Two players’ visa mix-up delays Morocco’s arrival at Arab Cup opener

The Moroccan team arrived nearly 40 minutes late to Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday ahead of their Arab Cup Qatar 2025 opener against Comoros, due to an unexpected administrative issue involving two squad members.

According to an official source within the organizing committee, players Marouane Louadni and Tarik Tissoudali entered Qatar with tourist visas instead of visas granted for Arab Cup participation. The problem was only discovered on match day, meaning their access authorizations for the team bus and stadium had not been prepared.

On comprend enfin ce qui s’est passé ce matin avec l’équipe de Sektioui. Louadni et Tissoudali sont arrivés au Qatar avec un visa touristique, et non un visa lié à la participation à la Coupe Arabe. L’organisation n’a découvert leur présence qu’aujourd’hui, ce qui fait que leurs… https://t.co/mGtgAKq8UL pic.twitter.com/FOtud8EwI6

— TheRetiredScout212 (@zied_alghattass) December 2, 2025

Quoted by the Qatari channel Al Kass, the same source said the Moroccan team refused to leave without the two players and waited nearly 40 minutes. When waiting any longer became impossible, the squad left for the stadium. The authorizations were validated shortly afterward, allowing both players to join the team, and Tissoudali even started the match.

Despite the disruption, Morocco began their campaign with a 3–1 victory over Comoros.