The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy was unveiled in London on Thursday, marking the start of its global tour ahead of next month’s highly anticipated tournament in Morocco. The “Morocco 2025 Diaspora Tour” aims to celebrate African football and its global fan base, with scheduled stops in London, Paris, and Tokyo. The event drew prominent figures from across the football community, including former Kenya international Victor Wanyama, who spoke about the challenges teams face on the road to qualification.
“Qualifying is never easy. It takes tremendous physical and technical discipline to get to that level,” Wanyama said. “African football is extremely competitive. Players and teams give everything—nothing is taken for granted.” AFCON 2025 kicks off on December 21, 2025, and runs until January 18, 2026, with matches staged in major Moroccan cities such as Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat, and Agadir. The tournament is expected to draw large crowds as it showcases the continent’s passion, unity, and rising football talent.
Wanyama highlighted the rapid rise of underdog teams like Madagascar, who have emerged as one of Africa’s more respected sides in recent years. Fans can look forward to seeing some of the continent’s biggest stars, including Senegal’s Sadio Mané, Morocco’s captain Achraf Hakimi, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, and emerging talents like Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus, all expected to play pivotal roles in the competition.
