AFCON 2025: Protest Rocks Morocco As Youths Attack Government Over Sports Spending

AFCON 2025: Protest Rocks Morocco As Youths Attack Government Over Sports Spending

Sampson Adedeji

With just a few months to the kickoff of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a wave of discontent has erupted across the host nation as angry youths take to the streets in protest against the government’s spending priorities, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The demonstrators accused the Moroccan government of neglecting the health and economic sectors while channeling excessive resources into the construction and renovation of sports facilities ahead of AFCON.

According to the protesting groups, the lavish focus on stadiums and infrastructure comes at a time when ordinary citizens are grappling with rising unemployment, inflation, and a struggling healthcare system.

Placards carried by the protesters bore inscriptions such as “Hospitals before stadiums” and “Jobs, not luxury pitches.”

Leaders of the movement warned that if their demands are not addressed, they may attempt to disrupt the smooth hosting of the continental showpiece.

The North African country has invested heavily in modernizing its sports infrastructure, not only for AFCON 2025 but also in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal.

While government officials argue that the projects will boost tourism, attract foreign investment, and create long-term opportunities, the youth-led protests have highlighted growing tensions over national priorities in a country balancing ambition on the global stage with pressing domestic needs.