HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
In the midst of the rapid preparations that Moroccan cities are experiencing in preparation for hosting the African Cup of Nations finals, several urban centers are witnessing an unprecedented wave of works to modernize the infrastructure, including a project to install modern public toilets, which are the first of their kind in some areas. These facilities are not presented as an additional service only, but as part of a comprehensive urban vision that aims to raise the quality of reception and improve the image of public spaces in front of visitors and the expected crowds during this continental event.
In the capital, installation workshops have started at a high pace, amid talk of an intensive program that seeks to provide clean, safe, and digitally advanced facilities before the starting whistle. Sources from within the construction sector indicate that this race against time is not just cosmetic improvement, but is part of the commitments of the supervising authorities to provide an organized city, capable of accommodating the large human flow expected during the tournament.
Parallel data reveals that the new project includes units equipped with automatic cleaning systems, electronic payment methods, and external surveillance cameras to ensure proper use, while taking into account the conditions of access for people with disabilities. However, the general discussion has not been devoid of questions about the high financial cost of some of these facilities, as some followers believe that the bill may exceed what is usually spent on similar equipment in other cities, which opens the door to demands for transparency and the disclosure of contract details and selection criteria.
Despite the controversy, officials insist that the biggest bet is not related to the toilets themselves, but to the renewed image that Morocco seeks to establish as a country capable of organizing major events with international standards, especially after the rehabilitation of main stadiums and the preparation for other future sporting events. With the approaching date of the tournament, eyes remain focused on these projects, which are considered a test of the speed of completion and the quality of implementation, and an indication of the extent of the cities' readiness to host one of the most important continental competitions.
