A Month I’ll Never Forget – Covering AFCON in Morocco

The last month in Morocco has been one of the most memorable experiences of my career so far as a sports photographer. When DeFodi Images asked me in early December if I wanted to cover the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, I said yes almost immediately — but I could never have imagined just how intense, rewarding and unforgettable the experience would turn out to be.

At the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat

I didn’t need much time to decide. I was already scheduled to be in Rabat on December 22 to cover the TransferRoom Live event, so the timing felt perfect. On December 20 I began my journey to Morocco, initially planning to stay for just two weeks. As it turned out, I ended up staying for the entire tournament.

This was not only my first AFCON — it was my first time ever visiting an African country. From the moment I arrived at Rabat airport, it was clear that the country was ready. Large welcome signs and tournament posters were everywhere, and from the very first steps on Moroccan soil, it was obvious that this month was all about football.

The first few days came with some challenges. Sorting out my accreditation took longer than expected, as DeFodi had initially registered another photographer for the tournament. Although the accreditation had been transferred to my name, the system hadn’t been updated yet. That meant several trips back and forth between the Main Media Center and the Accreditation Center — until, after a few helpful messages with Mr. Faustin at CAF, everything was finally sorted.

By December 24, I was ready for my first match: Algeria vs Sudan at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

That match turned out to be the start of a long run covering the Algerian national team. I ended up photographing all of their matches until they were eliminated by Nigeria in the quarter-finals. Apart from the host nation Morocco, Algeria brought some of the most passionate supporters of the tournament. From the very first game, the energy in the stands was impossible to ignore. With well-known players such as Riyad Mahrez, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Luca Zidane in the squad — and Zinedine Zidane himself present in the stands to watch his son — there was huge attention around the team.

For the first two weeks, I stayed in Rabat, where four stadiums were in use during the group stage. There was usually one or two matches to cover every day, creating an intense but addictive rhythm: shoot, edit, caption, send — then do it all again the next day. The football itself was fantastic, but just as exciting was photographing the fans. As the popular hashtag #wedressdifferent suggested, supporters were incredibly creative in how they dressed and expressed their passion for their nations. The stands were a dream for any photographer.

Ayoub El Kaabi scored with a bicycle kick against Zambia

My original plan had been to return home after two weeks, but I quickly realised I didn’t want to leave. Seeing my photos published after almost every match — across newspapers and websites all over the world — was incredibly motivating. That success came from a combination of experience, speed and the excellent infrastructure provided at the tournament. High-speed internet at the stadiums allowed me to ingest and transmit images during the matches, while DeFodi Images made the workflow seamless, ensuring clients received photos within seconds and that my work was quickly distributed through Getty Images worldwide. I’m extremely grateful to DeFodi for the opportunity and their trust.

Another highlight of the tournament was the people. Meeting photographers and journalists from all over the world, sharing experiences, learning from each other and helping one another out created a great sense of community. Many evenings ended with grabbing food together after matches, and I made friendships and connections that I’m sure will last well beyond this tournament.

As this was my first time in Africa, Morocco left a strong impression on me. It’s a beautiful country with incredibly friendly and helpful people. I loved the cuisine and trying new flavours, and I always felt safe wherever I went. Even though I don’t speak Arabic or French, we always found a way to communicate — with English, Spanish and plenty of gestures.

Once the group stage ended, I started travelling more. For the round of 16, I went north to Tangier to cover Senegal vs Sudan, then back to Rabat the following day for South Africa vs Cameroon. From there, I took the train to Fes for Nigeria vs Mozambique — a match I won’t forget anytime soon. Heavy rain poured down throughout the first half, with nowhere to hide. By halftime, we were soaked, cold, and shivering, trying to type metadata with numb fingers before sending images. Thankfully, the hotel room’s air conditioning dried everything overnight before I returned to Rabat for Algeria vs DR Congo.

After the quarter-finals, I briefly left Morocco to travel to Málaga, Spain, to cover another TransferRoom event on January 12. These events have become regular assignments for me, and it’s always a pleasure working with the team. Spending a few days in Málaga was a nice reset before heading straight back into tournament mode.

On January 14, I returned to Morocco in time for the semi-final between Nigeria and the hosts. It was a tight match that ended with Morocco winning on penalties. Over the course of the tournament, I had the opportunity to photograph countless top players — including Mo Salah, Sadio Mané, Victor Osimhen, Riyad Mahrez, Achraf Hakimi and many more. One particularly special moment came when FIFA President Gianni Infantino used one of my photos in an Instagram post from the tournament.

Photo of Morocco fans used by Gianni Infantino

The final between Senegal and Morocco was everything you could hope for. Tense, emotional and dramatic right until the end. After a goalless 90 minutes, chaos erupted late in stoppage time. Senegal had a goal disallowed, followed seconds later by a penalty awarded to Morocco. Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in frustration before Sadio Mané convinced them to return. Brahim Díaz stepped up to take the penalty, attempted a panenka — and missed.

Extra time followed. Just four minutes in, Papa Gueye scored a stunning goal and celebrated right in front of me. Instinct took over. I knew immediately I had something special, sent the image within moments, and later that night watched it appear across news outlets around the world. That’s a feeling I’ll never forget.

So much more could be written about this month, but above all, I feel grateful — for the opportunity, the learning experience, the people I met, and the moments I was able to capture. I truly hope this is just the beginning of many more experiences like this.