Can 2025: moroccan fans demand nothing less than victory in home tournament

The Moroccan national football team faces immense pressure as it prepares for CAN 2025, hosted on home soil for the first time since 1988. With a passionate fanbase and a squad brimming with talent, expectations are sky-high—and failure is not an option.

a generation of dreams on the line

Morocco has not won the African Cup of Nations since 1976, a 49-year drought that weighs heavily on the shoulders of supporters like Ibrahim, a 20-year-old fan studying sports management in Ottawa. He sees this year’s tournament as the perfect opportunity for redemption after last year’s disappointing early exit in the group stage.

«A result below victory would be a failure,» Ibrahim declares. «We’ve been waiting for this moment. The team has the players to deliver, and the entire nation deserves this triumph.» The disappointment of 2024 still lingers—especially after Morocco’s historic World Cup semifinal run in Qatar—but now, the stage is set in Morocco itself.

strength in depth despite adversity

Recent setbacks, including a severe injury to captain Achraf Hakimi during a domestic league match, raised concerns. However, Ibrahim remains confident: «Hakimi is irreplaceable, but we have quality in depth. Players like Zakaria El Ouahdi from Genk have shown they can step up.» The Moroccan squad blends experienced stars with rising talents, creating a balanced and formidable unit.

Ibrahim is particularly excited about the tournament’s opening match against Comoros, where he hopes to witness the team’s dominance from the start. «This will be my first time attending a major international football event in person,» he says. «To experience it in Morocco, with the whole nation behind us, is a dream come true.»

nation in high spirits ahead of kickoff

The tournament’s arrival has ignited nationwide enthusiasm. Despite initial technical glitches in ticket sales, over 140,000 tickets were snapped up in the first 24 hours. Fans are eager to witness historic clashes, including a blockbuster match between Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Tangier on December 27.

«The last time Morocco hosted the CAN was in 1988,» Ibrahim reflects. «To be here now, especially with our team’s current form, is a privilege. We’re not just playing for a trophy—we’re writing a new chapter in Moroccan football history.» With the tournament kicking off in Rabat on December 21, the entire country is counting down the days.