For many Nigerians travelling to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, the historic city of Fes is a must-visit, as the Super Eagles are scheduled to play all three of their group-stage matches there.
Fes, Morocco’s oldest city, is widely regarded as the country’s spiritual and cultural capital. However, beyond its rich history, it is the city’s unexpectedly harsh weather that has caught the attention of Nigerian fans already on ground.
On Friday night, temperatures in Fes dropped to as low as four degrees Celsius before slightly improving to about eight degrees on Saturday. The sudden cold has left many Nigerians—unaccustomed to such conditions—scrambling to cope.
Several visitors admitted they did not anticipate such extreme weather in Morocco. Many only realised the severity of the cold upon landing at the airport and immediately began contacting friends and relatives in Nigeria to arrange for warmer clothing.
“I thought it was an exaggeration,” a Nigerian fan in Fes told Peoples Gazette. “I assumed Morocco was generally warm, but this has been surprising. I’ve asked a friend arriving on Monday to bring more hoodies and gloves to help me cope.”
Justus Hanson, a member of the Football Fans Tribe, shared a video from Fes showing himself wrapped in multiple duvets as he tried to stay warm.
Similarly, photojournalist Michael Adegbile, who arrived on Saturday, warned Nigerians planning to attend AFCON matches in Fes to prepare adequately for the cold.
“For context, Fes is currently eight degrees, London is six, and Texas is 13,” he wrote on X. “It’s freezing here, even indoors.”
The cold climate has clearly influenced local fashion in Fes, with residents seen wearing thick jackets, woven fabrics and layered clothing to suit the weather.
Nigerians heading to the city for the duration of AFCON are therefore advised to adapt to the local dressing style and pack appropriately to enjoy their stay while supporting the Super Eagles.