Overview:
After the opening stage, each of the 24 countries had played three matches apiece and the best 16 performers progressed to the round of 16.
On 21st December 2025, the official 35th edition of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament officially kicked off at the Prince Moulay Abdellaziiz stadium in Rabat city.
The hosts Morocco vibrantly kicked off the championship with a 2-0 victory over Comoros in Group A before thousands of spectators under heavy rains.
I was fortunate to be inside this gigantic stadium to witness the colourful opening ceremony, alongside the other members of the Kawowo Sports Media team.
A total of twenty-four (24) countries including yours truly, Uganda commenced business through the group phase played in 9 venues across six different cities in Morocco.
Grand Stade De Tanger (Ibn Batouta) with the largest seating capacity of 75,000 spectators is located in the city of Tangier whilst the Stade El Barid in Rabat city had the lowest seating capacity of 18,000 people.
Other venues included Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca city with 67,000 capacity, Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah (69,500), Grand Stade De Marrakech (45,240), Grand Stade D’Agadir (45,480), Complexe Sportif De Fes (45,000), Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan (22,000) and Stade Olympique Annexe Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah (21,000).
Right from the opening stages of the championship, it was pure professionalism, colour, energy, passion, determination, character, will-power, zeal and enthusiasm from the service providers, fans, journalists, players, team and match officials alike.
After the opening stage, each of the 24 countries had played three matches apiece and the best 16 performers progressed to the round of 16.
From the round of 16, the top eight marched to the quarter-finals played over on Friday, 9th January and Saturday 10th January 2026.
The four last standing countries now at the semi-finals include the hosts Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and the tournament record champions Egypt.
There are three official resting days (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) before the semi-finals will come knocking as the eliminated quarterfinalists pack their bags back to their respective home destinations.
For the successful semi-finalists, it is time to re-energize, plan afresh, strategize and put the pieces together ahead of the explosive semi-final clashes.
Hosts Morocco will face Nigeria in Rabat city and Senegal shall battle Egypt in the other semi-final duel in Tanger city.
It remains too close to predict the successful teams that will advance to the final on Sunday, 18th January 2026.
Africa has shone!
