A real plebiscite. Host country of the 2025 African Cup of Nations, Morocco has continued to receive praise for the quality of its infrastructure and the level of its hospitality since the start of the competition. Except for South Africa coach Hugo Broos, who several times criticized the “deplorable organization” of the Moroccan host, most of the players involved said they greatly appreciated their stay at the CAN.
Mohamed Salah, star of Egypt and Liverpool, joined the camp of the satisfied this Saturday evening, a few moments after the qualification for the semi-finals won by the Pharaohs against the Ivory Coast (3-2). “I would like to thank Morocco for the organization,” he declared at a press conference after receiving his man of the match trophy. “The people here are of a very high standard in terms of order and security. I have never participated in a competition in Africa with an organization of this level. A big thank you to them, and I wish them every success. »
Samuel Eto’o’s “fraternal thanks”
A significant tribute given the immense experience of the Egyptian captain, who is participating this winter in the fifth CAN of his career, just like that paid on Saturday evening by Samuel Eto’o, the president of Fecafoot (Cameroon Football Federation). After seeing his nation eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Walid Regragui’s men (0-2), the boss of the Indomitable Lions wrote a letter on behalf of the Federation to send his “fraternal thanks” to Morocco.
“On behalf of the Cameroonian delegation and the Cameroonian supporters, I would like to send you our respectful greetings and our sporting congratulations, in a spirit of fair play and mutual consideration,” we can read in this letter made public by the body.
While the pre-match had been very tense between Eto’o and Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Moroccan Federation, in particular regarding the controversial appointment of the referee of the match, the former FC Barcelona and Inter Milan striker still wished to express his “deep gratitude for the exemplary quality of the organization of this competition, as well as for the fraternal, warm and caring welcome reserved for the team, the delegation and the supporters by the people Moroccan”, not dwelling on the penalty not awarded to Bryan Mbeumo which provoked the rage of Cameroon supporters.
“The marks of hospitality observed in all the places frequented testify to the remarkable preparatory work carried out by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation,” he said before wishing good luck to the Atlas Lions, who will meet Nigeria in the semi-final on Wednesday January 14.
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