Tragedy Strikes AFCON Host City As Fez Mourns Deadly Building Collapse

Tragedy Strikes AFCON Host City As Fez Mourns Deadly Building Collapse

By Admin 

Morocco is confronting a profound tragedy just days before the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), as a deadly building collapse in the historic city of Fez casts a somber shadow over tournament preparations, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

At least 22 people were killed and 16 others injured after two adjoining four-storey residential buildings collapsed overnight between December 9 and 10, 2025, in the Al-Mustaqbal neighbourhood of Fez. One of the buildings was reportedly hosting an Aqiqah ceremony, a traditional celebration marking the birth of a child, when the structure gave way in the early hours of the morning. Four children were among the fatalities.

Emergency responders worked through the night and into subsequent days to recover victims from the rubble, while Moroccan authorities launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse. The incident has reignited concerns over building safety in densely populated urban areas.

Fez, famed for its ancient medina, rich history and cultural heritage, is now a city in mourning. The tragedy has deeply affected residents who were preparing to welcome visitors from across Africa for one of the continent’s most prestigious sporting events.

Fez is one of Morocco’s designated host cities for AFCON 2025, with matches scheduled to take place at the Complexe Sportif de Fès. The city is set to host group-stage fixtures, including matches involving Nigeria, as well as at least one Round of 16 encounter.

As teams, officials, media personnel and supporters prepare to arrive, the disaster underscores the reality that host cities are not merely venues but living communities. For Fez, the excitement of continental football now coexists with grief, loss and unanswered questions.

Morocco’s AFCON host venues are spread across the country, highlighting both logistical demands and emotional contrasts during the tournament:

Fez to Rabat: approximately 200–230 km

Fez to Casablanca: roughly 240–320 km

Fez to Tangier: about 200–290 km

Fez to Marrakech: around 380–390 km

Fez to Agadir: over 600 km

While the tournament will connect cities from the north to the south, the tragedy in Fez serves as a reminder that support and solidarity do not always travel as quickly as football celebrations.

AFCON remains one of Africa’s strongest symbols of unity, bringing together nations from Ghana to Guinea-Bissau, South Africa to Sudan. Yet in Fez, anticipation has been tempered by sorrow.

Teams training or competing in the city will encounter a community still reeling from loss. Fans arriving for matches may find themselves celebrating victories while acknowledging the pain endured by local families.

As AFCON begins, attention will extend beyond goals and results to how the tournament reflects compassion and respect for those affected. Honouring the victims and standing in solidarity with the people of Fez reinforces the human essence of African football resilient, communal and deeply rooted in shared experience.