Many Nigerians travelling to Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been caught unawares by the biting cold weather in Fes, where the Super Eagles are billed to play all three group-stage matches.
Fes, Morocco’s oldest city and widely regarded as its spiritual and cultural capital, has drawn Nigerian football fans and journalists ahead of the continental showpiece. However, beyond its rich history and heritage, the city’s weather has emerged as a major talking point.
On Friday night, temperatures reportedly dropped to four degrees Celsius before slightly improving to eight degrees on Saturday, leaving many Nigerians, who are largely unaccustomed to such conditions, struggling to cope.
Some visitors admitted they failed to anticipate the cold climate in Morocco and were jolted into reality immediately upon arrival, prompting frantic calls to friends and family in Nigeria to help arrange warmer clothing.
“I thought it was an exaggeration,” a Nigerian man, who is in Fes to watch the Super Eagles, told Peoples Gazette. “I thought Morocco was a very warm country, but this is surprising to me. I have told my friend coming on Monday to help me bring more hoodies and gloves to weather the conditions here.”
A member of the Football Fans Tribe, Justus Hanson, also highlighted the severity of the weather in a video, showing himself wrapped in multiple duvets as he tried to keep warm in the city.
“For Nigerian journalists and fans planning to come to Fes in Morocco, I know it seems like an exaggeration, but please prepare well. For context: Fes is currently 8 degrees, London is 6, and Texas is 13. It’s freezing out here, even inside the house,” Michael Adegbile, a photojournalist who arrived in the city on Saturday, posted on X.
The cold conditions have influenced the dressing culture in Fes, with residents seen donning thick jackets, woven fabrics and other heavy clothing to stay warm.
Nigerians planning to remain in the city throughout the AFCON are expected to adjust to the prevailing weather and fashion style to enjoy their stay in Fes.
