Less than a week before the kick-off of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the countdown has begun. In the host cities, final preparations are underway, and the tournament atmosphere is gradually taking shape.
Flags of the participating teams, banners and CAN colours are appearing in the streets and along the main avenues.
Fan zones are also fine-tuning their setups to welcome supporters in the best possible conditions.
In Casablanca, however, enthusiasm among the general public still seems relatively muted, apart from billboards displaying the CAN countdown.
Although the competition officially kicks off on Sunday, 21 December, excitement is already building. And with the arrival of visitors and the start of the matches, the passion is expected to sweep across the entire country.
The CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will kick off in Rabat on Sunday with a Group A clash between hosts Morocco and Comoros, which is the start of a four-week race to the title.
The match will kick off at 7 pm GMT and will be watched by a sold-out crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium as the country hosts the 35th edition of the tournament, the first time in 37 years.
With tens of thousands of supporters expected to pass through Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat, Tangier, Fès and Agadir in the coming days, Morocco’s airport network has moved into full operational and celebratory mode ahead of the continent’s flagship tournament.
Morocco’s handling of the arrival phase will be closely watched. The Kingdom successfully hosted the Women’s AFCON in 2024 and the U-17 AFCON in 2025, and with preparations already underway to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the ability to manage fan movement and experience is under scrutiny.
The celebratory atmosphere is deliberate. Airports hosting AFCON matches have been redesigned to act as extensions of the tournament itself — featuring illuminated walkways, fan tunnels, monumental arches and interactive zones that usher supporters into the spirit of the competition long before kickoff.
A newly released promotional film by ONDA sets the tone, presenting airports as the first chapter of the AFCON experience a blend of football, culture and hospitality.
As flights continue to land and arrival halls fill with jerseys, flags and chants, one thing is clear: AFCON 2025 is already underway not with a whistle, but with a welcome.
From giant footballs to glowing LED campaigns, Morocco’s airports have become the first stadiums of the tournament, offering supporters a promise that this Africa Cup of Nations will be remembered from the very first step on Moroccan soil.
