Morocco prepares high-tech coverage for the Africa Cup of Nations
Morocco wants to surprise the world with its organisation of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), which kicks off on 21 December.
On the sporting front, a major organisational effort is underway as a prelude to the 2030 World Cup, which the North African country will host alongside Spain and Portugal. Proof of this can be seen in the large investments being made in the various stadiums that will host World Cup matches, with the Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca as the crown jewel, with a capacity for 115,000 spectators, as well as in major transport infrastructure, including airports, railways and roads.
Another important aspect of organising sporting events of this magnitude is media coverage.
In this regard, Morocco also wants to give its best and is preparing a major deployment to offer a large media broadcast capacity for the next edition of the CAN, which will be hosted by the North African country.
The Moroccan kingdom is seeking a major technological leap forward to reach the highest standards, similar to the broadcasting of a World Cup, and to this end, a cooperation procedure has been carried out between the National Radio and Television Company (SNRT) and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). Both entities are already collaborating to ensure that the audiovisual production of the African Cup of Nations is exceptional and of a high technological standard.
According to the media outlet Assahra Al Maghribia, the SNRT is planning to build a huge central studio for a sports channel dedicated entirely to the CAN. This studio, a veritable operational ‘control tower’, will ensure the coordination of signals between all the stadiums, manage commentary and analysis, and supervise live broadcasts and the overall quality of production.
The challenge is to achieve highly advanced and immersive coverage and broadcasting, which will fully immerse viewers in the spectacle, with a recognisable brand in terms of the audiovisual product to be presented, exceeding the requirements of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). All this is thanks to the collaboration between SNRT and FRMF, which seek to make Morocco a true benchmark in both sports and media in relation to major sporting events, such as the Africa Cup of Nations and, above all, the World Cup. ‘We want to go far beyond simply complying with CAF standards. It is about establishing a production framework that positions Morocco as a key player in international sports content,’ according to sources close to the project, as reported by Le Matin and Assahra Al Maghribia.
Technological advances
One of the key technological features will be High Dynamic Range (HDR). Morocco will thus be the first African country to produce and broadcast an international sporting tournament such as the Africa Cup of Nations in HDR. This system offers remarkable visual quality, with greater clarity and immersion. This technology is only available for major events such as the World Cup or the European Championship.
The SNRT will also install a Spider Cam in each Moroccan stadium hosting official matches, which will capture spectacular aerial images, two drones, including an FPV drone, capable of following the players' movements at high speed as close as possible to the game, and almost ten Ultra Motion servers, more than double what the CAF requires, which will allow for extreme slow-motion replays and multiple camera angles.
The FRMF and SNRT also plan to unify all technical systems in the host cities to ensure perfect signal consistency, regardless of the stadium.
In addition, the signal for international matches will be transmitted directly from Morocco to European and American broadcast centres, without passing through intermediate stations, traditionally located in Paris. This development will confirm Morocco as a high-level independent broadcasting hub capable of sustaining world-class, stable international broadcasts.
These technological advances in broadcasting are linked to others, such as the launch of an internet application aimed at improving the fan experience and making the Africa Cup of Nations organised by Morocco the most connected in history. The app is called ‘Yalla’ and aims to be an access platform for all fans, thanks to an agreement between the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
‘Each ticket holder must register on the app to obtain a Fan ID, which is essential for accessing the stadiums and fan zones,’ CAF and LOC said in a joint statement.
‘The app will also offer an electronic visa designed especially for the CAN, which will allow fans from all over the world to apply for it online,’ they noted, adding that ‘it will offer real-time updates, exclusive content and personalised information, making Morocco 2025 the most connected edition in the history of the CAN.’