Friday 08 May 2026

Friday 08 May 2026

French Channel Describes AFCON Stadiums, TV Production, Fan Access as Real Step Up in Standards

تواصل منافسات كأس إفريقيا للأمم، الجارية أطوارها بالمغرب إلى غاية 18 يناير الجاري، استقطاب زخم إعلامي دولي غير مسبوق، محطمة بذلك كل الأرقام القياسية، في دلالة واضحة على الاهتمام الكبير الذي تحظى به هذه التظاهرة القارية، وعلى جاذبيتها المتنامية على الصعيد العالمي. فقد توصلت الكونفدرالية الإفريقية لكرة القدم "كاف" بما لا يقل عن 5400 طلب اعتماد إعلامي من مختلف أنحاء العالم، وهو رقم يعكس حجم الاهتمام الدولي الكبير بهذه التظاهرة الرياضية، ويبرز في الآن ذاته الرهان الإعلامي الذي تمثله هذه النسخة المنظمة بالمغرب. وأمام هذا الإقبال، وحرصا على تمكين أكبر عدد ممكن من الصحفيين وممثلي وسائل الإعلام من تغطية منافسات البطولة، اضطرت الـ"كاف" إلى تمديد فترة الاعتمادات، وهو ما يعكس الاهتمام العالمي المتزايد بنسخة تعد من بين الأكثر ترقبا في تاريخ كرة القدم الإفريقية. وفي هذا السياق، جددت الكونفدرالية الافريقية لكرة القدم، واللجنة المنظمة المحلية لكأس إفريقيا للأمم، التزامهما بتوفير خدمات ومواكبة من أعلى مستوى لفائدة وسائل الإعلام المعتمدة لتغطية كأس إفريقيا للأمم (المغرب 2025). وبالإضافة إلى 3800 صحفي يغطون أطوار هذه النسخة الـ 35 من قلب الملاعب المغربية، ضمنت البطولة بثا عالميا واسعا عبر قنوات من مختلف بقاع العالم، من بينها قناة "Channel 4"، التي أبرمت اتفاقا مع الهيئة الوصية على كرة القدم الإفريقية لبث جميع مباريات كأس إفريقيا للأمم لأول مرة في المملكة المتحدة. وإلى جانب البث في 54 دولة إفريقية، ستمكن 30 دولة أوروبية جماهيرها من متابعة البطولة، في "سابقة من نوعها"، وفق ما أكده الكاتب العام "للكاف" فيرون موسينغو-أومبا، خلال ندوة صحفية عقدها مؤخرا بالرباط لاستعراض آخر الاستعدادات التي قام بها المغرب لاحتضان هذا الحدث، مشيرا إلى أن الـ "كاف" توصلت بما يقارب 1000 طلب لحقوق البث التلفزي. وأوضح المسؤول الكروي الإفريقي أن الزخم الإعلامي، لاسيما على مستوى القنوات التلفزيونية "غير مسبوق"، مع بث المباريات في ما يقارب 200 اتحاد من أصل 211 اتحادا منضويا تحت لواء الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم. وفي تصريح لوكالة المغرب العربي للأنباء، أكد الصحفي الفرنسي-المغربي، سعيد أمداع أن "الاهتمام الإعلامي بهذه النسخة من البطولة مذهل"، مضيفا أنه لم يسبق له أن شاهد بطولة تحظى بهذا العدد الكبير من الصحفيين، رغم أنه يغطي دوري أبطال أوروبا بانتظام إلى جانب عدة مسابقات دولية أخرى. وأوضح أنه "في ظل ظروف عمل مثالية للإعلاميين وبنيات تحتية عالية الجودة للمنتخبات، أعتقد أننا نشهد أفضل نسخة من كأس إفريقيا للأمم". من جهته، سجل الصحفي الكاميروني، هوبرت ميشال كاميني، أن هذه النسخة الكبرى من كأس إفريقيا للأمم ستكون دون شك الأفضل في تاريخ المسابقة، وهو ما يفسر الإقبال الإعلامي الواسع من قبل وسائل الإعلام الدولية، والعدد الكبير من الصحفيين الذين حلوا بالمغرب لتغطيتها. وأكد أن المغرب سخر إمكانات كبيرة لتمكين الصحفيين من أداء مهامهم في أفضل الظروف، سواء من حيث البنيات التحتية أو التجهيزات، مضيفا أن أصداء الصحفيين الرياضيين الحاضرين تؤكد أنها أضخم نسخة من حيث التغطية الإعلامية. والواقع أن النسخة الـ 35 من كأس إفريقيا للأمم، التي يستضيفها المغرب حاليا، تعد محطة مفصلية في تاريخ التظاهرات الرياضية القارية، إذ لا يقتصر هذا الاستثناء على النجاح الرياضي فحسب، بل يشمل أيضا الجاهزية اللوجستية، وجودة البنية التحتية، وسلاسة التنقل، وقدرة المدن المستضيفة على تدبير تدفق جماهيري وإعلامي فاق كل التوقعات. (ومع: 02 يناير2025)
 The staging of the first round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) across six Moroccan cities shows a “clear step up in the event’s standards,” according to the specialist channel RMC Sport.

In its review following the first-round matches, the French media outlet highlights modern stadiums, the quality of the pitches, spectator access, and ticket checkpoint systems as being among the “strengths of the organization.”

“TV production at this AFCON is well established in 2025. With around thirty cameras per stadium, drones, and high-quality directing, the Africa Cup is filmed like a European Championship match,” RMC explains, stressing that the playing surfaces are among the competition’s main assets.

In a report by its correspondents on site, the channel notes that “all the pitches used have been perfect, even though torrential rains have hit Morocco since the start of the tournament. The pitches have been praised by several head coaches.”

It also emphasized the very smooth access to stadiums for spectator flows, while at external security checkpoints, “everything is running properly for an event of this scale.”

In the streets of the host cities, “coexistence among all supporters is perfect,” it continued, noting that “no tension was observed during the opening fixtures of the tournament.”

As for stadium refreshment areas, the offering remains abundant, with very affordable prices for spectators, reporters say, while also describing security across all venues as “perfect.”

In this context, RMC Sport underlines that AFCON 2025 represents a full-scale rehearsal for Morocco ahead of the 2030 World Cup, which the Kingdom will co-host.

 

MAP: 31 December 202

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The President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, stated on Thursday that the final phase of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 was the most successful in the competition’s history, stressing that the achievements of this edition reflect the standing African football now holds on the international stage.

Speaking to the press upon his arrival at Rabat-Salé Airport as part of a visit to Morocco, Motsepe said that this edition achieved unprecedented success at all levels, whether in terms of organization, visibility, or audience.

In this regard, he added that Africa’s premier continental competition has once again demonstrated its ability to rise to the level of the world’s biggest football events.

However, the CAF President expressed regret over what occurred during the tournament’s final, noting that the African body has begun introducing amendments to its statutes and regulations, as well as to the specific rules of the Africa Cup of Nations, in order to address the shortcomings observed and strengthen the credibility of African competitions.

He added that these amendments aim in particular to ensure that sanctions are proportionate to certain violations, reflecting CAF’s determination to enforce respect for its rules and to enhance the image of African football as a respected and competitive sport on the global stage.

Motsepe also stressed that CAF places particular importance on strengthening trust in refereeing systems and judicial bodies, underlining that the Confederation is committed to pursuing the necessary reforms to consolidate these institutions and build on the achievements of recent years.

The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, stated on Sunday in Cairo that the body respects the decision of its Appeal Board regarding the incidents that marked the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON Morocco 2025).

“As CAF President, I respect the decision rendered by the Appeal Board,” Motsepe emphasized during a press conference held following the CAF Executive Committee meeting.

He furthermore indicated that the case relating to the 2025 AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal is now in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), emphasizing that CAF will make no further comments pending the final ruling.

In this regard, Motsepe stressed that respect for CAS decisions is a fundamental principle of governance within CAF, affirming that the body will continue its ordinary activities until a final decision is reached.

Likewise, the CAF President reaffirmed his commitment to treating all 54 member associations with equality and fairness.

He also announced the adoption of amendments to the CAF statutes to prevent a repeat of the incidents that marred the final of the last edition of the AFCON, stating that major reforms will be introduced, particularly regarding match organization and refereeing.

These amendments, he added, aim to strengthen confidence in referees, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) operators, match commissioners, as well as disciplinary and appeal bodies.

British daily The Sun on Tuesday evening described as “remarkable” the decision by the Appeal Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to declare Morocco the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, held the Kingdom from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

“In a remarkable ruling,” African football’s governing bodies upheld the appeal filed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), finding that the withdrawal of Senegalese players during the final against Morocco constituted a violation of the rules of the game, the British newspaper reported.

The paper noted that through this decision, CAF has ruled in favor of the Moroccan national team.

The CAF Appeal Board decided, in accordance with Article 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, to declare Senegal’s national team as having forfeited the final of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, with the result of the match being recorded as a 3-0 in favor of the FRMF.

The Board issued its ruling following the appeal lodged by the FRMF regarding the application of Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations, CAF said in a statement.

Under the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid received on Monday at the Royal Guests Palace in Rabat the members of the National Football Team, finalists of the Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco-2025).

On this occasion, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid was greeted by the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, the National Team coach, Walid Regragui, and the members of the National Team, before posing for a commemorative photo.

This reception reflects the High Benevolence with which His Majesty the King, may God assist Him, has continually surrounded the youth and supported their development through sports, and the particular interest the Sovereign attaches to this sector in general, and to football in particular.

His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, sent, immediately after the end of the final match between the national team and its Senegalese counterpart, a message of congratulations to the members of the National Team. In this message, the Sovereign emphasized that, “through this distinguished campaign, you have demonstrated that perseverance, dedication, and team spirit are the keys to achieving excellence” and “also shown the world what Moroccan and African youth can accomplish when they believe in their talents and abilities”.

“You also proved, through determination and your heroic and honorable performance, the importance of my strategic vision to invest in human capital and modernize the Kingdom’s infrastructure, which demonstrated their resilience and their world-class level of preparation ahead of the organization of the 2030 World Cup,” HM the King stated in His message.

Four Moroccan players feature in the Best XI for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, held from December 21 to January 18, as announced on Wednesday by the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG).

They are goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who “delivered an outstanding campaign, conceding just two goals in seven matches,” and his teammates Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, and Brahim Diaz, who finished as the tournament’s top scorer, according to a press release from the African body.

The list is completed by four players from Senegal, namely Moussa Niakhaté, Pape Gueye, Idrissa Gueye, and Sadio Mané, in addition to Nigerians Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Osimhen.

The tournament’s Team of the Tournament was selected by the CAF TSG, which implemented a fully integrated evaluation model, initially remotely and then on-site throughout the competition, supported by live data platforms, multi-angle video feeds, and dedicated video analysts.

Senegal’s national football team won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, beating Morocco by a single goal after extra time (0-0 at fulltime) on Sunday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
For this fixture between two teams that had never previously met in the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, Walid Regragui fielded the same starting eleven.

By contrast, Pape Thiaw made several changes to make up for the absences of Kalidou Koulibaly, Habib Diarra and Krépin Diatta, all ruled out at the last minute.

After five minutes of probing, Senegal created the first clear chance of the match. From a corner taken on the left, the ball reached the far post where Pape Gueye attempted a close-range header, but was denied by the imposing Yassine Bounou.

Two minutes later, Ezzalzouli surged down the flank and delivered a teasing cross into the box. The ball went unreached and the danger was eventually cleared by the Senegalese defence.

Thereafter, both teams slowed the tempo, waiting for the right moment to strike without leaving spaces. With Senegal enjoying a slight edge in possession (57%) up to the 25th minute, the match turned into an intense tactical battle in midfield, with the goalkeepers rarely called into action.

In the 38th minute, Senegal, very quick in transition, came close to opening the scoring. A driven pass from Jackson beat the Moroccan high block and gave Ndiaye a clear run at Bounou inside the box. The former Sevilla goalkeeper produced a superb save, deflecting the low, angled shot with the tip of his right foot.

Five minutes later, Ezzalzouli delivered a superb right-footed cross into the Senegal penalty area. Aguerd came close to meeting it with a header but was unable to connect.

After the break, the Atlas Lions showed greater attacking intent in a bid to score the opener. From another Ezzalzouli cross following a pass from El Kaabi, Malick Diouf cleared the danger by conceding a corner.

In the 58th minute, El Kaabi fashioned a golden opportunity. From the right wing, El Khanouss sent in a fine low cross toward the Moroccan striker, who got ahead of Mendy by a few centimetres, but his effort narrowly missed the target.

In the 67th minute, Neil El Aynaoui rose high in an aerial duel with Diouf and suffered a cut to the eyebrow. The medical staff came onto the pitch to stop the bleeding, and the AS Roma midfielder was able to continue.

In the 90th minute, Ibrahim Ndiaye accelerated, shifted onto his left foot with a neat feint and fired a shot, but Bounou was alert and pushed the danger away.

In stoppage time, Morocco were awarded a penalty, but Brahim Diaz missed his attempted Panenka.

During extra time, Senegal finally broke the deadlock through Alassane Guye, who struck a powerful left-footed shot.

(MAP: 18 January 2026)