by Giorgio La Bruzzo
PALERMO (ITALPRESS) – A golden generation to break the curse, with a people ready to push their heroes to the finish line. But not only: renewed stadiums, increasingly modern infrastructures and an event that represents more than one test towards the historic appointment of 2030. In Morocco, the countdown for the 35th edition of the African Cup is now at the edge of the drop, scheduled from 21 December to 18 January, with six cities (Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakech, Rabat and Tangier) and nine plants (of which three are in the capital) ready to welcome a river of people.
“To date we have sold over a million tickets – reveals to the Italpress Omar Khyari Agency, advisor of the president of the Moroccan Football Federation Fouzi Lekjaa – 30% of these sales come from abroad. Based on this data, we can expect a total of more than 400,000 attendance. The current projections, which also include those who travel for the end of the year holidays, indicate that a million tourists will visit our country. How are we getting ready? With the legendary hospitality that Moroccans are known for. Our nine stadiums offer all the necessary comfort, as well as the eight fans official areas.”.
The government decided to do things big, retouching the stadiums (that of Tangier had already had a first restyling in 2020 and a further renovation was completed in September) and intervening also on the connections, from the expansion of the Tanger Med to the high-speed railway line that by 2030 should stretch to Marrakech. Because in five years there is another great appointment: the World Cup, which the country will co-organize together with Spain and Portugal, as well as some races in South America. “The Africa Cup will be a celebration for the whole of Africa but will also serve as a fundamental general test for the World 2030 – confirms Khyari – we will continue to perfect our infrastructure.”.
Also because the tournament that is about to begin is also an important engine of economic growth. “It is expected that it will generate an immediate financial impulse, thanks to the huge influx of fans. Experts estimate additional revenue between 5 and 12 billion dirham (between 460 million and over a billion euro, ndr)”. As for the field, the home team is the favorite number one even if there is to dissolve the Hakimi knot, engaged in a race against time to recover from injury to ankle.
The Atlas Lions are experiencing the best time in their history, and not only for the incredible semi-final reached in 2022 in Qatar: Regragui’s men – first African national to qualify for the World Cup next year – have quality and talent and for some time have put in the sights a Cup won only on an occasion (1976) and then unleashed in 2004, in the final lost against Tunisia. Winning in front of its audience would be the classic cherry on the cake for a growing movement on all fronts, as demonstrated by the Olympic bronze in Paris with the Under 23 and the recent successes at the Under-17 World Championship and the Arab Cup.
But the competition does not fail, from the outgoing champions of the Ivory Coast to Egypt of a Salah in search of ransom after the break with Liverpool, passing for those who will be protagonist next summer in America (Algeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia while they did not qualify Ghana and the Cape Verde revelation), who hopes again (Congo) and who instead, forced to doum as a spectator to the 2026 Worlds, sees in the Hehen.
“Morocco has now consolidated its place among the best nationals on the rankings Fifa – Chiosa Khyari – The results achieved push us to maintain the highest standards of excellence. But although our national team is present as the favorite on paper, it will be committed to confirming this status with ambition and humility. There are other nations who possess the talent necessary to succeed, including the defending champions of the Ivory Coast, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and our neighbours Algeria and Tunisia. And again, fearsome teams like Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso.” But the time of predictions is over: tomorrow speaks the field.
– photo glb/Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).
