Morocco’s hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has delivered a significant boost to economic growth, infrastructure development and employment, with investments linked to the tournament generating an estimated 100,000 jobs and a strong multiplier effect, Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour said.
In an interview with France 24, Mezzour said the tournament produced an economic multiplier of 1.82, meaning that every unit invested ahead of and during AFCON generated nearly twice as much in economic returns through revenues and follow-on investments.
“This has been the most profitable AFCON in history, both for the Confederation of African Football and for Morocco as the host country,” Mezzour said, describing the tournament as a catalyst for accelerated development.
Morocco invested heavily in preparation for the competition, upgrading stadiums, transport networks and public services as part of a broader effort to position the country as a regional hub for major international events. According to the minister, the scale and speed of these investments compressed years of planned development into a much shorter timeframe.
“In just 24 months, we gained nearly ten years of infrastructure development,” he said, adding that the benefits extend well beyond football.
Mezzour said the investments helped lift Morocco’s economic growth rate to more than 4.5% this year, which he described as “very good news” for the country at a time of global economic uncertainty. He said job creation linked to AFCON-related projects was estimated at around 100,000 positions, spanning construction, transport, services and industry.
More than 3,000 industrial companies contributed to projects associated with the tournament, he said. While stadium construction and renovation were central, investments also covered road networks, airport upgrades, rail infrastructure and public transport systems, including buses.
“These are infrastructures that will continue to serve Moroccans every day,” Mezzour said. “They benefit transport, health systems, employment and overall quality of life.”
The minister also highlighted spillover effects in the trade and services sectors. Consumption rose sharply during the tournament, with trade activity increasing by an estimated 25% to 30%, reflecting higher spending by visitors and domestic consumers alike.
AFCON, one of the continent’s largest sporting events, drew fans, teams and officials from across Africa and beyond, offering Morocco an opportunity to showcase its organisational capacity and economic progress. Mezzour said the tournament allowed the country to present “an Africa that is developing” and a Morocco that has reached a new level of maturity in hosting global events.
Despite the economic success, the sporting outcome was bittersweet for the host nation. Morocco lost the final against Senegal, prompting mixed emotions among fans and officials.
“It’s both frustration and disappointment,” Mezzour said. “Of course, we would have loved to win this AFCON, but there is also enormous pride in having organised a competition of this level and welcoming the whole world.”
He paid tribute to the national team, known as the Atlas Lions, as well as the technical staff, coaching team and the Moroccan football federation, saying they had made the country proud through their performance and professionalism.
The tournament unfolded against a backdrop of youth-led protests that emerged in Morocco last year, with demonstrators calling for reforms, particularly in education and employment. Asked about those protests, Mezzour said the government was responding to the concerns raised.
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“Work is being done intensively,” he said. “Young people asked for a better education system, and that is exactly what is being implemented.”
He added that despite criticism and social tensions, the same young people showed strong national unity during AFCON, expressing passion and disappointment after Morocco’s defeat in the final.
“We are a country united behind its King, a country that works, a country that delivers,” Mezzour said. “Morocco is showing the world that its development is serious and widely recognised.”
Analysts say the long-term impact of AFCON will depend on how effectively Morocco leverages the new infrastructure and maintains momentum in job creation and private investment. For now, the government is presenting the tournament as evidence that large-scale sporting events can act as powerful economic accelerators when aligned with broader development strategies.
