AFCON 2025 teams in Morocco relish Christmas break off the pitch

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 FRIDAY DECEMBER 26 FIXTURES 
🇦🇴 Angola v Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 (3:30pm)
🇪🇬 Egypt v South Africa 🇿🇦 (6:00pm)
🇿🇲 Zambia v Comoros🇰🇲   (8:30pm)
🇲🇦 Morocco v Mali 🇲🇱 (11:00pm)
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Christmas is here, and with it the start of the year’s ultimate festive season. Such is the magic of the day that Confederations of African Football (CAF) decided Africa’s premier competition AFCON takes a break on Christmas Day to allow football players join their families for the festive celebrations.

AFCON 2025 is the first edition ever to be played over the festive season. It was originally planned to take place during the summer but the expansion and re-scheduling of the 2025 Club World Cup meant it was pushed back. It was rescheduled to December 21, 2025 until January, 18 2026.

And so, for the first time, all the 24 national football teams, including the Uganda Cranes, will be locked up in the kingdom, spending the festive season away from their families, but also relishing the opportunity of experiencing the festive season in a completely different cultural context.

Christmas in Morocco should be something special for several reasons. It has certainly exposed the Cranes players and Ugandan fans to an entirely different experience in Morocco.

Worshipers attend a Christmas Midnight Mass at Saint Peter’s Cathedral in Rabat, Morocco on December 24, 2025

It is not entirely proper to predetermine what the Christmas mood is like in Morocco solely from the internet, primarily because Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country and Christmas is not a national holiday. So, to get a more accurate understanding, we have decided to consider sources, including fans that are in Morocco for Africa’s premier competition.

“The Christmas mood is there. We have a Christmas tree in our hotel (Hyatt Regency) in Casablanca,” a Kenyan journalist covering the tournament told Vision Sports.

The majority of football fans will utilize the break to explore some of Morocco’s most iconic attractions.

From the dazzling lights of Rabat, the bustling souks of Marrakesh, to the stunning landscapes of the Atlas Mountains in Tangier, or the Desert Safaris in the Sahara, many of the fans will have the chance to create unforgettable memories.

Cities like Marrakesh, Casablanca, Tangier and Agadir offer special delights.

The Atlas Mountains boast a breathtaking scenery and a peaceful retreat from the bustling cities. Other fans will have woken up on Christmas morning to the sight of snow-capped peaks. Then, there are those that would travel to the Sahara Desert to experience the magic of a desert Christmas.

Moroccan feasts

A Moroccan chef prepares a traditional couscous dish in a restaurant in Rabat

Like is the case in so many Muslim countries, Christmas celebrations are confined to Christian churches, hotels and other private venues where private celebrations with dinner and dancing can be held.

Most of the hotels and resorts that accommodate teams participating at the tournament have created Christmas themes for the teams.

The STORY Le Carrousel Rabat will have certainly prepared something special for the Cranes team, traditional Moroccan entertainment and Moroccan feast.

Christmas is fundamentally about feasting. Moroccan cuisines are renowned for their rich flavors and aromatic spices, and Christmas in Morocco will offer an opportunity to indulge in delicious food.

Action resumes on Friday and the prayer for most coaches is that their players return in match shape.