Death, Devastation In Morocco: AFCON Host Communities Reeling Ahead Of Tournament

A tragic building collapse in Fez casts a shadow over one of Africa’s most anticipated football events writes PAUL OKOKU

“When the joy of football meets the sorrow of loss, communities remind us what truly matters.”

Just days before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 gets underway, Morocco is grappling with a shocking tragedy that has shaken one of its host cities to the core. In the historic *Al‑Mustaqbal neighborhood of Fez,* two adjacent four-story buildings collapsed overnight on *December 9‑10, 2025,* killing at least *22 people* and injuring *16 more.* One building was filled with families attending an *Aqiqah celebration* — a joyous gathering to mark the birth of a child — when the structure gave way in the quiet hours of the night. Four children were among those killed. *Search and rescue teams* worked tirelessly through the following days while authorities opened an investigation into what went wrong.

For the people of Fez — a city renowned for its ancient medina, vibrant souks, and deep cultural heritage — this is not just a statistic. It is a community in mourning, struggling to reconcile such raw loss with what should have been a season of excitement and unity with the rest of Africa. The city now finds itself balancing grief with preparation, as thousands of football fans, teams, and media will soon arrive for one of Africa’s most celebrated tournaments.

*Fez Is Hosting AFCON Matches and the Heartache It Brings*

Fez is one of the cities selected to *host AFCON 2025 matches,* with games scheduled at the *Complexe Sportif de Fès.* Teams, including Nigeria, have fixtures during the *group stage,* and at least one *Round of 16 match* is set to take place in the city.

This means the tragedy is not occurring in a distant, disconnected part of Morocco — it is unfolding in a city that will, in just a matter of days, host African teams, fans, media, and local communities. The emotional weight of this collapse will be felt by all who arrive, reminding everyone that the *heartbeat of a host city is not its stadiums or infrastructure,* but the lives and families that give it meaning. Football may bring celebration, but Fez today is a city marked by sorrow.

*How Far Are the AFCON Host Cities From Fez?*

Morocco is geographically diverse, and AFCON venues are spread across the country. This brings both *logistical challenges* and an *emotional contrast* between celebration and mourning:
• *Fez to Rabat* (the capital and one of the main host cities) — about *200–230 km* (roughly 2½–3 hours by road).
• *Fez to Casablanca* (historic port city and host venue) — around *240–320 km,* depending on the route.
• *Fez to Tangier* (northern venue) — roughly *200–290 km* by road (~4–6 hours depending on route).
• *Fez to Marrakech* (southern host city) — about *380–390 km,* a long but possible journey for teams and fans.
• *Fez to Agadir* (southern Atlantic coast) — over 600 km, making day trips impractical without long travel.

These distances show that while football can bring people together, the *tournament’s host network spans a wide swath of Morocco,* from north to south. Communities like Fez will feel the *closeness of the tournament and the distance of support* when tragedy strikes, underscoring the human dimension of hosting a major sporting event.

*What This Means for AFCON and Its People*

Football is one of Africa’s most powerful unifiers. Players, coaches, and fans from *Ghana to Guinea‑Bissau, South Africa to Sudan,* are ready to bring their pride and passion to Morocco. Yet in Fez today, that passion is tempered by grief.

Teams due to play or train in Fez will encounter a city *where families are grieving,* where streets once filled with festive chants now carry the quiet strain of loss. Supporters traveling to matches may find themselves at once celebrating their teams while holding *space in their hearts for a community that has endured far too much pain in too short a time.*

The coming days will not just be about goals scored or points won. They will be about how *the tournament, and African football at large, responds with compassion, solidarity, and respect* for the people of Fez and beyond. The joy of football cannot overshadow the lives lost or the families impacted. Honoring them is part of what makes AFCON truly African — vibrant, resilient, and deeply human.

*“In Fez, football and community walk together — even in moments of sorrow.”*

*Paul Lucky Okoku, is a former Super Eagles International and Vice-Captain, Flying Eagles Class of 1983