King Mohammed VI Hails Morocco’s AFCON 2025 Runners-Up Finish as Symbol of National Pride and Continental Leadership

King Mohammed VI has commended Morocco’s national football team following their runners-up finish at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, describing the campaign as a powerful reflection of perseverance, strategic vision and Africa’s growing football excellence.

In a message of congratulations to the players, coaching staff, and officials of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation after the final, the King praised the team’s determination and collective spirit throughout the tournament.

“Through this distinguished journey, you have demonstrated that perseverance, discipline and team spirit are the path to success and achievement,” King Mohammed VI stated.

Morocco’s march to the AFCON final was marked by tactical discipline, resilience and consistency, further consolidating the country’s position among Africa’s football elite.

The performance also highlighted the impact of sustained investment in youth development, modern infrastructure and professional football management.

Emphasizing the wider significance of the achievement, the King added:

“You have also presented to the world an example of what Moroccan and African youth can accomplish when they trust in their talents and abilities.”

As host nation, Morocco also earned plaudits for the successful organization of AFCON 2025, delivering a tournament praised for world-class facilities, security, logistics and hospitality. The King linked this success to the Kingdom’s long-term development agenda and global ambitions.

“You have proven, through the determination and heroic and honorable performance you displayed, the relevance of our strategic vision to invest in human capital and modernize the Kingdom’s infrastructure,” he said.

Describing the championship as a continental milestone, King Mohammed VI noted that Morocco’s hosting of AFCON 2025 sent a strong message beyond football.

“We view it as a message of hope and confidence from Morocco toward its continent, reaffirming that African talent is capable of excellence and innovation in all fields.”

The King also praised the unwavering support of Moroccan fans throughout the competition and called on the team to build on the runners-up finish in future international tournaments, assuring them of his continued support and high consideration.

Despite finishing second, Morocco’s AFCON 2025 campaign has been widely regarded as a success, reinforcing national pride, strengthening continental leadership, and laying a solid foundation for future achievements on the global stage.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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