The 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), held in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, delivered historic moments and record-breaking performances, with stars Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané etching their names into the tournament’s history books.

The 2025 edition set a new record for most goals scored in a single AFCON, with 121 goals surpassing the previous mark of 119 from the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast.

Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah became the first player to score in five separate AFCON tournaments (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025), netting four goals in Morocco to bring his career total to 11, tying Hossam Hassan as Egypt’s second-highest scorer in AFCON history. Salah also set a new record for the latest goal scored in tournament history, striking in the 120th minute plus stoppage time against Benin, and became the first player to score against 11 different national teams at AFCON.

Senegal’s Sadio Mané made history by registering 20 goal contributions at AFCON—11 goals and nine assists—helping the Lions of Teranga secure their second continental title with a 1-0 extra-time victory over hosts Morocco in a controversial final. Mané, named Man of the Competition, may have played his last AFCON, having guided Senegal through a dramatic walk-off protest following a missed Moroccan penalty in the 93rd minute.

Team records were also rewritten. Egypt extended their appearances to 27, most matches played (118), wins (64), and overall goals scored (184). Nigeria secured a record ninth bronze medal, maintaining their status as the nation with the most AFCON medals (17). Tunisia made a 17th consecutive AFCON appearance, while Ivory Coast and DR Congo extended records for most goals conceded and most matches lost, respectively.

The 2025 tournament, Morocco’s second time hosting, introduced a new schedule, running over Christmas and New Year to avoid clashes with FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup. The competition featured 24 teams across nine venues in six cities.

Notable absentees included four-time champions Ghana, who failed to qualify for the first time since 2004. Comoros, Gabon, Sudan, and Zimbabwe returned after missing the 2023 edition.

Despite the controversy surrounding the final, the tournament received widespread praise for its organization and quality of football, with Salah noting it was the best-organized competition he had experienced in Africa. The next AFCON is scheduled for 2027 in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, after which the tournament will transition to a four-year cycle beginning in 2028.