Rain-Defying Turf: How Moroccan Stadiums Outsmart Africa’s Downpour
24 December 2025
Rain hasn’t stopped CAN matches yet, despite heavy downpours.
At the Tangier Grand Stadium for the Senegal vs Botswana clash and at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium for the Tunisia vs Uganda match, photographers captured two striking examples of Morocco’s rain-resilient venues as they host AFCON 2025.
That readiness comes thanks to some of Africa’s largest pumps, installed at several AFCON venues, capable of draining rainwater quickly without interrupting play.
These mammoth machines were shipped from the United States and operate under the supervision of engineers from the Moroccan firm Somikotrade.
The Largest in Africa
The pumps sit to the south of Tangier’s Grand Stadium, and similar machines are installed at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium. According to Somikotrade officials, they are the continent’s biggest of their kind, thanks to the advanced SubAir drainage system.
SubAir is among the latest turf drainage and aeration systems, built with a network of pipes beneath the root zone, connected to pressure units with fans and pumps that work in every direction.
The system kicks in automatically when rain pours, siphoning away excess water through the pipe network to prevent flooding, and it can drain large amounts within minutes while also aerating the soil by circulating air back into it.
Beyond keeping surfaces playable, the system helps prevent yellowing of the grass due to low oxygen or excess moisture, ensuring the fields stay ready in diverse weather conditions.
Punchline 1: If rain tries to invade, Morocco’s pumps will eject it with style.
Punchline 2: In Africa, even the weather wears a kit and plays fair.
