Grand Stade de Marrakesh Gets World-Class Makeover

2025-09-03

The Grand Stade de Marrakech, which is poised to host the final phase of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) in Morocco, has undergone a major makeover following renovation work.

The stadium has already hosted prestigious competitions such as the FIFA Club World Cup in 2013 and 2014. Today, it underwent an upgrade that began in early 2024 and was completed in June 2025.

“The first phase of the upgrade of the stadium consisted of bringing it into compliance with CAF standards,” said Abdelkerim Bouilli, Director of Development of the Grand Stade de Marrakech and representative of the National Agency for Public Facilities (ANEP).

The main improvements focused on all the sports facilities, locker rooms, the mixed zone, and the media area, he told MAP, noting that the entire pitch was completely redone.

A panoramic restaurant with 180 seats was also added, along with the complete renewal of all the grandstand seating, now equipped with wider and more comfortable seats, he added.

As for the second phase, he continued, it will begin just after the AFCON and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028. It will notably include the removal of the athletics track in order to increase the stadium’s capacity from the current 41,000 to 46,000 seats by 2030, along with full coverage of the stadium.

In a similar statement, Morad Karaoui, Regional Director of the National Company for the Construction and Management of Sports Facilities (SONARGES), said that “the residents of Marrakesh should be proud of this architectural gem.”

Highlighting that the first phase of work cost around 400 million MAD, he stated that the Grand Stade de Marrakech now features seven VIP lounges and 15 sky boxes.

The number of turnstiles has increased from 36 to 77, significantly reducing waiting time for both pedestrian and vehicle-borne supporters — now just one minute from the outer entrance to the stands — in compliance with CAF and FIFA standards, he noted.

He also pointed out that the stadium includes four training fields that meet FIFA criteria.

The Grand Stade de Marrakech is “set to undergo a transformation during the second phase of upgrades in preparation for the 2030 World Cup,” he further emphasized, adding that the stadium, currently rectangular in shape, will be converted to an octagonal format.

This Saturday at 9:00 pm, the stadium will host a friendly match between local club Kawkab (KACM), newly promoted to Botola Pro D1, and Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel — giving Marrakesh fans a chance to discover the revamped stadium.

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CAF Awards 2025: Moroccan Ghizlaine Chebbak Named African Player of the Year

Moroccan Ghizlaine Chebbak, captain of the Atlas Lionesses, was named African Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2025 ceremony, held Wednesday evening in Rabat.

Alongside Chebbak, the final list of candidates for this award also included Sanaa Mssoudy, forward for AS FAR and the Moroccan national team, and Nigerian Rasheedat Ajibade, PSG player.

The award was presented by CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

Doha Madani

AS FAR player Doha Madani won the Best Young Player of the Year award during the CAF Awards ceremony, held Wednesday evening in Rabat.

At 20 years old, the young Moroccan represents a true hope for Moroccan and African football.

Meanwhile, Tanzanian Clement Mzize, a TP Mazembe player, received the award for the Best Goal of the Year 2025.

Also nominated for the award were goals scored by Moroccans Oussama Lamlioui, forward for Renaissance Berkane, and Ghizlane Chebbak, captain of the Lionesses of the Atlas.

2025 U17 Women’s World Cup: Morocco Defeats Costa Rica 3-1

Morocco’s national U17 women’s football team defeated Costa Rica 3-1 on Friday evening at the Rabat Olympic Stadium, in the third and final match of Group A in the tournament’s final phase.

The goals for Morocco were scored by Mayssa Baha (4th minute and 39th minute, the latter from a penalty) and Fabiana Alfaro (77th minute, own goal), while Costa Rica reduced the deficit through Naima Moya in stoppage time (90+5).

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025: Morocco Falls to Italy 1-3

Morocco’s under-17 women’s national football team fell 3-1 to Italy on Tuesday night at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium, in their second Group A match of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Giulia Galli struck twice for Italy in the 5th and 13th minutes, while Rachele Giudici added a third in the 23rd. Dounia El Masmoudi pulled one back for Morocco in the 82nd minute, but it proved too little too late.

In the group’s other fixture, Brazil and Costa Rica shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw.

After two rounds of play, Italy lead Group A with six points, followed by Brazil on four and Costa Rica with one. Morocco sit bottom of the table with no points.

On the final matchday of the group stage, scheduled for Friday, October 24, Morocco will face Costa Rica, while Italy take on Brazil.

Presence of Women’s National Football Team at Throne Day Reception Hosted by HM the King Reflects Renewed Royal Goodwill Toward National Sport

The presence of the women’s national football team, finalists in the 2024 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, at the reception hosted on Wednesday by His Majesty King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the glorious Throne Day celebrations, is yet another illustration of the Sovereign’s unfailing benevolence towards sport in general and football in particular.

In fact, His Majesty the King has consistently supported Moroccan athletes by providing them with all the conditions necessary to encourage them to achieve the best results and fly the national flag high at the continental, regional, and international levels.

Speaking to the press, on the occasion of the Throne Day reception offered by HM the King, the Atlas Lionesses said that they were proud to be received by the Sovereign, adding that it is a great honor and a source of motivation to persevere in the same path in order to meet the aspirations of His Majesty the King and the Moroccan people.

This Royal gesture of goodwill is a “source of motivation to continue working for the next African Cup of Nations,” emphasized the Atlas Lionesses captain, Ghizlane Chebbak, top scorer of the continental competition.

In this respect, she reiterated, on behalf of the entire national team, their commitment to do their best to meet the expectations of the Moroccan people.

For her part, Khadija Errmichi, the team’s goalkeeper, said that “on this occasion dear to our hearts and to the hearts of all Moroccans, the glorious Throne Day, we express our heartfelt thanks and deep gratitude to HM the King,” emphasizing that the Sovereign’s High Solicitude and Goodwill remain “unforgettable moments” forever engraved in the memory of the members of the national team.

“We will redouble our efforts to fly the national flag high and always present the best image of national women’s football,” she said.

For Sanae Messaoudi, this royal gesture is “a source of pride for all of us.” “We hope to bring happiness to the Moroccans who support us and have always supported us,” she said.

“We ask the Moroccan public to continue to support us and we promise to do our best to achieve this ambition” of winning the continental title, she said.

“It’s a dream for us. We are very happy to be received by His Majesty the King,” said Yasmine Katie Mrabet, defender for the women’s national team.

The Moroccan international expressed the national team’s great pride in their brilliant performance during the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations. “We will learn from our mistakes and work to improve,” she said.

For his part, the national women’s football team head coach, Jorge Vilda, said that he was honored to be received, along with the members of the national team, by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. “It’s an unforgettable day. The national team players are very happy,“ he said, adding that ”this noble royal gesture is a recognition of the work done.”

After their brilliant performance at the last Women’s AFCON in 2024, which the Kingdom hosted, His Majesty the King sent a message of congratulations to the members of the women’s national team, in which He praised “the outstanding competitive spirit and the high sense of patriotism” shown by the members of the national team throughout the championship.

HM the King also praised their firm determination to establish the strong presence of Moroccan football at the continental and international levels and to represent, as they should, national women’s sport, as well as the efforts of the players and the technical, medical, and administrative staff to fulfill the expectations of Moroccan fans who aspire to more titles.

WAFCON Title Was Decided by ‘Small Details’ – Morocco’s Head Coach

The Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final was lost by the Moroccan national team against Nigeria (2-3) due to “small details,” said head coach Jorge Vilda.

“The players delivered a perfect first half, but in the second half, they collapsed physically due to the significant effort they put in during the first half of the match,” explained Vilda during a press conference held after the final of the Women Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco 2024).

He emphasized that the cancellation of the penalty in the final minutes of the match was a blow to the players, considering that the national team was the better side on the field, despite the strength of the Nigerian team.

“It is still too early to assess the Moroccan team’s performance in this tournament,” he said, stressing that all members of the national team are disappointed and deeply saddened by the loss of the title.

In this regard, he added that the national team includes experienced players capable of giving a lot in the future, despite the age of some of them, explaining that the physical collapse was due to having played 120 minutes in the semifinal against Ghana, in addition to the great efforts made throughout the tournament.

Wednesday 26 November 2025