AFCON 2025: Morocco set for colourful opening ceremony as tournament kicks off

Morocco is buzzing with anticipation as it puts the finishing touches to the opening of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the hosts pledging a vibrant cultural display to kick off the tournament on Sunday, December 21.

From Casablanca to the other host cities, the mood is unmistakably festive. Streets are draped in team colours, jerseys and memorabilia line shop fronts, while fan parks are fully operational as supporters eagerly await the first whistle of Africa’s premier football showpiece.

The tournament marks Morocco’s second time as AFCON hosts, 37 years after staging the competition in 1988. All 24 qualified nations are already in the country and have settled into host cities including Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier.

Festivities ahead of the opening ceremony will include a star-studded concert at the OLM Souissi Fan Zone in Rabat on Saturday, December 20, headlined by international music icons French Montana and Davido.

The event is expected to celebrate African unity and cultural diversity, fusing Afrobeats, urban music, pop and traditional sounds to highlight the continent’s rich artistic heritage.

Hopes are especially high among Moroccan fans, with the Atlas Lions aiming to secure a second continental crown, their first since 1976. The 2025 edition is widely viewed as a defining moment for the national side, coming on the back of recent achievements, including their triumph in the FIFA Arab Cup earlier this week.

With football, music and culture converging, Morocco is setting the stage for a memorable AFCON opener as the eyes of the continent turn firmly towards North Africa.