As the sun sets over the stadiums in Morocco today, January 3, 2026, the atmosphere is electric. We have officially reached the end of the opening chapter of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and the story so far is one for the history books. For a long time, the group stages of this tournament were famous for being a “graveyard of giants.” We grew used to seeing small, unheralded teams humiliate the biggest stars on the continent.
However, the 2025 edition has flipped the script. This year, the kings of African football have not only survived, but they have also dominated. As we move into the Round of 16 tonight, the narrative has shifted from one of chaotic surprises to one of elite excellence. Therefore, it is necessary to review lessons learnt so far in the AFCON 2025 group stage and what to look forward to in the knockout phase.
The Big Teams Are Doing Big…
The most striking lesson from the past two weeks is that the “big teams” have finally learned how to handle the pressure of the group stages. To understand why this is so important, we must look at the hard evidence from previous years.
In the 2021 tournament held in Cameroon, the defending champions Algeria finished dead last in their group with only a single point. In the 2023 edition in the Ivory Coast, the situation was even worse for the traditional powerhouses.
Three of the continent’s biggest names (Ghana, Algeria, and Tunisia) were all sent home before the knockout rounds even began. None of them managed to win a single game in that tournament, which shocked fans across the globe.
In 2025, however, the numbers tell a completely different story. For the first time in recent memory, all 12 of the highest-ranked teams in Africa successfully advanced to the next round. The dominance was measurable and clear. Nigeria and Algeria both finished their groups with perfect records, winning all three of their matches to earn 9 points.
Heavyweights like Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast also finished their groups undefeated, having won all their games. While the 2023 tournament saw the top favourites struggle with an average of only 1.2 points per game, the 2025 favourites have marched into the knockouts with an incredible average of 2.6 points per game. The era of the “early exit” for the big boys seems to be over.
More Goals, More Entertaining Football
Beyond just who won and who lost, the style of football in Morocco has been a breath of fresh air. In many previous editions, AFCON was criticised for being too defensive, with many games ending in boring 0-0 draws. The 2021 group stage, for example, was notoriously low-scoring, averaging only 1.8 goals per match.
This made the games feel slow and difficult to watch for neutral fans. But the 2025 edition has shattered that reputation. We have witnessed a festival of attacking football, with a total of 87 goals scored across the 36 group matches. This brings the scoring average up to a healthy 2.41 goals per game.
There are several reasons for this sudden increase in goals. The world-class pitches in Morocco have allowed teams to pass the ball faster and more accurately. Additionally, the improved use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology has ensured that attacking players are being rewarded for their efforts rather than being held back by unfair calls.
Teams are no longer entering the field with the fear of losing; they are playing with the ambition to score. Nigeria’s Super Eagles led the way as the most dangerous attacking force, proving that when the big teams are in form, the tournament becomes much more exciting to watch.
Should European Football Break For AFCON?
The high quality of football in this edition has caught the attention of the entire world, leading to a very serious debate started by football legend Rio Ferdinand. Just yesterday, Ferdinand argued that European leagues should consider taking a mid-season break specifically because of AFCON. His logic is simple and hard to ignore.
With over 40 players currently missing from the English Premier League alone, the quality of European football naturally drops when the African stars leave. Ferdinand’s point is that players like Mohamed Salah, Ademola Lookman, and Nicolas Jackson are so important to the global game that AFCON should be treated with the same respect as the European Championships.
This discussion is a valid one for your article because it highlights how much the tournament has grown. In the past, some European clubs viewed AFCON as a “distraction,” but the 2025 edition has proven that it is a top-tier elite competition. When the “big teams” of Africa are playing well, the best players in the world are on display.
If the Premier League and other top leagues were to pause, it would allow fans to focus entirely on the brilliance happening in Morocco without feeling like their club teams are suffering. It is a sign of respect that African football has truly earned this year.
What To Expect in AFCON 2025 KO Phase (Predictions)
Now that the groups are over, the real war begins today, January 3rd. While the giants have survived so far, the Round of 16 is designed to be much more ruthless. Tonight, we start with a fascinating clash between Senegal and Sudan. While Senegal is the clear favourite, Sudan is the lowest-ranked team left in the competition.
This is the moment where a major upset is most likely to happen. If Senegal becomes too comfortable, the “spirit of the underdog” could finally strike. We also have Mali taking on Tunisia. Although Tunisia has a more famous history, Mali went through their group unbeaten and looks much stronger tactically. I predict that Mali might send the former champions home tonight in a significant surprise.
Looking at the overall picture, the favourites to lift the trophy remain the hosts, Morocco, and the high-scoring Nigeria. Morocco has the advantage of playing at home with a defence that has only conceded one goal so far.
On the other hand, Nigeria’s attack looks unstoppable. Because all the big teams survived the group stage, the upcoming Quarter-Finals will feel like a “Mini-World Cup.” There are no easy games left (except for Senegal vs Sudan, anyway). The group stage was about the kings reclaiming their territory, but the knockout stage will be about which of those kings is strong enough to wear the crown.
