The Road to Redemption
As Morocco gears up to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the nation’s football ambitions are reaching fever pitch. Inspired by Ivory Coast’s triumphant run on home soil in 2024, the Atlas Lions are determined to follow suit and etch their name in the annals of African football once more.

From December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, Morocco will turn into the epicenter of African football, with six host cities—Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakesh, Rabat, and Tangier—ready to welcome the continent’s best. Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium will set the stage for the tournament opener, where Morocco takes on Comoros Islands in Group A, also featuring formidable opponents Mali and Zambia.

A Team with Momentum
Buoyed by their historic FIFA World Cup semifinal finish in 2022, the Atlas Lions head into the competition as one of the favorites. Their passionate fanbase, rich football history, and the advantage of playing at home provide a potent mix for success. Yet, the path to glory is anything but straightforward.

The Champions Loom Large
Defending champions Ivory Coast, who lifted the 2024 AFCON trophy in electrifying fashion, stand as a towering obstacle. Drawn in Group F alongside Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique, the Elephants boast a formidable lineup led by stars like Sébastien Haller and Nicolas Pépé, positioning themselves as one of the teams to beat.

The Dream of 1976
Morocco last tasted AFCON glory in 1976. Nearly five decades later, the stakes are higher, the expectations greater, and the competition fiercer. With home advantage in their favor, the Atlas Lions must channel their collective strength, strategy, and skill to break the title drought.

Will Morocco roar to glory in front of their passionate supporters, or will the weight of history prove too heavy? The 2025 AFCON promises to be a spectacle, a battle of the best, and a tournament to remember.