French football superstars Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé are expected to be in Rabat when Morocco face Mali in a highly anticipated 2025 Africa Cup of Nations clash.
The Group match, scheduled for Friday, December 26, 2025, at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, is expected to attract huge attention as both teams chase crucial points to boost their qualification hopes.
Morocco impressively opened their campaign with a 2–0 victory over Comoros, while Mali were held to a 1–1 draw in their opening fixture last Sunday. A win for Morocco will secure their place in the knockout stage, while Mali will be desperate for victory to revive their campaign.
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Mbappé and Dembélé will reportedly travel to Morocco to show support for Paris Saint-Germain teammate Achraf Hakimi.
Hakimi was named in Morocco’s AFCON squad despite fitness concerns and missed their opening game. It remains uncertain whether he will feature against Mali, but the presence of his close friends is expected to serve as a huge morale boost.
Dembélé currently plays alongside Hakimi at PSG, while Mbappé and Hakimi shared the same dressing room at the French giants before Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid. Both stars maintain a strong friendship with the Moroccan defender.
Although they represent France internationally, both players share African heritage. Mbappé has Cameroonian roots, while Dembélé traces his lineage to Mali and Senegal.
Their anticipated presence in Rabat is expected to add further excitement to what is already billed as one of the standout fixtures of the AFCON group stage.