocco's role as a central player in the international football system.

Since the announcement of Morocco winning the honor of hosting the tournament, it was clear that the Kingdom viewed the event not as a fleeting sports occasion, but as a comprehensive national project, part of a long-term strategic vision led by King Mohammed VI aimed at making sports, and football in particular, a driver of development and soft diplomacy, and enhancing Morocco's standing regionally and internationally.

For the first time in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, the competitions were held at nine modern stadiums distributed across six Moroccan cities, designed and equipped according to the highest international standards. These facilities combined architectural modernity with Moroccan identity, giving the tournament a distinctive character that simultaneously reflects the authenticity of the host country and its openness.

In addition to the stadiums, the tournament benefited from an advanced infrastructure network that included transportation, communications, accommodations, security and logistics services, which contributed to ensuring smooth organization and comfort for fans and participating delegations. This level of readiness was considered a new benchmark to be emulated in the organization of future continental tournaments.

Officials from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unanimously agreed that the Morocco 2025 edition was "the best ever" in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations, based on objective criteria regarding the quality of organization, infrastructure, media coverage and economic returns.

Moreover, the International Federation of Football (FIFA) did not hide its admiration for this edition. Its president, Gianni Infantino, described the tournament as "world-class" and "the most beautiful edition in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations," praising Morocco as an exceptional host and a country that embodies the passion for football, peace and openness. He also confirmed that the infrastructure and strategic vision adopted by Morocco place it among the elite countries capable of hosting the largest football spectacles in the world.

It is worth noting that the tournament recorded record numbers in media coverage, with more than 3,800 media outlets from around the world accredited. The matches were broadcast in 30 European countries, representing a significant increase compared to previous editions. This extensive media presence reflects Morocco’s success in repositioning the tournament as a global sports product capable of attracting interest from audiences outside the African continent.

Furthermore, the tournament represented a turning point in sports marketing, achieving the highest commercial revenues in the history of the competition, with revenues for the Confederation of African Football linked to the tournament rising by more than 90 percent. The number of sponsors increased to 23 international partners from different continents, including Europe, America and Asia, signaling a clear growth in the appeal of African football in global markets.

Among the notable innovations in this edition was the launch of the Electronic Africa Cup of Nations (eAFCON), an unprecedented step reflecting African football’s engagement in the world of digitization and electronic sports, in partnership with Konami and the eFootball platform. This initiative received widespread acclaim and was seen as an indication of Morocco and CAF’s ability to keep pace with modern transformations in the sports industry and attract new segments of youth and fans.

Following this success, it is evident that Morocco does not view the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 as an end of a journey, but rather as the beginning of a new phase. With its organizational experience, advanced infrastructure, and strategic vision, Morocco has demonstrated its full readiness to contribute to the joint hosting of the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal, positioning this global event as one of the major sports and developmental projects for the Kingdom. This will confirm its clear and evident determination to establish its status as an influential force in global football, and a cultural bridge connecting Africa to the world, using sports as a lever for rapprochement among peoples and international influence.(PanOrient News)