Thousands of spectators inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat city, Morocco will have the belief on Sunday afternoon as the AFCON 2025 host country will take on Tanzania during a round of 16 contest.
From the chorused chanting, drumming, clapping, singing, applauses, whistling and boos, all will be executed to push the hosts, dubbed as the Kingdom of Football.
This will be the third game in the championship at this stage (round of 16) following Senegal and Mali’s earlier victories over Sudan and Tunisia respectively.
Against Tanzania, Morocco takes on the third CECAFA zone country at this championship.
Sudan and Uganda were the others. Sudan marched out of the group phase, like Tanzania whilst Uganda fumbled to come out of group C where Nigeria, Tunisia and Tanzania succeeded.
All the hopes therefore remain in Tanzania as a region which will host the AFCON 2027 edition (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda co-hosting).
Football is a game of collective effort with team work and diligence. It is a game of hoping and diligence.
Morocco will have over 60,000 voices rallying behind them inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium and millions across the country.
Tanzania will therefore play with hope, anticipation, commitment, right character and self-belief that a miracle can come their way in the 90 or so minutes during this round of 16 contest.
At stake is a quarter final slot where the winner between South Africa and Cameroon at the El Barid stadium awaits.
Morocco is a nation under pressure to deliver given the massive investment in the football infrastructure, social amenities and human resource.
East Africa as a region will definitely take the right lessons in a bid to organize a better 2027 PAMOJA AFCON championship in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.