The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled significant updates for the highly anticipated 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to take place in Morocco. In a surprising turn of events, the tournament will now be hosted across nine stadiums, instead of the originally planned six, spread across some of Morocco’s most iconic cities. This strategic expansion highlights Morocco’s ambition to deliver an unprecedented sporting spectacle on the African continent.
CAF has officially announced the stadium lineup, with a notable emphasis on the capital, Rabat, which will host four top-tier venues, further solidifying its status as a key sports and logistics hub.
The selected stadiums include:
- Rabat (4 stadiums):
- Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah – 69,000 seats
- Complexe Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan – 22,000 seats
- Stade Al Barid – 18,000 seats
- Stade Annexe Olympique – 21,000 seats
- Other host cities:
- Casablanca: Stade Mohammed V – 45,000 seats
- Tangier: Grand Stade de Tanger – 75,600 seats
- Agadir: Grand Stade d’Agadir – 46,000 seats
- Marrakech: Grand Stade de Marrakech – 45,860 seats
- Fès: Complexe Sportif de Fès – 35,000 seats
This expanded infrastructure underscores Morocco’s commitment to hosting a world-class event, capable of meeting the expectations of fans, teams, and stakeholders alike.
Excitement is building as the official group stage draw for AFCON 2025 is set to take place tonight, Monday, January 27, at the prestigious Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat. Football fans across Africa and beyond are eagerly awaiting the results, which will shape the path for participating nations in their quest for continental glory.
One of the standout revelations from CAF’s announcement is the introduction of a groundbreaking “base camp” model, designed to provide national teams with world-class training facilities and five-star accommodations, ensuring optimal preparation conditions.
A total of 24 luxury hotels have been carefully selected across the six host cities, offering exclusive and comfortable environments close to training grounds.
Hotel distribution across host cities:
- Rabat (7 hotels):
- Conrad Rabat Arzana
- The View
- Le Tour Hassan Palace
- The Ritz-Carlton
- Rabat Marriott
- Fairmont La Marina
- Dawliz Rabat Art & Spa
- Casablanca (6 hotels):
- Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche
- Le Casablanca Hotel
- Barcelo Anfa Casablanca
- Marriott Courtyard Casablanca
- Radisson Blu
- Casablanca Marriott
- Marrakech (4 hotels):
- Four Seasons
- Fairmont Royal Palm
- Selman Marrakech
- Hyatt Park
- Agadir/Taghazout (4 hotels):
- Fairmont Taghazout Bay
- Hyatt Regency Taghazout Bay
- Hyatt Place Taghazout Bay
- Hilton Taghazout Bay Beach Resort
- Tangier (1 hotel):
- Fairmont Tazi Palace
- Fès (1 hotel):
- Hôtel Sahrai
Each hotel has been selected based on its ability to meet international standards of comfort and hospitality, ensuring that players and technical staff enjoy optimal rest and recovery conditions.
Under the base camp model, each team will be assigned a dedicated hotel and training center, minimizing travel time and providing a stable and comfortable environment conducive to top-level performance. This logistical precision reflects Morocco’s commitment to offering teams the best possible conditions to excel on the field.
With state-of-the-art stadiums, luxurious accommodations, and meticulous planning, AFCON 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most sophisticated and well-organized editions in the tournament’s history. Morocco’s experience in hosting major international events guarantees a world-class footballing showcase, promising unforgettable moments for teams, fans, and millions of viewers worldwide.
As the continent looks forward to this landmark event, AFCON 2025 is set to redefine expectations and raise the bar for future editions, showcasing Africa’s progress towards global excellence in sports.
