It’s a small bomb in the world of regional football . The Gulf Federation is considering breaking its own traditions for the 2026 edition scheduled in Riyadh. The idea? Inviting the heavyweights of the Arab world, including Morocco, Egypt and Algeria, to transform this local tournament into a high-level competition.
All is not well between the Fennecs and the Algerian media present in Morocco . While they were enjoying a day off in Rabat for the New Year, the players of the Algerian national team were exasperated by the harassment of their journalists, who had turned into paparazzi for the occasion.
Money doesn’t necessarily make results. The ranking of the highest-paid coaches at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations reveals a huge disparity: the Algerian coach, Vladimir Petkovic, receives a salary almost twice as high as that of Walid Regragui , who was nevertheless a semi-finalist in the last World Cup.
Leaders of their group, the Atlas Lions continue their quest for continental glory this Sunday in Rabat against Tanzania. But the final bracket of this CAN 2025 already outlines tantalizing prospects, with a potential explosive clash against Algeria in the semi-finals on the horizon.
A surreal incident marred the match between Algeria and Equatorial Guinea at the Moulay Hassan stadium in Rabat. The CAF was forced to intervene in the Fennecs’ dressing room to recover a match ball stolen by a member of the technical staff, caught on surveillance cameras.
The National Technical Director is taking a stand to silence the rumors. Fathi Jamal has formally denied any intervention by the Federation in Walid Regragui’s tactical choices during the match against Zambia, reaffirming the total independence of the coach.
He is no longer a mere hope, but a certainty. In the space of a few months, Neil El Aynaoui has established himself as the essential metronome of Walid Regragui’s eleven. Son of tennis legend Younès El Aynaoui, the Serie A midfielder brings the balance and discipline that the Atlas Lions were sorely lacking.
The number 10 of the Atlas Lions is setting the counters on fire. By scoring in three consecutive matches in the Africa Cup of Nations, Brahim Díaz equals a performance that had not been seen since 1976. A dazzling success that contrasts with his status as a substitute at Real Madrid, where he is nevertheless about to extend his contract.
The story could have been very different for Eliesse Ben Seghir . The Moroccan international, transferred this summer to Bayer Leverkusen for 32 million euros, revealed that he burst into tears when his family prevented him from signing with Olympique de Marseille during his youth, considering the environment too risky.
The Africa Cup of Nations is in full swing in Morocco , but the atmosphere in the streets is radically different from the previous edition. Between the pressure of the result for the host country, the winter weather, and the sometimes sparse fan zones, this AFCON is distinguished by its seriousness, far from the festive exuberance of Côte d’Ivoire.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has released a bonus of 8 million dollars for the national team , qualified for the round of 16 of the CAN 2025. This reward recognizes the flawless performance of the Atlas Lions, who could earn double in case of final victory.
The coach of the Roja displays his ambitions for the next World Cup. In an interview with the daily newspaper AS , Luis de la Fuente said he is convinced that Spain can win the supreme title next year, while designating Morocco as one of the most serious rivals, not sparing his praise for the quality of the Moroccan squad.