The festive atmosphere of the 2025 AFCON is now under high surveillance in the Hexagon. In a telegram addressed to the prefects, the Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nunez, orders absolute firmness for the quarter-finals and semi-finals. On the program: bans on gatherings and explicit threats on the residence permits of foreign troublemakers .
Confidence reigns among the Moroccans. A few hours before the quarter-final clash of the 2025 AFCON against Cameroon, the players of the national team are displaying their determination. From the Mohammed VI Center in Maâmora, they promise to "give everything" to prolong the adventure.
Even behind the bars of the "Tanger 2" prison, Nasser Zefzafi makes his voice heard. The leader of the Hirak of the Rif has broken his silence to address a vehement letter to the star journalist of Al Jazeera, the Algerian Khadija Benguenna. At issue: the latter’s mockery of the famous Congolese supporter "Lumumba", who has become a true icon of the CAN in Morocco.
The countdown has begun. On the eve of the quarter-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations between Morocco and Cameroon, Walid Regragui provided an update on Thursday, January 8. From the press room of the Moulay Abdellah complex in Rabat, the national team coach discussed the state of his troops, tactical management, and the weight of history against the Indomitable Lions.
End of the controversy. Back in Johannesburg after the elimination of the Bafana Bafana, the South African Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie, publicly disavowed his coach, Hugo Broos . The official described the coach’s criticism of the atmosphere in Morocco as "unacceptable" and formally apologized to the Kingdom.
Tension behind the scenes before the decisive quarter-final. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has filed an official complaint with CAF to denounce the unusual delay in the appointment of the referees for the Morocco-Cameroon match . The list, finally unveiled, raises strong concerns among the Moroccan public due to the presence of Algerian officials.
The verdict is in. To continue their dream at home, Morocco will have to eliminate Cameroon in the quarter-finals. A gala matchup in a tournament with historically high-level competition, but it arrives in a paradoxical climate: Morocco is winning, but Walid Regragui is under fire.
As the Africa Cup of Nations continues in Morocco, Hakim Ziyech has spoken about his absence from the Atlas Lions’ list. The Moroccan international, now a member of Wydad, described Walid Regragui’s decision as "logical" and reaffirmed his support for the group in the running.
He is the new sensation of English football. Othmane Maamma , the young Moroccan prodigy of Watford, is in the sights of the biggest Premier League clubs. Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle are already in the running to try to recruit the one who was named best player of the last U20 World Cup.
The warm-up is over. After a laborious qualification against Tanzania , the Atlas Lions are facing a completely different caliber of opponent. According to sports analysts, the quarter-final match on Friday against Cameroon will be a decisive turning point, requiring an unprecedented level of intensity and concentration since the start of the tournament.
It is a technological feat that has won over everyone, even the most skeptical commentators. As torrential rains poured down on Rabat during the Cameroon-South Africa match, the stadium’s pitch remained unfazed. An exceptional quality that earned unexpected praise from the Algerian journalist Hafid Derradji .
Before playing his place in the quarter-finals, the coach of Algeria took the time to salute the quality of the organization. Vladimir Petković described the stadiums and infrastructure of Morocco as "world-class", emphasizing their positive impact on the spectacle offered during this AFCON.