AFCON 2025: 'Great talents, not enough' – Hadji warns Morocco
01/27/2025 06:00 AM
Moroccan football icon Mustapha Hadji has cautioned the Atlas Lions ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
Morocco will host the 35th edition of the AFCON finals between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026, and they are among the favourites to win the tournament.
Hadji is widely considered one of Africa and Morocco’s greatest midfielders of all-time having been named 1998 CAF African Footballer of the Year.
“The challenge is immense, gigantic. We must not leave thinking that we are 100% winners,” the 53-year-old said on CAFOnline.
“You have to respect all the opponents. African football today is full of great talents and great teams. There are no more small nations. No one can say that a match will be easy or won in advance, no matter who the opponent is.
“It is true that Morocco currently has an exceptional generation, with great talents. But this will not be enough. We will have to prove it on the pitch. We will have to work hard, and this, in front of a crowd that expects a lot. Playing at home adds extra pressure. It’s never easy to play at home and win a TotalEnergies CAF AFCON,” he continued.
The former Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon star, who earned 63 Morocco caps and scored 12 goals for his country, gave an example of the 2023 AFCON hosts and winners Ivory Costa.
“We remember the example of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), where Morocco gave them a decisive hand. But the context is different. Today, we have to prepare seriously,” he added.
“We have great players, a great team and a President of the Federation (Fouzi Lekjaa) who is very invested in Moroccan football. Since he has been at the head of the Federation, Moroccan football has undergone a spectacular transformation, going from the darkest hours to global recognition.
“All this pushes us to be up to the task. I wouldn’t say it’s an obligation, but we have to have a great TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.”
