AFCON 2025: What to retain after Match Day 1

THE TOPS
Senegal and Tunisia: almost predictable outcomes
The 2021 champion did not need time to send a strong message. Against Botswana, the Lions delivered a clean and authoritative sheet (3-0). With a brace from Nicolas Jackson and a goal by Cherif Ndiaye, the men of Pape Thiaw showed an offensive fluidity worrying for the competition, with more than 60% of possession. The final score could have even been heavier if the attacking players had shown more efficiency in front of goal. Same observation for Tunisia. Victorious 3-1 of Uganda in Rabat, the Carthage Eagles seduced by their pragmatism. Carried by a burning Elias Achouri and author of a double, the Tunisians showed that they had not come to play in the background, taking the lead of group C ahead of Nigeria.

The dictatorship of the top seeds
Unlike the Ivorian edition marked by early earthquakes, the hierarchy is currently respected. Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Cameroon all pocketed three points. Of the 12 teams that were in pots 1 and 2 before the draw, 11 won. This 'security' of the continent’s leaders highlights increased mental preparation to avoid the traps of the teams that were in pots 3 and 4. The great nations seem to have learned the lesson from 2023: in Africa, no match is won before the final whistle.

Moroccan infrastructure: the 'miracle' under the rain
It was the great challenge of the organizing committee: to prove that Morocco has world-class infrastructures. The bet is successful. Despite torrential rains in Rabat and Tangier, the show has never been altered. The secret? The SubAir drainage system and last generation hybrid lawns that literally "swallow" water. Where other tournaments would have seen matches interrupted by puddles, AFCON 2025 deploys an impeccable green carpet, allowing a fast and technical play.

THE FLOPS
Mali the uncrowned heros
An undesired start for Eagles. Against Zambia (1-1), Mali created more chances but failed to concretise their actions. With an Expected Goals (xG) of 1.97 against only 0.68 for the Chipolopolo, the Eagles dominated but sinned in the last move (15 shots, only 5 on target). A recurring technical waste that is starting to weigh on Malian ambitions in this group A, as they are going to challenge Morocco this Friday.

Disaccorded national anthems
This is the unusual - and embarrassing - image of the beginning of the AFCON. During the pre-match protocol between Egypt and Zimbabwe, an imbroglio in the control room led to total confusion during the performance of the Egyptian anthems. If the players remained stoic, this technical glitch made rounds on social media, reminding that even the best organization is not immune to human error during live performances. 

The worries of some empty stands
This is the black spot that contrasts with the popular fervor of the AFCON 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire. Apart from the host country, several matches (South Africa - Angola, DR Congo - Benin) showed more empty stands. To overcome this, the Moroccan authorities reacted urgently by opening the doors of the Agadir stadium for free during Egypt-Zimbabwe, allowing 30,000 spectators to fill the bays.