fr.allafrica.com
2025-2026 AFCON: Morocco to Host Delayed Tournament
The 35th Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, featuring 24 teams including defending champion Ivory Coast and Senegal, but notably excluding Ghana; the tournament is expected to break viewership records.
- What is the significance of the 2025-2026 AFCON's postponement and its impact on the tournament's structure and viewership?
- The 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, delayed from its initial summer 2025 date due to the FIFA Club World Cup. Twenty-four teams, including defending champion Ivory Coast and Senegal (participating for the 18th time), have qualified. Ghana, a four-time winner, is notably absent.
- What are the long-term implications of the rising viewership of the AFCON for the growth and global perception of African football?
- The 2025-2026 AFCON, expected to surpass previous viewership records with over 1.5 billion TV viewers and 2.4 billion digital streams, signifies the growing global interest in African football. Morocco's hosting, coupled with its co-hosting of the 2030 World Cup, positions the nation as a key player in international football.
- How does the participation list, specifically the absence of Ghana and the presence of Senegal, reflect the evolving dynamics of African football?
- The tournament's postponement highlights scheduling conflicts between major football events. The participation of 24 teams, including several returning after absence, showcases the competition's expanding reach and competitiveness. Senegal's consistent presence, contrasted with Ghana's absence, illustrates the fluctuating fortunes of African football powerhouses.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article's framing is largely positive and celebratory towards the upcoming CAN tournament in Morocco. The headline and opening sentences emphasize the prestige and excitement of the event. The inclusion of statistics about viewership further reinforces this positive portrayal. While this is not necessarily biased, it could leave the reader with an overly optimistic view, potentially overlooking potential challenges or controversies.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and factual in reporting the details of the tournament. However, terms like "plus prestigieuse" (most prestigious) could be considered slightly loaded, as the level of prestige is subjective and open to interpretation. Using a more neutral term such as "major" or "significant" would improve objectivity.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the upcoming 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco, mentioning the participation of various teams and the tournament's significance. However, it omits detailed analysis of the political or economic aspects surrounding the event, the impact on Moroccan society, or the potential challenges of hosting such a large-scale tournament. While acknowledging the practical constraints of space, the absence of broader context could limit a reader's comprehensive understanding.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic view of success, focusing solely on winning or losing. The complex factors that influence a team's performance (coaching, player form, injuries, etc.) are not discussed. For example, the absence of Ghana is presented as a simple narrative of failure, without deeper analysis of the reasons behind their poor performance.
Gender Bias
The article doesn't contain overt gender bias. However, it primarily focuses on the men's tournament, neglecting the women's CAN taking place in Morocco in July 2025. The omission of the women's tournament could be considered a form of bias by omission, implying a lower importance compared to the men's competition.
Sustainable Development Goals
Hosting the African Cup of Nations can foster peace and unity among participating nations and their populations. The event promotes cross-cultural exchange and cooperation, contributing to social cohesion and stability. The large viewership also highlights the unifying power of sport.