The 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast set a high bar, but the 35th edition of the continental football tournament (December 21 to January 18) is set to surpass even that, according to the organizers in Morocco.
For the first time in the competition's history, each team will have its own headquarters and team hotel, similar to what's seen at World Cups and European Championships. Four stadiums were newly built for the tournament, while the remaining five, all relatively new, have been recently renovated.
Anticipation is high: Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), announced in November that more than 800,000 tickets had already been sold – a record for an Africa Cup of Nations.
Fans can also look forward to excellent infrastructure in Morocco. A high-speed rail line – the only one on the continent – connects the three AFCON host cities of Tangier, Rabat, and Casablanca, that are home to six tournament stadiums.
Even at the height of the global Generation Z protests this autumn, which also spread to Morocco, the country remained "Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C" for the Africa Cup of Nations, said Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), promising "the best Africa Cup of Nations ever."
For several years, Moroccan football has been implementing a series of reforms that are now beginning to show results. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the national team became the first African team to reach the semifinals of a World Cup, ultimately finishing in fourth place.
Morocco continued its success after that. In 2024, the national team won bronze at the Olympic Games in Paris. In 2023, the country triumphed at the Africa Cup of Nations for under-23s, and in 2025, they won the same competition for under-17s. That same year, the under-20s even won the World Cup for their age group.
The Moroccan women's national team also delivered, achieving second place at the Africa Cup of Nation twice in a row (2022 and 2025), both times on home soil.
A victory for the "Atlas Lions" at their home tournament would be the icing on the cake, but the competition is fierce. The team from Ivory Coast, Germany's opponent in the 2026 World Cup group stage, aims to defend its title. Senegal, a football powerhouse in Africa, also has high ambitions. The same is true for Algeria, Morocco's neighbor and long-time rival.
Tunisia, Nigeria (runners-up at AFCON 2024), South Africa (third place in 2024), and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which can still qualify for the 2026 World Cup via a playoff next spring, are all considered dark horses for the title. Egypt, which boasts Mo Salah, arguably Africa's best footballer, should not be forgotten.
The Africa Cup of Nations brings together the continent's best players. Among the stars of this year's tournament are: Nevertheless, all eyes will be on Salah. The 33-year-old Liverpool forward is his club's highest ever Premier League scorer with 190 goals but has fallen out with his manager, Arne Slot. There is speculation that he could leave Liverpool as early as this winter. For African football fans, however, a different question takes center stage: Will Salah succeed in leading record-holders Egypt to their eighth AFCON title?
At least seven teams participating in AFCON in Morocco will also play in the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. DR Congo could be added as an eighth team. For the talents of these nations, the Africa Cup of Nations is a good opportunity to showcase their skills.
This applies to Ivorian Yan Diomande, 19, who has recently impressed at Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, and also to his compatriot Bazoumana Toure, 19, who is making a name for himself at Hoffenheim.
Ibrahim Mbaye ,17, is aiming to make his mark on the Senegalese team, where he's receiving increasing playing time despite his young age at PSG.
Chemsdine Talbi, 20, who regularly plays for newly promoted Premier League side Sunderland, hopes to earn a spot on the host nation Morocco's World Cup squad. The same is true for South Africa's Tylon Smith, 20, who currently plays for the U21 team of English Championship side Queens Park Rangers – but has higher ambitions.
One of the charms of the Africa Cup of Nations lies in the fact that there are almost always underdogs who experience their own football fairytale at the tournament. Will the Comoros Islands manage to reach the round-of-16 again at AFCON in Morocco, as they did in 2021 during their only previous appearance?
Can Benin, who narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification, advance to the quarterfinals as they did in 2019? Or will the Sudanese team manage to cause a sensation and bring a little joy to a country that has been ravaged by civil war for years? National coach James Kwesi Appiah has promised: "We are here to win – not just to participate."
This article was originally published in German.
