AFCON: A 3,000-kilometer bike ride to catch the opener
Thomas Klein
December 22, 2025
The Africa Cup of Nations is drawing thousands of fans to Morocco, and one chose an unusual way to get there. Moroccan fan Ismail Skira cycled thousands of kilometers from Paris for the opening match.
Ismael Skira rode his bike from Paris to Rabat just to see his beloved Morocco open AFCONImage: Privat
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Ismail Skira looked relieved, a little exhausted, but very happy as he parked his bicycle in the coastal city of Agadir in southern Morocco. He had just finished a more than 3,000-kilometer (1,864-mile) journey from France that took four weeks.
The Morocco-born football fan, who has lived in Paris since he was 21, was determined to support the Atlas Lions in person at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
But traveling by car or plane would have been too easy for the 59-year-old.
"When I was at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast (in 2024), the fans were singing a song in support of the national team," Skira told DW.
"It said that some had come by plane, others by car, some by bicycle, and still others on foot. I picked out the word 'bicycle,' and that's how I came here."
It took Skira a month to complete his bike tour from Paris to MoroccoImage: Privat
Dress rehearsal for the 2030 World Cup
Skira is one of hundreds of thousands of fans who will travel to Morocco in the coming weeks for AFCON, the continent's biggest football tournament. Organizers announced before the start of the tournament that more than a million tickets had been sold, more than for any previous AFCON.
The tournament is setting new standards in other ways, too. For the first time, each participating team is accommodated in a five-star hotel. The matches will be played in nine stadiums across six cities, and more than 30 European media outlets will broadcast the tournament.
The four-week-long competition is considered a dress rehearsal for the 2030 FIFA World Cup — Morocco is one of the three main hosts, along with Spain and Portugal, in a tournament that will span three continents. This has ramped up the pressure not only on the Moroccan FA (FRMF) but also on the players.
"That's the responsibility we have," said Achraf Hakimi, a Morocco international and defender for Champions League titleholders Paris Saint-Germain.
"It's a positive responsibility that motivates us to be ready for this tournament."
Breakdown in Seville
As special as this tournament is, so too is the journey Skira has undertaken. He has been a massive fan of the Moroccan national team since he was a boy and regularly travels to matches in his native country — but until now, never by bicycle. His journey here was quite eventful.
"In Seville, part of my bike broke, and I couldn't find any spare parts," Skira said. "I had to stay in Seville for three days until I found a Spaniard who helped me repair my bike."
Skira used the time while his bike was being repaired to visit the home stadium of Real Betis, where he had the opportunity to speak briefly with Morocco player Ez Abde, Spain international Isco and Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini.
But what has stayed with Skira the most are some other personal encounters.
"I met people I didn't know before, and yet they helped me a lot. Some even invited me into their homes."
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A successful opener
Morocco's first AFCON match on Sunday against Comoros in Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat didn't start the way Skira or the rest of the home supporters would have hoped.
The first half was notable mainly by a missed penalty by Soufiane Rahimi and an injury to defender Romain Saiss. It wasn't until after the break that coach Walid Regragui's side started to live up to their billing as favorites.
Brahim Diaz scored Morocco's first goal Image: Paul Ellis/AFP
Brahim Diaz opened the scoring in the 55th minute, knocking home a low ball through the box from Noussair Mazraoui. After Ayoub El Kaabi's bicycle kick doubled Morocco's tally in the 74th minute, the 60,000 mostly home fans really came to life.
"The atmosphere was fantastic and very special," Skira said.
"Compared to the AFCON in Ivory Coast, the African and especially Moroccan culture is really on full display here."
While Morocco failed to add a third goal, the victory was well-deserved – something that filled Skira with confidence going forward.
"I pray to God that the Moroccan national team will have good luck, that they will bring us joy and win the Africa Cup," Skira said.
AFCON 2025: The players Bundesliga clubs will miss
Leverkusen's Ibrahim Maza, Frankfurt's Ellyes Skhiri, and Leipzig's Yan Diomande are just a few of the Bundesliga players at the 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Image: Anke Waelischmiller/Sven Simon/picture alliance
Nicolas Jackson – Bayern Munich
His first six months in Munich have not been outstanding. The Chelsea loanee mostly sat on the bench and only came on as a substitute for striker Harry Kane. However, the 24-year-old is a regular in the Senegal national team and plays alongside former Bayern player Sadio Mane. Jackson already played in the AFCON in 2024, but Senegal were knocked out in the round of 16.
Image: HMB Media/picture alliance
Ramy Bensebaini – Borussia Dortmund
With 76 international caps and more than 275 appearances in France's Ligue 1, the Bundesliga for Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund, and in European competition, the 30-year-old is one of the most experienced players for Algeria, who were eliminated in the group stage of the last edition of the tournament in January 2024.
Image: Hafner/nordphoto/picture alliance
Ibrahim Maza – Bayer Leverkusen
Ibrahim Maza (left) is an attacking midfielder who has recently impressed in Leverkusen with his play further back as a defensive or central midfielder. In November, the 20-year-old Berlin native was named Algeria's young player of the year.
Image: Thomas Thienel/Eibner-Pressefoto/picture alliance
Christian Kofane, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Edmond Tapsoba – Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen are in fact being hit hard, with Christian Kofane (19, Cameroon), Eliesse Ben Seghir, (20, Morocco) and Edmond Tapsoba (26, Burkina Faso) also named to AFCON squads. Of the three, Tapsoba is the most experienced internationally, having made 57 appearances for his country. Kofane will be hoping to make his international debut during AFCON.
Image: Anke Waelischmiller/Sven Simon/picture alliance
Bilal El Khannouss – Stuttgart
Bilala El Khannouss represented his native Belgium at youth level before switching allegiance to Morocco as a U20 player. The attacking midfielder was part of the Moroccan team that was knocked out of the round-of-16 by South Africa at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. This time, playing at home, he's aiming for the title.
Image: Wart Brinkerhof/Marcel ter Bals/DeFodi Images/picture alliance
Samuel Essende – Augsburg
Samuel Essende, on the other hand, has only a minimal chance of lifting the trophy on January 18. The Democratic Republic of Congo are not among the favorites. However, reaching the knockout stage is still a possibility. Essende and his teammates face Senegal, Benin and Botswana in the group stage.
Image: Tom Weller/dpa/picture alliance
Mohamed Amoura – Wolfsburg
The 25-year-old is Wolfsburg's top scorer with six goals in 14 Bundesliga matches. The pacey striker is particularly effective on the counter-attack. Amoura is a regular starter for Algeria and a danger to opponents.
Image: Maximilian Koch/picture alliance
Fares Chaibi – Eintracht Frankfurt
Fares Chaibi is also in the Algerian squad. The midfielder was born in France and made his debut for the "Desert Foxes" in 2023. He featured regularly in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but mostly came off the bench. At Frankfurt, however, the 23-year-old is a regular starter and, with six assists, is Eintracht's top playmaker this season
Image: Federico Gambarini/dpa/picture alliance
Yan Diomande – RB Leipzig
With seven goals and four assists in 15 competitive matches, the striker has made a huge impact at RB Leipzig. His international career for AFCON titleholders Ivory Coast, however, is still young with just four appearances. At the Africa Cup of Nations, the 19-year-old will play alongside former Bundesliga player Sebastien Haller and another current Bundesliga player...
Image: Paul Fritz/HMB Media/picture alliance
Bazoumana Toure – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
...who has impressed with strong performances in recent weeks. Toure (left), also just 19 years old, made his international debut for Ivory Coast in October. However, the striker will likely be coming off the bench at AFCON.
Image: Oliver Zimmermann/foto2press/picture alliance
Amadou Haidara – RB Leipzig
Although the midfielder has yet to make an appearance for RB Leipzig this season, the Malian national coach has picked him for the Africa Cup of Nations. This will be the 27-year-old's third AFCON following 2019 and 2022. He has made 46 appearances for his country.
Image: motivio/ZB/picture alliance
Elias Saad – Augsburg
The Hamburg native represented Germany in futsal before turning pro in football and making his international debut for Tunisia in 2024. The 25-year-old attacking player recently lost his starting position in the Bundesliga but remains a regular on the left wing for the national team.
Image: Klaus Rainer Krieger/Eibner-Pressefoto/picture alliance
Ismael Gharbi – Augsburg
Saad's rival in the same position for both Augsburg and Tunisia is Ismael Gharbi. However, the 21-year-old tends not to start, usually coming on as a sub. Gharbi was born in Paris to a Spanish mother and a Tunisian father. He played for France's under-18 team, then for Spain up to the under-20 level, and made his debut for Tunisia's senior national team in 2025.
Image: Edward Cheung/Eibner-Pressefoto/picture alliance
Ellyes Skhiri – Eintracht Frankfurt
Although he also hails from France and has a French mother, the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder has always represented his father's country, Tunisia, with whom he took part in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will be the 30-year-old's fourth continental championship. With 73 appearances, he is one of Tunisia's most experienced players.
Image: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto/picture alliance
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"If life allows, I'll arrange to meet you for the 2030 World Cup in Morocco — again by bicycle."
