BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU, KSM
As the finals of the 2025 AFCON between Morocco and Senegal, takes place on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, at the 69,500-capacity stadium, one begins to see the possibility that hosts, Morocco, will lift this trophy. Morocco may have come to this tournament with an unbeaten run and also Africa’s highest-ranked football team, but one thing which speaks much for Morocco is the fact that the officiating has been designed to favour them winning this trophy, which has eluded them in the last 50 years since they first tasted this continental glory.
After winning their first and only title in 1976, when Ethiopia hosted, they made series of efforts to clinch another continental glory, but the best they got was reaching the final in 2004, when hosts Tunisia were defeated in the final, denying them an opportunity to win the AFCON title. But one thing Morocco have not failed to do since then is massive investment in football. They have ensured that the country becomes the football hub of Africa by putting up infrastructure that readily enables them to host any football tournament at short notice.
At the FIFA level, they have remained the only African country to host the FIFA Club World Cup, which they hosted on three occasions: 2013, 2014, and 2022. They have also hosted the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2025 and have also been named as co-hosts for the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. At the continental level, Morocco have hosted the last two Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) editions, in 2022 and 2024, and has also been named host for the 2026 edition. They have hosted the CHAN, are currently hosting the AFCON, and have remained one nation eager to host every tournament on African soil.
However, their performance en route to the final of the AFCON clearly shows that the team is not special but is making it through with officiating designed to support their ambition. In their semifinal clash against Nigeria, there were visible evidences suggesting that they are been favoured. Take, for example, Brahim Diaz pulling Calvin Bassey’s jersey during their clash, and the referee issuing Bassey a yellow card; this shows the bias in officiating. Moreover, no single Morocco player got a caution card despite their several rough tackles on the Nigerian side, but it was rather the Nigerian side who were subjected to playing under a condition where any move they make will be used against them, as this further demoralized the players.
As Morocco looks forward to reaping the reward of their massive investment in football when they face Senegal in the final after 50 years, Nigeria must wake up and begin to understand that there is a need for the government to begin honest and massive investment in football. This will go a long way in returning her to the claim of being the ‘Giant of Africa’.