Morocco’s Top News: November 2025 Highlights

November 2025 proved to be an exceptional month for Morocco, with the kingdom making headlines across sports, tourism, and economic sectors. From historic football achievements to record-breaking tourism numbers, here’s a comprehensive look at the most significant developments that shaped Morocco’s national landscape.

A Golden Night: CAF Awards 2025 Showcase Moroccan Excellence

The standout event of November was undoubtedly the CAF Awards 2025 ceremony held in Rabat on November 19th. Morocco dominated the evening in unprecedented fashion, claiming six major awards and cementing the nation’s status as a powerhouse in African football.

Achraf Hakimi Makes History

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi claimed the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, becoming the first defender to win the prestigious honor in 52 years. The 27-year-old right-back had an exceptional season, lifting the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and UEFA Super Cup with PSG, while also reaching the FIFA Club World Cup final.

Hakimi’s achievement is particularly significant as he’s only the second Moroccan to win the award after Mustapha Hadji in 1998, ending a 27-year wait for the nation. In his acceptance speech, Hakimi dedicated the award to aspiring footballers across Africa, stating it represents not just individual glory but collective dreams across the continent.

Women’s Football Breakthrough

Ghizlane Chebbak made history as the first Moroccan woman to win the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award. The 35-year-old midfielder earned the honor after a phenomenal Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign where she scored six goals in seven matches, including a hat-trick and a goal in the final that helped Morocco reach the championship match.

Complete Moroccan Dominance

The Atlas Lions’ success didn’t stop there. The awards ceremony saw:

• Yassine Bounou crowned CAF Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year after world-class performances with Al-Hilal
• Doha El Madani retaining the CAF Women’s Young Player of the Year award
• Othmane Maamma winning the CAF Men’s Young Player of the Year after Morocco’s U20 World Cup triumph
• Morocco’s U20 team named Men’s National Team of the Year following their historic FIFA U20 World Cup victory

Morocco’s six awards represented the most won by any single nation at the ceremony, showcasing the depth and quality of Moroccan football across all levels.

Tourism Sector Shatters Records

While football captured headlines, Morocco’s tourism industry quietly achieved remarkable milestones that exceeded even the most optimistic projections.

18 Million Tourists and Counting

By the end of November, Morocco welcomed 18 million tourist arrivals in the first eleven months of 2025. This figure already surpassed the entire 2024 total by more than 600,000 visitors, representing a 13.5% increase year-over-year.

Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor attributed the performance to strategic investments under the 2023-2026 roadmap, including enhanced air connectivity, international promotion campaigns, and diversification of tourism products.

Revenue Surge

The financial impact proved equally impressive. Through October, travel revenues reached MAD 113.26 billion (approximately $11.32 billion), exceeding the entire 2024 total and marking a 16.7% year-on-year increase. The sector’s surplus climbed to MAD 85.71 billion ($8.57 billion), underlining tourism’s growing economic importance.

Strategic Positioning

These achievements place Morocco 13th globally among the world’s most dynamic tourism destinations according to UN Tourism rankings. The kingdom has added 43,000 new hotel beds since 2023 to accommodate the growth, while shifting from traditional “sun-and-sea” tourism to a diversified portfolio including nature, adventure, cultural circuits, and business travel.

With December’s Africa Cup of Nations expected to provide additional momentum, Morocco appears on track to achieve its 2030 target of 26 million tourists well ahead of schedule.

Economic Challenges in the Automotive Sector

November wasn’t without its challenges. Bank Al-Maghrib’s Monthly Review revealed an unusual downturn in Morocco’s largest export sector.

Automotive Exports Decline

Morocco’s automotive industry recorded a 2.7% decline in exports during the first nine months of 2025, falling to MAD 112.2 billion ($12.34 billion) from MAD 115.3 billion the previous year. The vehicle construction segment saw the sharpest contraction, dropping 14.6% to MAD 43.1 billion.

Mixed Signals

Despite the overall decline, some components showed resilience. Cabling exports increased 5.4% to MAD 42.4 billion, vehicle interiors rose 7.8% to MAD 7.3 billion, and powertrain components grew 4.8% to MAD 9.3 billion. This shift suggests Morocco’s automotive sector is evolving, with component manufacturing partially offsetting weaker vehicle assembly demand.

The automotive slowdown contributed to Morocco’s trade deficit widening by 17.7% to MAD 259.1 billion during the period, though strong performances in phosphates, agriculture, and aeronautics helped balance the equation.

Looking Ahead: AFCON 2025 Preparations

With Morocco set to host the Africa Cup of Nations from December 20, 2025, to January 18, 2026, November marked the final preparations for what promises to be a defining moment for the nation.

Ticket sales launched through the Webook platform, with matches scheduled across Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangier, and Fez. Following the CAF Awards success and the national team’s strong form, expectations are sky-high for the Atlas Lions to claim their first continental title since 1976.

The tournament is expected to further boost tourism numbers and showcase Morocco’s infrastructure investments to a global audience, potentially providing additional momentum for the 2030 FIFA World Cup preparations.

Conclusion

November 2025 will be remembered as a month when Morocco demonstrated its growing influence on the continental and global stage. From dominating African football’s most prestigious awards to exceeding tourism targets and navigating economic challenges with resilience, the kingdom showcased the dynamism and ambition that define its current trajectory.

As Morocco enters December with AFCON 2025 on home soil, the momentum built throughout November positions the nation for continued success across multiple fronts. The challenge now lies in consolidating these gains while pursuing even more ambitious goals for the decade ahead.