The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group stage in Morocco delivered everything fans hoped for.
There were historic breakthroughs, jaw-dropping goals, cultural expression, celebrity sightings and moments that instantly went viral.
From the terraces to the pitch, AFCON once again proved why it remains one of football’s most captivating tournaments. Here are five unforgettable moments that defined the group stage.
For the first time in history, Tanzania managed to reach the knockout rounds of the ongoing 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
They did it after gathering just two points to become one of the four best third place finishers at the group stage. It is an incredibly remarkable achievement for them though. It also shows the kind of progression they have made as a footballing nation.
They have qualified for three of the last four continental showpieces, which means they have now gathered the kind of experience required to become a mainstay.
To top it all up, their biggest club teams, such as Simba and Yanga are also dominating the continental stage. Tanzania is reaping the reward for deliberate investment in their football.
The beauty about AFCON is that it is a tournament that brings different African cultures together. It allows for the fans watching from the stands to bring their own unique senses of style. It is all always a way to spice up things.
One fan dressed up in a glittered-up suit that covered him from the head down during Botswana’s clash against Senegal. Another supporter of Senegal dressed up as a clown.
But there wasn’t a greater fan moment than Kuka Mboladinga’s immortal tribute to Patrice Lumumba. Lumumba is considered one of the greatest men DR Congo has ever produced, so to bring his memory back up certainly brought his nation to a standstill.
At a time when DR Congo is undergoing a civil crisis, good performances at the AFCON is one way to unite them. Mbolandiga may have made them even more unified.
Scoring one bicycle kick can be considered a one off, but when you score two in three games, you really are up to something.
Olympiacos forward Ayoub El Kaabi has been a revelation leading the line for Morocco at the tournament so far. His fist goal of the tournament was a sublime bicycle kick against Comoros.
During their third game against Zambia, he repeated the very same heroics. Having scored a header to put them into the lead, he then added a final goal to hit the final nail in Chipolopolo’s coffin, as Morocco sailed to a 3-0 win.
That final goal was yet another sublime orthodox goal, which honestly left everyone in the stadium stunned. We may never see another set of brilliantly taken bicycle kick goals by a single player at a tournament again for quite some time.
AFCON 2025 has witnessed some who-is-who names attend some clashes to witness the action.
Real Madrid superstar forward Kylian Mbappe attended both Morocco’s clashes against Mali and Zambia. He has been personally invited by his former PSG teammate and Morocco right back Achraf Hakimi.
Zinedine Zidane was also in attendance. He has watched his son Enzo stand between the sticks for Algeria. Aulerien Tchouameni and Jules Kunde have also taken their time to watch some AFCON games.
And it is not just football stars. On 27 December, when DR Congo took on Senegal, Congolese music legend Awilo Longomba walked out to the delight of fans in the stadium to read the lineups.
In the stands, Congolese rapper Youssoupha sat quietly, watching his team.
Before getting to the most unforgettable moment, there are some honorable mentions. A Tanzania fan trying his shot at a pretty Nigerian girl during their opening clash.
There was even a fan who cycled 3000 kilometers just to come and watch the continental showpiece. But there is certainly one unforgettable moment:
When Patson Daka scored a last-minute equaliser for Zambia during their 1-1 draw with Mali, there was understandable relief among the Chipolopolo faithful.
Zambia had been pinned back all game, so there was an element of fortune involved in grabbing themselves a point. While celebrating, Daka mistimed a backflip, landing awkwardly on his neck.
While it looked serious and caused concern, Daka was able to get up and finish the match, with team officials confirming he was fine despite the scary moment, avoiding any major injury despite the failed stunt.
Parting Shot
Those few AFCON 2025 group stages once again reminded the world why African football stands in a class of its own.
With the knockout rounds now underway, the bar has been set. If the group stage is anything to go by, the best may still be yet to come.
