AFCON 2025: Top 10 banned items in Morocco - Risk Ranking

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Morocco's Local Organising Committee have compiled a strict list of prohibited items that will be barred from all six tournament venues.

With African football stars like Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, and Achraf Hakimi set to showcase their talents, these regulations aim to keep the spotlight firmly on the beautiful game.

Here's your complete guide to what you cannot bring into AFCON 2025 stadiums, ranked from least to most serious risk.

• Risk Level: Low (Administrative/Crowd Comfort)

While you'll want to capture memories of Africa's premier football tournament, professional cameras with detachable lenses are off-limits.

This restriction protects broadcasting rights and prevents large equipment from blocking other spectators' views.

Your smartphone camera should be perfectly adequate for those match-day photos.

• Risk Level: Low (Visibility Obstruction)

Show your national pride, but keep it reasonable. Flags and banners exceeding the 1-2 meter size limit are prohibited because they obstruct the view of fellow fans, leading to disputes and frustration.

Smaller flags are generally welcome, so you can still wave your colours without causing problems for those around you.

• Risk Level: Low (Noise Pollution/Disruption)

The famous vuvuzela may have had its moment at the 2010 World Cup, but excessively loud instruments won't be welcome at AFCON 2025.

These items are banned to maintain an atmosphere enjoyable for all spectators and to ensure critical stadium announcements and emergency communications can be heard clearly.

• Risk Level: Moderate-Low (Mess/Hygiene/Interference)

An unusual pairing, but both create significant issues. Toilet paper becomes litter that creates cleanup challenges and can be thrown onto the pitch.

Pets (excluding certified service animals) pose hygiene concerns and can cause panic or trip hazards in densely packed crowds. Leave your furry friends at home for this one.

• Risk Level: Moderate (Minor Fire/Health Hazard)

All AFCON 2025 stadiums will be strictly smoke-free environments. Lighters present a fire risk in crowded venues, while cigarettes create health hazards for fellow spectators.

These bans align with modern stadium policies prioritising fan safety and comfort.

• Risk Level: Moderate (Potential Missile/Injury)

What seems harmless can become dangerous in the wrong hands. Umbrellas and helmets can be used as blunt weapons during confrontations, while balls thrown onto the pitch disrupt play and undermine match integrity.

Leave these items outside the stadium to avoid any issues with security personnel.

• Risk Level: High (Serious Projectile Risk)

Hard containers, especially glass bottles and cans, transform into dangerous high-velocity projectiles when thrown.

Even heavier food items can cause serious head or facial injuries if hurled into crowds or onto the field.

This is why stadiums typically only allow sealed plastic bottles and restrict food brought from outside.

• Risk Level: High (Inciters of Violence/Concealment)

Security needs to identify individuals responsible for any disorder, making masks and large face coverings problematic.

Additionally, banners or materials displaying racist, political, or discriminatory messages are strictly forbidden as they directly incite violence and conflict.

AFCON 2025 is committed to being a welcoming, family-friendly event for all African nations.

• Risk Level: Critical (Intentional Injury/Chemical Weapon)

CAF has taken a firm stance against laser pointers following numerous incidents where fans deliberately targeted players, especially goalkeepers, during crucial moments.

An LOC official stated that laser pointer use represents blatant cheating and creates dangerous safety hazards, with zero tolerance for such behaviour.

These devices can cause temporary visual impairment and potentially permanent eye damage.

Gas spray products like pepper spray are classified as chemical weapons that can incapacitate people, cause mass panic, and create breathing difficulties in enclosed spaces, an absolute nightmare scenario in a packed stadium.

• Risk Level: Extreme (Lethal Force/Mass Incapacitation)

Topping the list are the most dangerous prohibited items. Weapons of any kind, including firearms, sharp objects, and pyrotechnics like flares and fireworks, pose immediate threats of mass casualties and are absolutely forbidden.

Perhaps surprisingly to some international visitors, alcohol joins this category.

In accordance with Moroccan law and cultural norms, the sale and consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited within and around all tournament venues.

Beyond legal compliance, this ban addresses the fact that intoxication is the leading contributor to unruly behaviour, large-scale fights, poor judgment, and failure to follow emergency safety instructions.

These comprehensive security measures reflect CAF and Morocco's commitment to hosting a safe, fair, and family-friendly tournament. Security personnel across all host cities have received extensive training to enforce these regulations.

Before heading to any match, review this list carefully. Attempting to bring prohibited items will result in confiscation at minimum, and potentially denial of entry or more serious consequences depending on the item. Plan accordingly, travel light, and focus on what really matters, celebrating African football at its finest.

The message from organisers is clear: AFCON 2025 will be a showcase of talent, passion, and sportsmanship, with no tolerance for anything that endangers players, disrupts the game, or compromises fan safety.