African football’s rise continues to captivate the world, and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is proving to be more than just a tournament.

AFCON 2025 is becoming a mid-season cultural stop for the global football elite during their brief mid-season pause.

Just a week after biggest football fiesta in Africa kicked off on December 21, Morocco has transformed into a magnet for world stars, blending high-octane football with VIP glamour.

The stadiums are alive not only with passionate fans, but also with familiar faces from Europe’s biggest clubs, all drawn to the rhythm and uniqueness of African football.

Among the most notable attendees is French football icon and former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.

Spotted once again in the VIP tribune in Rabat, Zidane was in parent mode as he supported his son Luca, who has been guarding the net for Algeria.

Accompanied by his wife Veronique, Zidane watched on as Luca delivered another important performance, recording his second consecutive clean sheet for the Desert Foxes.

Real Madrid’s current superstar, Kylian Mbappe, has also become a regular presence in the stands.

The French forward was seen enjoying Morocco’s matches, as well as the thrilling 1–1 draw between Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon on Sunday.

For Mbappe, the tournament holds personal meaning because of his Algerian and Cameroonian roots which make AFCON a celebration of heritage.

Adding to the star power, Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni was also in attendance, joined by Barcelona defender Jules Kounde.

The two were spotted watching the Cameroon vs Cote d’Ivoire clash.

Morocco coach, Walid Regragui has confirmed that newly-crowned African Footballer of the Year, Achraf Hakimi will play his first game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday. 

Morocco have been strengthened with Hakimi’s return ahead of their face-off against Zambia at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Monday. 

The Paris Saint-Germain left-back has been out of action since the UEFA Champions League game against Bayrrn Munich in November.

Hakimi has now returned to full fitness and Regragui has declared that the defender is now set to make his mark in the tournament after featuring as unused substitute in the first two games. 

“What he has done to come back is extraordinary. What I can say is that Achraf will play tomorrow,” Regragui told the media. 

“Whether he starts or not it will be his first match at the AFCON.

“What we want — because we want to go as far as possible — is that Achraf progresses with the team and that we can keep him for the whole competition.

Morocco are through to the next round of the competition but would need a win against Zambia to guarantee their spot as Group A leaders. 

They started their campaign with a 2-0 win against Comoros but a 1-1 draw against Mali halted their impressive 19-game winning run at home. 

The result against the Eagles of Mali resulted in jeers from Moroccan supporters who were far from being impressed with their country’s performance. 

Monday’s game would be the fourth game between Morocco and Zambia on the AFCON stage with the last three results ending in two wins for the Atlas Lions and a draw.

The most recent game was in the Ivory Coast in 2023 with Hakim Ziyech scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win for Morocco.

There is no prospective owner on the horizon and no building plan.

Phoenix Still Hopes for an NHL Return

There are still people in the Phoenix metropolitan area who have not given up on bringing the National Hockey League back to the market. The belief remains that pro hockey can work in Arizona under the right conditions. What is missing is not interest or passion. What is missing is money and a modern arena.

Andrea Doan is now chairing an advisory panel focused on professional hockey in Arizona. Her husband, Shane Doan, played for the Arizona Coyotes franchise and remains closely tied to the hockey community. The panel now includes two former mayors from smaller municipalities in the region. It also includes the son of a former franchise owner, along with business and community leaders.

The Missing Piece

The group does not include the most important figure needed to make a return possible. There is no individual willing to buy an NHL franchise and fund the construction of a new arena. That absence continues to block any serious path forward.

Phoenix currently does not have an NHL team for one simple reason. The market lacks a suitable arena. Without a modern building designed for hockey, the league has no incentive to return.

How the Problems Began

The Phoenix hockey story started in 1996 when the NHL approved the relocation of the Winnipeg Jets to Arizona. The team moved into a city owned arena that was not built for hockey. Roughly 4,000 seats had obstructed views, which hurt fan experience and ticket sales.

Ownership quickly realized the building could not support an NHL franchise. The search for a new arena began almost immediately. That search eventually led to Glendale, Arizona.

Glendale Years and Financial Trouble

The team began playing in Glendale in 2003. While the arena was hockey friendly, ownership stability was not. Several ownership groups struggled financially over the years. The franchise went insolvent in 2009.

Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie attempted to buy the team and move it to Hamilton, Ontario. The NHL blocked the sale. The league wanted to keep the team in the Phoenix market.

The Final Collapse

On August 19, 2021, the city of Glendale chose not to renew its arena operating agreement beyond the 2021–22 season. With no home, the team signed a deal to play at Arizona State University’s 5,000 seat arena. That move was widely viewed as temporary and unsustainable.

In April 2024, NHL ownership decided it was time to move on. The franchise was sold to Ryan Smith. He relocated the team to Salt Lake City.

What Comes Next

Phoenix still represents a large media market with corporate potential. The interest exists. The history shows the risks. Until someone steps forward with arena funding and franchise capital, NHL hockey will remain only a hope in the desert.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com