As the round of 16 match between Morocco and Tanzania approaches, the fan zones set up in the Kingdom's airports have seen exceptional attendance, according to the National Airports Office (ONDA), demonstrating a popular enthusiasm that extends beyond stadiums and into the country's main air hubs.

According to ONDA (the Moroccan Airports Authority), Moroccan travelers, fans from other African countries, and airport staff gathered in large numbers to watch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations matches in fan zones, designated areas for collective viewing. The halls and terminals, usually bustling with passenger traffic and boarding announcements, were transformed into places of celebration marked by chants, applause, and a palpable sense of national pride.

“The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is in full swing in Morocco, and the Atlas Lions have brilliantly passed the first round. Their qualification for the second round was celebrated with particular fervor in the airport fan zones,” ONDA emphasized in a press release. The public body described an atmosphere “filled with enthusiasm and pride,” illustrating the capacity of airport infrastructure to become spaces for gathering and sharing around a continental sporting event.

This mobilization is part of a broader nationwide network of fan zones. Cities like Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, and Fez, as well as several medium-sized urban centers, have set up public viewing areas allowing residents and visitors to watch the matches in a festive atmosphere. These fan zones also offer cultural activities and performances by Moroccan artists, strengthening the connection between sport, culture, and tourism.

On the sporting front, the Moroccan national team, the Atlas Lions, approach this match with the confidence of a group leader. Dominating Group A with seven points, Morocco successively defeated Comoros (2-0), drew against Mali (1-1), and then secured a clear victory against Zambia (3-0), thus confirming their qualification for the knockout stage.

The upcoming match against Tanzania is being presented as a key step in the Atlas Lions' journey. Just hours before this encounter, the excitement observed in airports and urban fan zones illustrates the extent of the popular mobilization around the national team, which is expected to continue its momentum in front of a supportive public, both in Morocco and among the African diaspora visiting the Kingdom.