Noussair Mazraoui, the right-back for Manchester United and a key player for the Moroccan national team, approaches the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with determination and hope. Although his club season started difficultly due to an injury that sidelined him for several matches, Mazraoui is now focusing on this major event, especially since Morocco will have the honor of hosting the tournament. « I truly think it will be fantastic. We haven’t won for a long time. The pressure on Morocco is strong, but we have a good team. I can’t wait, » he said in an interview with The National.
Morocco has committed to intensive preparations to make AFCON 2025 a memorable edition. The country is relying on top-tier sports infrastructures, such as the renovated Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca and Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, ready to welcome supporters under the best conditions. Authorities held a high-level meeting in July 2024 to coordinate all aspects of the organization—from logistics and infrastructure to hospitality—in order to meet the requirements of CAF and FIFA.
On the sporting side, the Moroccan team is seriously preparing under the leadership of Walid Regragui, who assembled a strong squad blending youth and experience. Mazraoui, returning from his injury, is among the key figures of this squad fighting to overcome the pressure of playing at home. Morocco aims not only for a campaign worthy of its football history but also to mark this tournament as a strategic milestone toward the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Mazraoui, beyond being a versatile defender able to play multiple defensive roles, also asserts himself as a leader in the locker room. His strong return with Manchester United, despite a mixed start to the season, and his commitment to the Atlas Lions demonstrate his ambition and key role in this national football project. With fewer than four months to kickoff, Morocco truly cannot afford any mistakes, and Mazraoui embodies this collective demand through his fighting spirit and professionalism.