The Moroccan Ministry of National Education, led by Mohammed Ouzzine, has announced that first-semester exams will be postponed to January 20 and 21, 2026. The decision was taken to avoid a clash with the Africa Cup of Nations final, scheduled for January 18, where Morocco’s national team will compete for the continental title AFCON. The ministry also confirmed that continuous assessments will be reorganized so the school calendar remains balanced and students are not disadvantaged.
The move reflects how deeply football is woven into national life in Morocco. The final of the AFCON matches is no longer confined to national football stadia; it takes place in homes, schools, offices, and markets.
Discipline, confidence, and team spirit have been the hallmarks of the qualification progress of the Atlas Lions into the final of the AFCON 2025. Morocco was drawn into the group stage with tough competitors but had turned out to be winners of their group by performing well.
As Morocco progressed into the knockout stages, they only strengthened with every game. They have qualified for the quarter-final/semi-final stage by fighting off stiff competition, because of their acumen, leadership, and exuberance. Playing on home soil, with fans who were energetic and passionate, Morocco exuded calmness and the confidence that this was theirs to take.
Their run to the finals has been widely commended by football pundits, who say that they have been well-prepared, well-coached, and that they are riding on the wave of success that the country recently experienced on the world stage in the 2022 World Cup.
With the final approaching, the government’s decision to adjust the academic calendar has been welcomed by many parents and students. Officials say the aim is to allow young people to share in a historic national moment without harming their education.
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As January 18 approaches, Morocco is united in hope. For a few hours, classrooms will pause, textbooks will close, and the country will turn its full attention to the Atlas Lions, chasing AFCON glory and another proud chapter in Moroccan football history.
