Football: Morocco wins Arab Cup, is Africa Cup next?
Morocco won the Arab Cup on Thursday night after a tight match against Jordan in Qatar. Fans back home in Rabat were ecstatic, with many already setting their sights on the next trophy: the Africa Cup.
Morocco has crowned a remarkable football year by winning the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup, edging Jordan 3–2 after extra time in a thrilling final played in Qatar on December 18. The victory has further strengthened Morocco’s growing reputation as a continental powerhouse and heightened expectations ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, which the country is set to host.
The Atlas Lions wasted no time asserting dominance, with Oussama Tannane opening the scoring just four minutes into the match with a stunning long-range strike. Jordan, however, mounted a strong comeback in the second half through a brace from Ali Olwan, pushing the contest into extra time. With tensions high and the title on the line, Abderrazzaq Hamed Allah rose to the occasion, first equalising late in regulation time before sealing Morocco’s victory with the decisive goal in extra time.
Scenes of jubilation erupted across Moroccan cities including Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier and Fez, as fans celebrated another milestone in what has been a historic year for the national team. The Arab Cup triumph follows Morocco’s success at the African Nations Championship earlier in the year, underlining the depth, confidence and consistency within the squad.
With the AFCON 2025 set to kick off on Moroccan soil, the Arab Cup victory has injected fresh belief into the team and its supporters. As hosts and one of the tournament favourites, Morocco now enters the continental showpiece buoyed by momentum, hoping to translate recent success into a long-awaited Africa Cup title and cement its place among Africa’s football elite.
