The group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is now over. After ten days of competition, it’s time to take stock of the tournament so far, marked by world-class infrastructure, spectacular goals, major disappointments and a few controversies.
As AFCON 2025 moves into the knockout rounds, our reporters look back at the highlights and low points of the group stage: organizational excellence, unforgettable moments on the pitch, and the teams that failed to live up to expectations.
AFCON 2025 – The Top Performers
World-Class Infrastructure
For this Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco has set the bar extremely high in terms of organization and infrastructure, with a clear eye on the 2030 FIFA World Cup. In recent years, the Kingdom has already hosted major tournaments, including the African Nations Championship, women’s futsal AFCON, the Women’s AFCON and the U17 Women’s World Cup.
Several stadiums across the country have been fully renovated to meet international standards, while others were built from scratch just in time for the tournament.
“The international standard of this edition will have nothing to envy from the European Championship or the World Cup,” said Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation — a prediction that has been fully confirmed. The newly renovated Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, in particular, stands comparison with Europe’s finest venues.
The quality of the pitches has also been widely praised. Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi expressed his admiration after heavy rain in Rabat: “After three hours of rain, the pitch was still in perfect condition. It allowed us to play our football.”
Moroccan Hospitality on Full Display
“Everything is perfectly prepared, warm and welcoming — that’s Morocco!” said Assala, a Moroccan supporter on the opening day of the tournament.
From stadiums to city streets, Moroccan hospitality has lived up to its reputation. Fans from across Africa have been welcomed as honored guests, regardless of nationality.
“The atmosphere is extraordinary. Moroccans have welcomed us with love and kindness,” said Raouf, an Algerian supporter who traveled from Spain for the tournament.
The competition has also attracted major international stars, including Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Zinedine Zidane, as well as African legends Roger Milla and Rabah Madjer. Celebrities such as Gims, Youssoupha, Jamel Debbouze, Gad Elmaleh and Khaled have also been spotted in the stands.
El Kaabi’s Signature Overhead Kicks
Three goals, two of them already contenders for goal of the tournament. Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi has combined efficiency with pure spectacle.
Against Comoros, he scored an acrobatic overhead kick after coming off the bench. Against Zambia, he opened the scoring with a header before repeating the feat with another stunning bicycle kick. At 32, the Olympiacos forward has thrilled Moroccan fans and neutrals alike.
Arab Teams Delivering
It is often said that Arab teams struggle in sub-Saharan Africa. But when AFCON is hosted in North Africa, the pattern changes — and Morocco 2025 has confirmed it.
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt all comfortably qualified from the group stage. Sudan, despite the ongoing civil war at home, also reached the round of 16, providing one of the tournament’s most emotional stories.
AFCON 2025 – The Flops
Gabon’s Collapse
Before the tournament, Gabon was tipped as a potential surprise package, led by veterans Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga. Instead, the Panthers suffered a disastrous campaign.
Defeats against Cameroon and Mozambique sealed their fate before the final group match. A late reaction against Côte d’Ivoire came too late to save them, marking one of the biggest disappointments of the tournament.
Refereeing and VAR Controversies
The introduction of VAR was supposed to put an end to refereeing controversies, but AFCON 2025 has once again been plagued by disputes.
Incidents have included a VAR failure during DR Congo vs Benin, questionable decisions involving Mohamed Salah, missed handballs, and delays forcing players to protest before VAR reviews were triggered. Once again, officiating has drawn heavy criticism.
A Lack of Major Upsets
Compared to the dramatic 2023 edition in Côte d’Ivoire, AFCON 2025 has so far lacked shock eliminations. All top-seeded teams progressed without major scares.
While Mozambique and Tanzania reached the knockout stage for the first time, and Sudan’s qualification is a remarkable story, fans are still waiting for a true giant-killing moment.
Special Mention: The Weather
Heavy rainfall has disrupted fan zones, cafés and outdoor events across Morocco. While organizers cannot control the weather, the persistent rain has dampened the festive atmosphere off the pitch.
Still, Moroccan supporters remain defiant: “Rain or shine, we will support our team,” said one Lions of the Atlas fan.
With the group stage complete, AFCON 2025 now enters its decisive phase, one that promises even higher intensity, drama and unforgettable moments.
Attendance Variations and Ticket Control Measures
While most matches of AFCON 2025 in Morocco were played in vibrant and well-filled stadiums, a limited number of fixtures recorded lower attendance, mainly involving teams with smaller traveling fan bases. These isolated cases did not reflect the overall atmosphere of the tournament, which has been largely praised for its crowd engagement and festive spirit.
In parallel, Moroccan authorities maintained strict oversight of ticket distribution around stadiums. Preventive actions were taken to curb illegal resale practices, leading to several interventions against unauthorized ticket sellers. These measures aimed to protect supporters, ensure transparent access to matches, and preserve the smooth organization of the competition.
Overall, these minor adjustments remain part of the natural logistical challenges of hosting a continental tournament, and they were handled efficiently within an otherwise highly successful AFCON hosted by Morocco.
