00:00Ready, set, AFCON. It's opening day in Morocco. After months of preparations,
00:11the Africa Cup of Nations finally kicks off today. 24 teams, six cities, nine stadiums,
00:18and a nation ready to welcome the continent. 37 years after last hosting, Morocco is back
00:25at the heart of African football and the countdown is over. The journey to the trophy starts in the
00:32group stage.
00:55Well, the journey begins today. Let's take a closer look at the action.
01:10A gentle melody before the full rapture. At the opening concert of Abbas' vast fan zone,
01:17the atmosphere slowly building, despite the cold and the rain, which are unusual conditions for
01:23an Africa Cup of Nations, Moroccan fans are already fired up. Come on, Morocco. This
01:30is our cup. We hope to win the AFCON. The focus for the Moroccan team is on their star defender,
01:38Ashraf Hakimi. After an ankle injury sideline him in the early November, his involvement
01:43in the first match is still uncertain. However, the captain emphasizes the team's collective
01:48strength to manage the pressure. This is the responsibility we have. It's a positive
01:55responsibility that motivates us to be ready for this tournament. Meanwhile, on the other
02:00side, the mood is more relaxed in the Comoros camp, free of pressure. The team is about to
02:05play just the second Africa Cup of Nations in its history against the host, Morocco. We
02:10miss the AFCON in Cote d'Ivoire. It was sad, but today we've proved once again that we have
02:15the level to be at this AFCON competition. So yes, it's a source of pride for the entire
02:20Comorian people, even though we are a small country. The players now confront the intimidation
02:26environment of the Muley Abdela Stadium, filled with nearly 70,000 spectators, most of whom
02:32support the Atlas Lance of Morocco. Well, that's a taste of the excitement ahead. Morocco is hosting
02:39AFCON 2025, chasing a second title since it won it in 1976 in Ethiopia. The question now is whether
02:47the trophy can finally come back home. The opening game kicks off tonight at 8 p.m. C.A.T. and C.A.T.
02:54C.A.T. Stay tuned.
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