As Morocco kicks off the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, cybersecurity experts are warning of a surge in digital attacks targeting individuals and institutions, noting that large sporting events typically coincide with spikes in cybercrime.
Specialists say attackers often exploit heightened public interest and increased digital activity around major tournaments to launch a wide range of schemes. These include distributed denial of service attacks aimed at disrupting official websites, fake ticketing and accommodation platforms designed to steal bank card data, and phishing campaigns that impersonate trusted brands or institutions.
In stadiums and fan zones, hackers may also deploy unsecured public Wi Fi networks to intercept personal data from unsuspecting users.
According to data previously cited by Cisco France, which managed cybersecurity operations for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, the event recorded around 450 million cyber incidents, a figure experts expected to multiply significantly at later global competitions.
In Morocco, authorities and companies have already flagged attempted scams linked to the tournament. Fuel distributor Afriquia denied on Sunday any connection to fraudulent links circulating online that promised free fuel vouchers following Morocco’s recent Arab Cup victory.
Ayoub El Aïch, a cybersecurity expert at HackerOne, said the digitalisation of services linked to major events such as transport, ticketing and hospitality creates opportunities for cybercriminal groups. He explained that phishing and social engineering remain the most common techniques, often relying on fake websites that closely mimic legitimate platforms to trick users into entering sensitive financial information.
El Aïch urged internet users to avoid clicking on unsolicited links and to never share banking details online, stressing that legitimate companies do not request such information through promotional messages.
Another cybersecurity expert, Taieb El Hazzaz, said Morocco is facing heightened cyber activity from both domestic and foreign actors during the tournament. He warned that fake websites resembling official Moroccan platforms are being used to target fans seeking tickets or related services, with the primary aim of stealing payment data.
El Hazzaz noted that Morocco’s national cybersecurity bodies, including the Directorate General for Information Systems Security, are maintaining heightened vigilance and issuing guidance to public institutions.
However, he cautioned that risks increase when organisations fail to fully implement recommended protective measures during periods of elevated threat.
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