RABAT, Morocco (AP) – Excited fans dressed in red and green headed to the stadium hours before kickoff as Morocco prepares to open the season. 35th Africa Cup of Nations on sunday.
The party started the night before with fans parading through the capital, Rabat.
The Atlas Lions, known as the home team, are one of the favorites to win their second Africa Cup title, their first in 50 years since their only success in 1976. The final will take place on January 19 next year.
They will begin their match against the island nation of Comoros, who are ranked 108th in the world and will be appearing in the tournament for the second time.
Comoros national team coach Stefano Cusin said: “It was a great match and a special opportunity to get to know our team and our country.” “It’s going to be a great night of football.”
Not since Burkina Faso in 1998 has the host nation lost the first match of a tournament.
Morocco are ranked 11th, the highest ranking African team. The Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, and Morocco embarked on the most aggressive infrastructure development in African sports history. Establishing itself as a soccer powerhouse. Saudi Arabia is also set to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
The opening match was scheduled to be played at the renovated 70,000-seater Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The stadium is one of nine venues in five cities built or renovated for the tournament.
The tournament’s mascot is a lion named Asad, inspired by the Barbary lion that once roamed the mountains of North Africa. The last known photograph of a wild lion in Morocco was taken by French army photographer Marceline Flandrin in 1925 from above the Atlas Mountains.
Egypt were scheduled to begin their bid for a record-extending eighth title, and Mohamed Salah’s first, on Monday when they faced Zimbabwe in Agadir. Defending champions Ivory Coast begin their title defense against Mozambique in Marrakech on Wednesday. Senegal and five-time champion Cameroon are also favorites to win the tournament, while Algeria is the only country other than Morocco to have all games sold out.
The future of the biennial tournament changed with Saturday’s announcement. Shift to 4-year cycle This is to match the FIFA calendar.
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Associated Press on Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
