The Moroccan press sharply criticized South Africa coach Hugo Broos, calling his comments on the African Cup of Nations “strange.” Outlets argued that, as a veteran of several African championships, he should be able to distinguish between past tournaments and the one underway in Morocco.
Broos, a Belgian, sparked controversy ahead of South Africa’s round of 16 match against Cameroon after criticizing the tournament’s organization, particularly the accommodations and logistics.
Moroccan outlets pushed back, defending the host country’s arrangements and pointing to praise from other teams, coaches and international observers. The match against Cameroon is scheduled for Sunday at Al Medina Stadium in Rabat.
Broos’ remarks contrasted with generally positive reactions from other coaches, players and members of the media covering AFCON 2025.
During his pre-match press conference, Broos raised concerns about accommodation conditions and the distance between the team’s hotel and its training ground.
This came despite the Confederation of African Football assigning South Africa a luxury resort in Skhirat. The resort is less than 34 minutes by bus from Rabat, located in a quiet coastal area away from the bustle of the capital.
Tournament Standards Meet International Norms, Hosts Say
The South African team has been lodged at the five-star L’Amphitrite Palace Beach Resort, considered one of the most luxurious hotels on the outskirts of Rabat.
The hotel was designated by CAF and approved by the South African Football Association as the team’s base for the knockout stage.
It is about 29 kilometers from the Stadium, roughly a 34-minute bus ride. That setup is consistent with standards in major continental and global tournaments, where teams often select quieter areas for their base camps.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s national team travels about 23 kilometers round trip between its accommodation at the Mohammed VI Complex and its match venue, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
The same Skhirat hotel hosted Real Madrid’s squad during the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, according to local media.
The Spanish team did not report any complaints about accommodations or training conditions at the Mohammed VI Complex in Maâmora. The complex has earned international praise for its high-quality training fields and facilities.
The South African team trained on one of the auxiliary fields at the Mohammed VI Complex ahead of the match against Cameroon.
The setup follows a routine used by several other national teams that also trained at one of the world’s top football centers.
Broos also appeared to mislead in his comparison between the 2025 AFCON in Morocco and previous editions.
He claimed the current tournament lacks passion. However, group stage attendance alone exceeded 700,000 fans, already surpassing the total attendance at the previous tournament held in Côte d’Ivoire.
