Senegal’s Cheikhou Kouyate kisses the trophy after winning the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 final.
Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images
Increased prize money, several new broadcasting deals and the biggest names in African football will define the 2024 action.
One of Ivory Coast’s new stadiums.
EPA-EFE/LEGNAN KOULA
Geopolitical tactics are already on display.
The Confederation of African Football has terminated two TV broadcasting deals in four years.
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It’s time to divide TV rights among several broadcasters and not allow a monopoly.
South Africa wins the Women’s African Cup of Nations in Rabat as the women’s game grows.
Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images
There was a significant shift towards African football as a business rather than football as development.
Senegal’s goalkeeper Tony Sylva celebrates his side’s famous win against France at the 2002 Fifa World Cup.
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A win is possible - but only in 2026 or 2030 and only if African teams get to play more high level internationals more regularly.
Sadio Mané, Senegal’s star player, has suffered an injury just ahead of the tournament in Qatar.
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No African team has reached the semi-final stage. Out of Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, the most likely to do so is Senegal.
Nigeria supporters cheer after their team wins their group - but would crash out in the next match.
DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images
Because of the growing fame of African football stars, the tournament is now watched in more than 160 countries worldwide.
Cameroon players celebrate after winning the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 on home ground.
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Hosting the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament is hugely important for Cameroon - politically, economically and on the pitch.
GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images
Creating stability and restoring confidence in the Confederation of African Football will need to be balanced by some complex commercial decisions.
ISLAM SAFWAT/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Algerian regime has long understood how to mobilise the national football team’s victories for a political agenda.
Aliou Mbaye/EPA
The African Cup of Nations is the continent’s premier soccer tournament - but it’s not being broadcast on TV as usual. Behind the blackout is a tale of court rulings and sour deals.
Confederation of African Football president Ahmad Ahmad attends a press conference in Cairo ahead of the 2019 Cup of Nations.
EPA-EFE/Khalid Elfiqi
Leadership is a major constraint to the development of Africa’s most popular sport.
Egyptian policemen pose in front of the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt, where Afcon takes place.
Khaled Elfiqi/EPA
The nervous Egyptian state hopes that fan-instigated stadium riots will not occur during the Afcon, following a clampdown on some fans.
Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan at the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
Marius Becker/EPA
Akufo-Addo’s intervention marks a continuing move by African political leaders to use football to advance or affirm political situations.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring a goal during the Afcon qualifying match between Egypt and Tunisia, 16 November 2018.
Khaled Elfiqi/EPA
Here is a run-down on everything you need to know ahead of the championships.
Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring a goal at Afcon 2017. He plays his club football in Germany for Borussia Dortmund.
Mike Hutchings/Reuters
The sheer number of top African footballers playing in foreign leagues is one of the most notable trends of the current Africa Cup of Nations tournament. It has an impact on the African game too.
A helicopter flies above the pitch to disperse fans during the semi-final match between Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.
Barry Aldworth/EPA
Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire will meet in the final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations on February 8, bringing to a close a tournament that has had its fair share of both beauty and bile. Chaotic scenes during…
Cameroon’s Henri Bedimo (l), who plays club football in France, heads the ball away from Mali’s Mamoutou N'Diaye, who plays in Belgium.
Gavin Barker/ BackpagePix
Football teams across Europe are lining up with some noticeable stars missing from their teamsheets this month with both the Africa Cup of Nations and Asia Cup in full swing. Two of the biggest stars for…
Perhaps FIFA’s Sepp Blatter (centre) could learn a few things from CAF president, Issa Hayatou (L).
EPA/Laszlo Beliczay
Albert Camus once said, “What I know most surely about morality and the duty of man I owe to sport.” He was referring to the relative simplicity of morality on a football pitch rather than the realm of…
No, you can’t catch Ebola from holding a trophy.
Nic Bothma
The Africa Cup of Nations, the continent’s mini-World Cup, is played every two years by the national teams of 16 African countries who have competed in a series of qualifiers to play in the final tournament…