HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Chairs Opening Ceremony of 35th AFCON-Morocco 2025

Rabat – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan is chairing, on Sunday at the “Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium” in Rabat, the opening ceremony of the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON-Morocco 2025) which runs in the Kingdom until January 18th.

Upon his arrival to the “Prince Moulay Abdellah” Stadium, HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan reviewed a section of the Royal Guard that paid the honors, before being greeted by the minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, Mohamed Saâd Berrada, the president of the Moroccan National Olympic Committee, Fayçal Laraichi, FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, and the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was also greeted by the wali of the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra region, governor of the Rabat prefecture, Mohamed Yacoubi, the president of the Regional Council, Rachid El Abdi, the president of the Communal Council of Rabat, Fatiha El Moudni, the president of the Prefectural Council of Rabat, Abdelaziz Driouich, the director general of the National Agency for Public Facilities (ANEP), which oversees the technical aspect of the “Prince Moulay Abdellah” stadium, Zineb Benmoussa and the president o the District Council of Yacoub El Mansour, Abdelfattah El Aouni. HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan was also greeted by Said Lakhda, CEO of the Rabat Sports Infrastructure Company (INSPORA), which manages the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Mattias Grafström, Secretary General of FIFA, Véron Mosengo-Omba, Secretary General of CAF, and members of the FRMF. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then joined the Royal Box to attend the opening ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations, marked by colorful performances, including tributes to the unity, identity and unwavering resilience of African football. It was an immersive and choreographed journey where light was the common thread connecting cultures, generations, and dreams, as well as a celebration of “Morocco, Land of Football” and Africa as a continent that embraces its diversity with strength and pride. Subsequently, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, delivered an address in which he expressed his thanks to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, “for having welcomed us in Morocco, this beautiful country, of football, passion and peace” and for having united Africa and the World through this happy event. He also wished good luck to the 24 countries taking part in this Africa Cup of Nations, which will be “the most beautiful Africa Cup of Nations in history.” In a similar address, CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, expressed, on behalf of CAF and its member Federations, his thanks to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, and to HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan. He also expressed his gratitude to Moroccans for their love of football, welcoming African and international fans who will be watching the continent’s best football and performances by Africa’s top players. “We in Africa are committed to making football a unifying force for people,” he said, adding that Morocco and Africa showed the world what they are capable of during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Motsepe then officially declared the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations-Morocco 2025 open. After a brief rest at the Royal Lounge, HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan returned to the Royal Box to watch the opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco between the Moroccan national team and its Comorian counterpart. After the Comorian and Moroccan national anthems were played, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince made his way onto the stadium pitch to greet the players from both teams and the match officials, before posing for souvenir photos with them. HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan then gave the symbolic kickoff of the match. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then returned to the Royal Box to watch the match, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the Moroccan national team.