A few days before the opening of the 2025 African Cup of Nations, at home on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco will have a first opportunity to celebrate this week. The Atlas Lions beat, not without difficulty despite the large score, the United Arab Emirates (3-0) this Thursday.
Tarik Sektioui’s men validated their ticket for the Arab Cup final thanks to achievements from Karim El Berkaoui (28th), Ashraf El Mahdioui (84th) and Abderazak Hamdallah (90th + 2). They were joined a few hours later by Jordan, who defeated Hervé Renard’s Saudi Arabia in the other semi-final (1-0) thanks to a goal from midfielder Nizar Al-Rashdan (66th).
The Moroccans big favorites
The two teams will compete for the Arab Cup title at the Lusail stadium (Qatar) on Thursday at 5 p.m. (Paris time) to try to succeed Algeria, champion in 2021. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will play the match for third place on the same day (12 p.m.).
Big favorites, the Moroccans have been looking for success in the competition since their first and only coronation, in 2012. Jordan, for its part, has never been able to do better than a third place, won at the end of the Arab Cup organized in Kuwait in 2002.