Capturing the Soul of AFCON in Morocco

All words and Images: Will Dunn

Driven by a long-standing connection to Moroccan football and memories of unforgettable nights in Casablanca, Will Dunn returned to Morocco to document the heart and soul of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations. Having previously experienced the raw intensity of Raja and Wydad matches, the opportunity to witness AFCON on Moroccan soil felt impossible to ignore.

From packed cafés and flag-draped streets to thunderous stadiums alive with colour and noise, his journey became a celebration not just of football, but of the culture, community and shared passion that defines the tournament.

A Return to Morocco

I had the chance to spend a month in Morocco a few years ago and bounded around by train and bus, taking in everything the country had to offer. The memories from that trip that stayed with me the most were the two matches I saw in Casablanca, Raja and Wydad playing over the course of the weekend.

I’d always heard how passionate the fan bases were for the big teams, but the support had to be seen to be believed. I had always wanted to get back out to Morocco, and when I saw that AFCON was out there this time around, I jumped at the opportunity to return.

Football Everywhere

Football is everywhere in Morocco. You only have to walk through the souks and past the cafés to see football matches from across the globe being shown on TVs, or souk vendors watching matches or highlights on their phones.

The cafés are brimming with locals sipping tea, glued to AFCON. Away from the international stage, your attention is caught by murals for local clubs adorning the sides of buildings and the visceral enthusiasm around the return of the Botola League post-AFCON.

Matchday Energy

The support is some of the most impassioned you are likely to see in the grounds. Motorbikes and scooters hurtle towards the stadiums with horns blaring and anticipation building. The sound doubles once you’re inside, with wall-to-wall noise for 90 minutes, with supporters’ groups often arriving an hour before kick-off to build the atmosphere.

In the Stands and Streets

You don’t have to look far before seeing someone walking draped in the flag of a country that is competing or has competed in AFCON. Often, you’ll see people from two countries shaking hands and embracing before games, with mutual respect being the standout feature of fan interaction. Once in the ground, it’s a party-like atmosphere — the noise does not stop.

At half-time, you see those who observe or practise praying in the concourse, a stark contrast to the European football experience, where people bustle to queue up for a pint.

Supporting the Underdog

Standing next to the Senegal supporters for their match against Sudan was a sight and sound to behold. Even the backing for less established footballing nations such as Benin and Burkina Faso had something to offer, not least because the Moroccan support seemed to always back the underdog. Every tackle, pass, cross and rare goal by the smaller teams is cheered furiously.

The memory of Aamir Abdallah scoring his wonder goal for rank outsiders Sudan in their match against Senegal and sending their pocket of supporters wild will live with me forever.

Travelling in the Host Nation

The ease of travel between each city, from Tangier to Rabat and Agadir to Marrakesh, meant moving around such a vast country proved smooth enough. I was very taken by the design of Stade Adrar in Agadir.

In a world where new stadiums often have a copy-and-paste bowl style, it seemed to the untrained eye that those responsible chose to keep true to some semblance of local architecture. For the most part, getting into the grounds, whilst a long way out of town, the queues moved fairly quickly.

On the surface, the apparent conviviality between supporters from different countries has been a real change from a European perspective.

Looking Ahead

I am writing this a few days before the semi-finals and saw both Senegal and Egypt take to the field, who face each other in Tangier. The teams in the semi-finals are those you might expect, with Nigeria and hosts Morocco in the other match.

My gut is saying Morocco, as it’s hard to look past their talent on the pitch, backed by fervent home support. That being said, I would love to see Senegal cause an upset, they were amazing on the pitch and in the stands against Sudan. There is no out-and-out favourite purely on footballing terms in my eyes, and that’s what makes it an exciting finale.