This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
HIBAPRESS-RABAT-CAF
Mustapha Hadji and Morocco are preparing to experience a new milestone in the history of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations. A former midfielder, he experienced this competition in all its forms: the euphoria of victory, the pain of elimination, but also the pride of being at the heart of an event that brings together an entire continent.
As a Moroccan, the 2025 edition of the CAN, which will be held on his lands, takes a particularly symbolic turn for him. The former glory of national football remembers his first steps in this competition, but also the highlights and the trials he went through. The emotions and memories of these moments remain engraved in his mind, like the African Cup, which, according to him, is much more than a simple sporting tournament: a true cultural phenomenon that inspires and nourishes dreams young generations across Africa.
Today, as Morocco prepares to once again host this great celebration of African football after a long wait since 1988, Mustapha Hadji gives his view on the challenges of this edition and on the evolution of African football. A competition that he knows well, and which he knows is not just about simple victories, but about a message of hope and pride for an entire people.
Cafonline.com: Mustafa Hadji, we are a few hours away from the draw for the CAF TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025. As a Moroccan, how are you feeling?
Mustapha Hadji : I feel good, still euphoric. You have to stay positive. You know, the African Cup is something exceptional, an extraordinary experience. I had the chance to experience it as a player, and I can tell you that it is a unique event. Subsequently, I also participated in this competition as a coach, whether in Egypt or Cameroon, and as a spectator in Ivory Coast.
Today, the African continent continues to progress, and the level of spectacle is simply remarkable. The last edition in Ivory Coast was extraordinary, whether in terms of the public, the atmosphere or the welcome. And this year, in Morocco, I am convinced that it will be just as exceptional.
Morocco benefits from an ideal geographical location. For our brothers in the African diaspora, this represents a great opportunity: traveling here will be easier. We are only two hours from Barcelona, three from Paris. For Africans living in Europe or even in Morocco, this CAN will perhaps be the opportunity to witness such a competition live for the first time.
The African Cup is above all a celebration. A celebration for the whole continent, for all African children. It allows them to dream, to nurture ambitions, and above all, to have hope. You know, in Africa, football is much more than a sport. It is a real religion.
The last time Morocco hosted the CAN was in 1988…(he cuts)
It’s long, isn’t it? Very long, even. I was 17 at the time. Today, with modern infrastructure and the evolution of our country, it was time for Morocco to host this great competition again.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God help him, has contributed enormously to the development of football, not only in Morocco, but also throughout the African continent. Thanks to this vision, our country is today a key player in world football.
Morocco made history recently by reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup, becoming the first African nation to achieve this feat. And, in a few years, we will be co-organizers of the 2030 World Cup. CAN 2025 is a bit like a foretaste of what awaits us: the preparations, the atmosphere, the enthusiasm.
Since 1988, it’s been way too long. But today, it’s finally Morocco’s time. As a true football country, hosting this competition is a huge honor and pride for Moroccans.
We know that expectations are enormous. So, in your opinion, what are the challenges that Morocco will have to overcome to respond to them?
The challenge is immense, gigantic. You should not start thinking that you are a 100% winner. We must respect all opponents. African football today is full of great talents and great teams. There are no more small nations. No one can say anymore that a match will be easy or won in advance, regardless of the opponent.
It is true that Morocco currently has an exceptional generation, with great talents. But that won’t be enough. It will have to be proven on the ground. You will have to work hard, in front of an audience that expects a lot. Playing at home adds extra pressure. It’s never easy to play at home and win an African Cup.
We remember the example of Côte d’Ivoire, where Morocco gave them a decisive helping hand. But the context is different. Today, we have to prepare seriously. We have great players, a great team and a president of the Federation who is extremely invested in Moroccan football. Since he became head of the Federation, Moroccan football has undergone a spectacular transformation, moving from its 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 African Cup.
With a Moroccan team playing attractive and spectacular football, do you think that, to win, they will have to put aside their playing identity and adopt a more pragmatic style, adapting to their opponents?
Yes, definitely. It is also the role of the coach to find this balance. It’s true that we have enjoyable football, a game that deserves to be admired. But in the African Cup, that is not enough.
As you mentioned, the CAN is a very physical tournament, with a repetition of demanding matches. When you face teams like the Gabonese, the Ivorians, the Senegalese, or others, you should expect an intense athletic challenge. The road to the final is long and strewn with challenges. You will have to be prepared to deal with injuries and to be physically exhausted.
That said, Morocco’s gaming identity remains a strength. But to win this competition, we will have to go beyond what we have shown so far. This is what makes the CAN so charming: you can be the best team on paper and still come out in the first rounds. We’ve seen it in the past.
I think Morocco has a great card to play. But the pressure will be there, especially playing in front of your audience. You will have to work even harder, surpass yourself physically, and play to 150% of your abilities. Technical qualities and good play will not be enough. It will be necessary to add commitment, combativeness, and an ability to adapt. It is this combination that will make the difference.
Who can Morocco’s opponents be for this 2025 CAF TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations?
All ! As I mentioned before, there is no such thing as a small team. All matches will be fiercely contested. As the football expression goes, it will be played with a knife. There are no easy matches, there are no matches to underestimate.
There is no room for calculations. We will have to win every match and go all the way. We must not tell ourselves that we can afford to lose against a team that finished third. This is where the danger lies. If we start to calculate, this is where we will have to wake up and remember that each meeting must be taken seriously.
Perhaps it is even more advantageous to play against a team that finishes third in a group than against the first. A team that finishes third will often have extra motivation. But when you face a team that finishes second or third, it can happen that you let your guard down a little, thinking that it will be easier. And this is precisely where we can make mistakes and allow ourselves to be surprised by our own errors.
I had the honor of competing in this competition which holds such a special place in my heart. I love Africa. And what I love most of all is seeing the children. When I come out of a game and leave the stadium on the bus, and I see these kids running behind the bus, it touches me deeply. It gives me goosebumps, because that’s the essence of this sport: to give hope, to make people dream.
Seeing these young people, seeing them watching the players they love, it’s a magical moment. It’s offering them a dream, a place of hope. And that’s what’s most beautiful. Of course, winning the African Cup for your people is very important, but there is nothing more precious than seeing these children dream.
They believe in these stars, these models who show them that great things are possible in Africa. Stars offer hope to children, and that’s what matters most. You can tell me what you want, but it’s this reality that makes this sport so beautiful.
We can win the African Cup, we can win everything. But when we leave a stadium, we are on a bus, and we see the smiles of the children, we see them running and happy… That’s what is more beautiful than the African Cup.
