While torrential rains have forced the cancellation of the Arab Cup ranking match in Qatar, as well as several sporting events in the United States, the schedule of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) in Morocco has remained unchanged, despite persistent daily downpours. The group-stage matches have highlighted another key factor behind this resilience: the quality of the tournament's infrastructure. DR ‹ › The days when football pitches turned into water basins during the 2014 Club World Cup, exposed by much-needed but infrastructure-revealing rainfall, are long gone. Just days before the kickoff of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, the quality of the stadiums hosting the 35th edition of the continental competition in Morocco had already impressed reporters and analysts. As the football showpiece unfolds, that admiration has only grown, despite persistent and sometimes heavy rainfall that has neither damaged the playing surfaces nor disrupted the group-stage schedule. Since the start of AFCON 2025, Morocco has experienced exceptional rainfall following seven consecutive years of drought. Fully prepared for the tournament, the stadiums, either newly built or completely renovated, have demonstrated the high quality of their facilities, starting with the turf, which has remained intact despite the downpours. Between December 23 and 24, nearly 46 mm of rain fell in Rabat within 24 hours, according to the General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM). During this period, the Tunisia–Uganda (3–1) match was played at the Olympic Stadium without delay or interruption, as both the quality of play and the pitch conditions were barely affected. A New Technique in Morocco A similar situation occurred during the opening match between Morocco and Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, highlighting both organizational efficiency and the benefits of the SubAir drainage system installed beneath the turf. Rachid Haouch, an architect, landscape architect, urban planner, and former vice-president of the National Council of the Order of Architects (CNOA), told Yabiladi that the adoption of this technology and its integration into stadium infrastructure represent a major asset. He describes it as a «strong point» that enhances the country's sporting reputation. Also a former vice-president of the Association of Landscape Architects in Morocco and a former member of the Paris Order of Architects, Haouch explained that the technique draws inspiration from ancient agricultural practices. It relies on «a combination of underground and surface drainage, mechanical maintenance through aeration, brushing and sandblasting to improve soil permeability, specific biological treatments, controlled irrigation, light-therapy research, reseeding, and the management of excess water and pollutant removal». Together, these elements make it possible to «maintain a healthy turf» and ensure long-term pitch playability. In practical terms, he noted, surface water recovery is mainly achieved «through an underground drainage system using filtering pipes laid in trenches, combined with surface drainage in the form of 1 to 2% slopes». The collected water is then «directed to retention basins, either tanks or buried reservoirs, for reuse in irrigation», helping to reduce «both costs and the ecological footprint of these facilities». Unprecedented Quality in African Stadiums Having worked with this technique as early as the 1980s, notably during its implementation at the Parc de la Villette in France, Haouch stressed its strategic importance for Morocco. «It's a system that makes it possible to maintain a high-quality playing surface while improving water management, as the water can be treated, filtered, and reused through a comprehensive system integrated around the turf», he said. At the Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the drainage system beneath the pitch is based on interlocking plastic blocks, allowing water storage and filtration during periods of heavy rainfall. With a capacity ranging from 600,000 to 1.12 million liters, the system also contributes to turf aeration and thermal regulation. The playing surface, compliant with the performance and certification standards of FIFA, features a next-generation hybrid turf, combining natural grass with synthetic fibers, alongside an LED-assisted grass growth system, a configuration that remains unique in Africa.
