Why it matters
The temple of Casablanca football and historic stadium for the national football giants, Wydad and Raja, has undergone numerous failed renovations. It has become more renowned as the most costly football stadium in the kingdom rather than for its vibrant atmosphere.
The Mohammed V Sports Complex has once again closed its doors for a complete transformation led by the National Society for the Realization and Management of Sports Facilities (SONARGES), which has taken over after the dismal failure of SDL Casablanca Events and Animation.
What will be done
The project, underway since January, is extensive. SONARGES is tasked with increasing the stadium’s seating capacity by expanding the stands, renovating the sanitary facilities, and replacing the pitch—all in accordance with CAF and FIFA standards. The stadium is set to reopen in December 2024, a few months before the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Under the delegation agreement between the Casablanca municipal council and SONARGES, the company commits to implementing a rehabilitation program for the complex, managing, operating, and maintaining the stadium and its facilities for a period of 10 years.
« The completion of the Larbi Zaouli stadium must be achieved before the start of the next sports season to prevent Wydad and Raja from incurring further ticketing losses. »
She must also modernize the Larbi Zaouli stadium to make it available for the two clubs in the metropolis. « The completion of the Larbi Zaouli stadium must be achieved before the start of the next sports season to prevent Wydad and Raja from incurring further ticketing losses, » explains Moulay Ahmed Afilal, vice-president of the Casablanca municipal council.
Who is financing it
To successfully carry out these projects, SONARGES will rely solely on the 250 million dirhams provided by the Ministry of National Education and Sports, one of the signatories of the agreement alongside the Casablanca-Anfa Prefectural Council, which commits to overseeing the implementation of the agreement and supporting SONARGES in carrying out its tasks.
Written in French by Younes Saoury, edited in English by Eric Nielson
