Between December 18 and January 18, 2026, Africa turned its attention to Morocco as the continent hosted its biggest football celebration, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Beyond the action on the pitch, the tournament became a showcase of African culture, hospitality and unity, presenting a vibrant image of the continent to a global audience.
AFCON 2025 has been widely praised as the best edition in the competition’s history, largely due to Morocco’s modern infrastructure and smooth organisation. Stadiums, transport systems and fan facilities all met high international standards, leading many observers to describe the tournament as a turning point for African football.
Still, the question remains whether it truly stands above all previous editions.
Dutch football expert Chris Wurtz has no doubts. The former Sunderland manager described the Morocco-hosted AFCON as “the best ever,” stating that the 35th edition of the tournament set a new benchmark for the continent. According to him, “this 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations not only highlighted Morocco’s ability to organise major sporting events, but also raised the bar for African football standards.”
In comments to the Maghreb Arab Press Agency, Wurtz praised the overall quality of organisation and the ideal conditions under which the competition was held. He noted that the tournament offered a clear preview of what to expect at the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal.
“Morocco has demonstrated exceptionally its complete readiness to welcome fans from all over the world to this sporting event,” he added
Wurtz also pointed to the strong institutional support behind Morocco’s sporting rise, highlighting the role of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in the development of football and sports more broadly. He stressed that the country’s progress reflects a long-term vision focused on investment, planning and international competitiveness.
The expert further explained that recent achievements by Moroccan football are evidence of this sustained effort. These include the national team’s historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup, success at the youth level with the Under-20 World Cup title, the bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games, and reaching the final of AFCON 2025.
Together, these milestones underline the impact of continuous investment in infrastructure and youth development.
Wurtz, who previously held administrative roles at Feyenoord Rotterdam, also highlighted the influence of Moroccan professionals playing in Europe. Their performances, he noted, have contributed significantly to the national team’s rise in the FIFA rankings, where Morocco now sits eighth in the world.
Whether AFCON 2025 was the greatest tournament ever may still spark debate among fans and analysts. What is clear, however, is that the Morocco-hosted edition marked a defining moment for African football and set a new reference point for future tournaments on the continent.
