Statements by Belgian coach Hugo Broos, head coach of South Africa’s national team “Bafana Bafana,” have sparked wide controversy within Moroccan sporting and media circles, on the sidelines of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) currently being held in Morocco, following his repeated criticism of the tournament’s organization and atmosphere.
In several media appearances, Broos at times described the organization of the competition as “catastrophic,” complaining about low spectator turnout at some matches, a lack of enthusiasm in the stands, as well as what he considered problems related to fans’ access to stadiums.
The “Bafana Bafana” coach also compared the current AFCON edition unfavorably with previous tournaments hosted by Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon, arguing that organization was better during those editions. He further expressed dissatisfaction with training and accommodation conditions, despite acknowledging the modern infrastructure provided by the Kingdom.
In response, Broos’s comments were met with strong reactions from Moroccan media outlets, which argued that his criticism lacked objectivity and was aimed at diverting attention from the inconsistent performance of the South African team during the tournament, as well as easing internal pressure faced by the technical staff.
Sports analysts also noted that the Belgian coach’s remarks contradict the broad international praise received by Morocco for its professional organization of the competition, stressing that the Kingdom offers an organizational model based on security and discipline, unlike what they described as the “chaos” that characterized some previous AFCON editions.
It is worth noting that the South African national team is staying during AFCON 2025 at the five-star L’Amphitrite Palace Beach Hotel, officially approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The hotel is considered among the most luxurious in the outskirts of Rabat and is the same establishment that hosted Real Madrid during the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, which was held in the Moroccan capital.
