His absence has been particularly noticeable. Since the start of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicked off on December 21, 2025, for four weeks in Morocco, King Mohammed VI has not made any appearances at any of the six stadiums hosting the competition. During the tournament’s opening ceremony, the host country’s monarch did not kick off the 35th edition of AFCON. Rather, his eldest son, Moulay Al-Hassan, greeted the crowd with raised arms from the center circle of the main stadium in Rabat.
At every pivotal moment in the Atlas Lions’ journey, it was the 22-year-old crown prince who once again took his place in the VIP box. He will likely do so again on Wednesday, January 14, for the match between Morocco and Nigeria, which will send one of the two teams to the final.
“Mohammed VI is certainly not one to seek out crowds or major public gatherings, but his absence is still surprising,” said Pierre Vermeren, professor of contemporary North African history at Universitรฉ Paris-I-Panthรฉon-Sorbonne and the author of several books on the kingdom. “The Africa Cup of Nations is the largest sporting event that Morocco has ever hosted, and more than that, it serves as a dress rehearsal for the 2030 World Cup. Considering the intense passion that football inspires in North Africa in general and especially in Morocco, this AFCON is crucial for the Moroccan monarchy,” the academic added. Alongside the ambition to present itself as a modern nation capable of organizing a major sporting event, Morocco also hopes to win a second continental title, after its first in 1976.
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