The air in Rabat is thick with anticipation and the sea of red and green is impossible to miss. Morocco is ready to host the footballing continent as the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off with a grand opening match this Sunday. The Atlas Lions, as the Moroccan national team is famously known, are not just hosts but one of the top contenders to lift the prestigious trophy.
A Historic Quest on Home Soil
For Morocco, this tournament is a chance to etch a new chapter in history. Their sole AFCON victory came back in 1976, meaning a win in 2025 would end a 50-year wait for the second title. The final is scheduled for January 19, 2026. The team carries the hopes of a nation that has invested heavily in football infrastructure, positioning itself as a growing power. This ambition is further highlighted by Morocco's role as a co-host for the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
The opening ceremony and match will be held at the renovated Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, which can hold nearly 70,000 spectators. It is one of nine venues across five Moroccan cities that have been built or upgraded specifically for this tournament. The excitement has been building for days, with a vibrant fan parade taking over the capital's streets on Saturday night.
Opening Match: Favourite Faces Underdog
Morocco begins its campaign against the island nation of Comoros, a team ranked 108th in the world and making only its second-ever appearance in the competition. The historical stats favour the host; no team has lost the opening match of AFCON since Burkina Faso in 1998.
Despite the obvious mismatch on paper, Comoros coach Stefano Cusin is relishing the occasion. He described the match as "a superb match, an extraordinary occasion to get to know our team, our country" and promised "a great evening of football."
Morocco's credentials are formidable. They are currently the highest-ranked African team at No. 11 in the FIFA world rankings. Their legendary run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar made them the first African nation to achieve that feat, cementing their status as continental giants.
Tournament Highlights and Major Changes
The tournament mascot, a lion named Assad, pays homage to the Barbary lions that once roamed North Africa's Atlas Mountains. Interestingly, the last known photograph of a wild lion in Morocco was taken in 1925 by French army photographer Marcelin Flandrin.
Beyond the opener, the group stage features other heavyweights. Egypt, chasing a record-extending eighth title and a first for star forward Mohamed Salah, starts against Zimbabwe on Monday. The defending champion, Ivory Coast, begins its defense versus Mozambique on Wednesday. Other favourites include Senegal and five-time champion Cameroon. Notably, Algeria has joined Morocco as the only teams to sell out all their group-stage matches.
In a significant development for the future of African football, it was announced on Saturday that the AFCON will shift from a biennial to a four-year cycle. This move aligns the tournament with the global FIFA calendar and marks a major structural change for the competition.
As the first whistle blows in Rabat, all eyes will be on Morocco to see if they can channel the electric home support into a victorious campaign, aiming to crown their massive investment and footballing rise with a long-awaited continental crown.
