Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé is currently in Rabat with his family to attend the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), according to the French sports daily L’Equipe.
The French national team captain is in Rabat to watch the match between the Atlas Lions and the Eagles of Mali at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex on Friday evening in the second round of group stage matches of the tournament being held in Morocco until January 18.
According to the same source, this trip is at the invitation of his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Achraf Hakimi.
The Real Madrid player has a special connection with Morocco and is enjoying his stay in the kingdom with his family, the French media outlet added.
L’Equipe also reports that the Real Madrid striker, who arrived in Rabat on Thursday, could take advantage of his time there to visit the Moroccan delegation and reunite with Achraf Hakimi, his former teammate at PSG.
Kylian Mbappé is expected to extend his stay in Morocco until Monday, December 29, the date Real Madrid resumes training.
He could thus attend other AFCON matches and experience the atmosphere of African football firsthand, according to the Parisian media outlet.
Media outlets are also reporting that Ousmane Dembele will arrive in Morocco this Friday for the Atlas Lions’ second match against Mali.
The 2025 AFCON continues this Friday with the start of the second matchday of the group stage, crucial for several teams.
After the first matchday, the African teams return to Moroccan stadiums with the ambition of confirming their hopes of qualifying for the second round.
The program kicks off at 1:30 PM at the Grand Stade de Marrakech with the match between Angola and Zimbabwe (Group B). At 4:00 PM, the Grand Stade d’Agadir hosts a prestigious top-of-the-table clash in Group B between Egypt and South Africa.
At 6:30 PM, Zambia will face Comoros in Group A at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, in a match where the main objective will be to secure three points to move closer to qualifying for the next round.
The day concludes at 9:00 PM with the clash between Morocco and Mali at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The Moroccan national team currently leads Group A with three points, following their victory in the first match against Comoros (2-0). Mali and Zambia, meanwhile, played to a 1-1 draw. Mali’s national team coach, Tom Saintfiet, emphasised the importance of a victory for his players against Morocco on Thursday in Rabat.
“We cannot afford any mistakes if we want to remain in contention for qualification to the round of 16,” he declared at the pre-match press conference.
“The Moroccan team is a clear favorite to win this AFCON. They are the best in Africa and one of the best in the world,” the Belgian coach stated, expressing his disappointment after the Eagles’ opening match against Zambia (1-1). “We were disappointed and frustrated after that result,” he said.
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