Morocco Fans Travel Over 4000 Kilometres Using Bicycles to Attend AFCON 2023 Matches

• A group of passionate Morocco fans travelled to Ivory Coast for AFCON 2023 using bicycles
• It took them more than three months to get to San Pedro, where the Atlas Lions are camping
• After their stunning World Cup run in 2022, Morocco will be one of the favourites this year

The Africa Cup of Nations is a football festival that has always delivered. From the famous Cameroon sleeveless jerseys to riveting comebacks like the Angola vs Mali game in 2010, the tournament is a gift that has always kept giving.

Five days into the 2023 showpiece in Ivory Coast, it is now emerging that some Morocco fans have taken their affection for the game to a whole new level.

AFCON 2023 favourites

Morocco, alongside the defending champions Senegal and the hosts, are among the firm favourites to win the February 11 final.

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After their World Cup run to the semifinal in 2022, many people, led by their head coach, Walid Regragui, think they should back that up by dominating Africa. A quick look at their star-studded squad makes it hard to doubt the favourites' tag.

With such odds in their favour, a group of Moroccan fans wouldn't miss the 2023 edition. Not for anything. Not even a lack of aeroplane tickets could derail their ambitions to support the Atlas Lions in person.

Inside Morocco's fans journey to Ivory Coast

In a video shared on CAF's X account, the fans began their journey three months ago, using bicycles to travel to Ivory Coast. A quick Google check shows the roughly estimated distance from Morocco to Ivory Coast by road is 4,500 kilometres.

72-year-old Al Haj Mohammed Mathour travelled from Meknes, a city in North Morocco, through Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Guinea before eventually reaching his destination.

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"It was a continuous journey that lasted three months, six days. It has been 48 years since we last won the cup, and this year, I hope we bring it back home as a gift to our King and our people. My journey was on a bicycle and thank God no accidents occurred."

Mathour linked up with other Morocco fans in San Pedro who equally took the long route to Ivory Coast. San Pedro, which is approximately 300 kilometres away from Abidjan, will host Morocco's group-stage matches. They beat Tanzania 3-0 on January 13 and will face DR Congo next.

Samatta: Morocco deserved the win

Sports Brief has also reported that Tanzania national team captain Mbwana Samatta agreed that Morocco was better when the two sides met in a Group F clash.

The Taifa Stars restricted the North Africa giants to one goal in the first half but failed to hold on after they were reduced to 10 men after the break.