The curtain has risen on the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. While the Kingdom of Morocco is living up to its promises in terms of infrastructure, the pitch has already revealed its first truths: the favorites are all present, with one exception, while a few sour notes mar an otherwise near-perfect picture. A breakdown of the highs and lows after the first matchday of the group stage.

THE TOP

Senegal and Tunisia: a high standard upheld

The 2021 champions wasted no time. Against Botswana, the Lions delivered a clean and authoritative performance (3-0). With a brace from Nicolas Jackson and a goal from Cherif Ndiaye, Pape Thiaw's men displayed a fluid attacking style that worried their rivals, enjoying over 60% possession. The final score could have been even higher had the attacking players been more clinical. The same can be said for Tunisia. Victorious 3-1 against Uganda in Rabat, the Eagles of Carthage impressed with their pragmatism. Led by a red-hot Elias Achouri, who scored twice, the Tunisians showed they hadn't come to make up the numbers, taking the lead in Group C ahead of Nigeria.

The dictatorship of the top seeds

Unlike the Ivorian edition, marred by early upsets, the established order has so far been maintained. Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon have all secured three points. Of the 12 teams in pots 1 and 2 before the draw, 11 have emerged victorious. This "security" for the continent's powerhouses underscores their heightened mental preparation to avoid the pitfalls of the teams in pots 3 and 4. The major nations seem to have learned the lesson of 2023: in Africa, no match is won until the final whistle.

Moroccan infrastructure: a "miracle" in the rain

The organizing committee's biggest challenge was to prove that Morocco boasts world-class infrastructure. They succeeded. Despite torrential rains in Rabat and Tangier, the spectacle was never marred. The secret? The SubAir drainage system and state-of-the-art hybrid pitches that literally absorb the water. Where other tournaments might have seen matches interrupted by puddles (like the recent Arab Cup third-place match), the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations unfolded a pristine green carpet, allowing for fast-paced, technical football.

THE FLOPS

Mali, the curse of beautiful but sterile play

This was the only blemish on the record among the favorites. Against Zambia (1-1), Mali sorely lacked clinical finishing. With an Expected Goals (xG) of 1.97 compared to just 0.68 for the Chipolopolo, the Eagles dominated possession but were wasteful in the final third (15 shots, only 5 on target). This recurring technical sloppiness is starting to weigh on Mali's ambitions in Group A, as they prepare to face Morocco this Friday.

The anthem of discord

This is the unusual – and embarrassing – image of the start of the Africa Cup of Nations. During the pre-match protocol between Egypt and Zimbabwe, a mix-up in the control room led to total confusion during the playing of the Egyptian national anthem. While the players remained stoic, this technical blunder became a hot topic on social media, a reminder that even the best organization is not immune to live human error.

The blues of empty stands

This is the one dark spot that contrasts sharply with the popular enthusiasm surrounding the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. Aside from the host nation's matches, several games (South Africa vs. Angola, DR Congo vs. Benin) were rather lackluster. To address this lack of atmosphere, Moroccan authorities reacted swiftly by opening the gates of the Agadir stadium free of charge for the Egypt-Zimbabwe match, allowing 30,000 spectators to fill the stands. This presents a challenge in terms of ticket sales and local mobilization, which will need to be met to ensure a truly successful event.