AFCON 2025

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a formidable and historically successful opponent in the Africa Cup of Nations, currently experiencing a strong resurgence under competent management. Despite a history of underachievement relative to its talent pool, the team is disciplined, rarely suffers heavy defeats, and is fresh off a recent semi-final appearance. With a squad featuring high-caliber European-based players and actively competing for World Cup qualification, the DRC presents a serious tactical threat. Underestimating this opponent would be aContinue Reading

Madagascar’s national football team, the Barea, is pivoting from World Cup qualifiers to focus on securing a spot in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with three critical hurdles determining their path forward. Success hinges on the urgent CAF homologation of the Mahamasina Stadium to restore their home-field advantage, navigating the upcoming qualification draw, and resolving the contract uncertainty of coach Corentin Martins. The team’s immediate future and competitive readiness depend on swiftly aligning these operational andContinue Reading

Former Algerian star Karim Matmour analyzes the upcoming AFCON 2025 knockout match, asserting Algeria holds a decisive individual quality advantage, with all its players being starters for major clubs—unlike their Congolese counterparts. He downplays this specific fixture as the tournament’s true “shock,” suggesting greater challenges lie ahead. Ultimately, Matmour concludes that Algeria’s success hinges not on talent, but on the coach’s ability to manage pressure, emotions, and implement an effective strategic plan.Continue Reading

Tunisia has been eliminated from the 2025 AFCON in a dramatic round-of-16 match against Mali, despite playing with a man advantage for most of the game after a 26th-minute red card. Mali demonstrated remarkable resilience, equalizing in the 90th minute to force extra time and ultimately winning on penalties. This upset underscores the critical lesson that numerical superiority does not guarantee victory without decisive execution, especially in knockout tournaments. Mali advances to face Senegal in a high-stakes quarterContinue Reading

The Algerian national football team has resumed training with a nearly full squad to prepare for their critical AFCON 2025 knockout match against DR Congo. However, defensive readiness is a key concern, with three defenders, including central player Mohamed Amine Tougaï, sidelined due to injury, and his match participation remains under daily medical evaluation. The team’s focused preparation, including core strength exercises observed in training, underscores the high-stakes nature of this single-elimination fixture. Success will demand maximumContinue Reading