THE MAGIC OF THE CUP OF NATIONS
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations reaches its big finale in 2026 on Sunday, having rolled on through the annual festive time warp, outlasting Enzo Maresca, Ruben Amorim and Ryan Mason Xabi Alonso. Some Premier League teams will have played games in four different competitions by the time they welcome their players home. Wedged into the domestic calendar’s most crowded months, Afcon can get overlooked and more’s the pity, because the 2025-26 tournament has been a vintage edition. The group stage may have lacked big surprises but was still packed with late twists, ridiculous goals and dramatic storylines. Two different coaches named Cameroon squads amid a pre-tournament power struggle; their first opponents, Gabon, were disbanded by their government after going out early (a decision quietly reversed this week). Sudan and Mozambique earned historic victories, bringing light to fans suffering through conflict. We were introduced to Kuka Mboladinga, the sharply-dressed, statuesque DR Congo fan who we all hope will make it to next summer’s Geopolitics World Cup.
In the knockout stages, the tension turned up and star names stepped forward. Brahim Díaz led hosts Morocco through a major wobble against Tanzania, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman made Nigeria look like the team to beat, and Mohamed Salah helped Egypt battle past outsiders Benin and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire. Algeria’s Adil Boulbina scored a screamer in the 119th minute to eliminate DR Congo – then toppled over right in front of Mboladinga, who remained admirably stony-faced. In the semi-finals, Sadio Mané reminded us that he very much still has it, an instinctive late strike undoing an ultra-cautious Egypt and sparing us all the 30 minutes of extra time.
Morocco, burdened by huge expectations on home soil, toiled against a Nigeria side whose attacking verve deserted them, in a semi-final so lacking in action, it almost added to the sense of occasion. Having the continent’s best keeper paid off as Yassine Bounou saved two penalties in the shootout. The losers’ punishment for playing it too safe: having to take part in Saturday’s third-place playoff. Sunday’s final between Africa’s two highest-ranked teams promises to bring the curtain down in style. Morocco are seeking their first continental title since 1976, and carrying the expectations of a nation. Senegal have been there before, winning their first Afcon crown in 2021 to end years of anguish. It’s the best attacking side against the strongest defence, and is all but guaranteed to go to the wire: in the 21st century, nobody has won an Afcon final by more than a single goal, and six of the 13 showpiece games have gone to penalties. Truly, this is football heritage.
All of which makes Caf’s decision to switch Afcon to every four years from 2028 even more baffling and disappointing. The change was announced on the eve of the tournament, and several African football federations allege they were not consulted. “We’re killing ourselves,” one anonymous suit told Big Website. “If there had been a general assembly, it would never have passed.” The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, first pushed for the change back in 2020, despite claiming three years later that “we need way more and not less competitions, we want football to develop worldwide”. We’re not sure how cutting back one of the planet’s best international tournaments fits into that masterplan, but what do we know?
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“A decision has already been taken, months ago. I had a meeting with Steve [Parish] in October, the international break. We had a very long talk, and I told him I will not sign a new contract. We agreed at the time it was best to keep it between us. It’s the best that we could do that and keep it confidential for three months. But now it’s important to have clarity, and we had a very busy schedule so that’s why we didn’t want to talk about it. Steve and I want the best for Crystal Palace” – Eagles fans haven’t had the best week: knocked out of the FA Cup by Macclesfield, captain Marc Guéhi imminently joining Manchester City for a cut-price £20m, and now Oliver Glasner announcing he will do one in the summer. Yikes!
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Re: yesterday’s Football Daily. When will the Football League realise that a one-legged Carling Cup semi-final tie at a neutral (non-Wembley) ground would be mint?” – Francis Fowles.
After turning Manchester United into a joke in record time, Big Sir Jim’s now providing moral support for his players (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition). How about support for the supporters, starting with profuse apologies?” – JJ Zucal.
I read Kachilapo Mulongoti’s letter (yesterday’s Football Daily letters) with great interest, complaining about the ‘many jokes’ in the publication. As a long-time subscriber, I fear I’ve been reading a different tea-timely football-related email. There’s a version with jokes? Please sign me up” – Mike Wilner (and 1,056 others).
Positioning one letter starting with the word ‘congratulations’ after another signed off from Harry Webb (yesterday’s letters)? And on the day when you’re certain to be bombarded with 1,057 letters asking where the jokes are? Chapeau” – Tim Grey.
If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … JJ Zucal. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we have them, are here.
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