The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco achieved a historic digital milestone, recording an unprecedented 6.1 billion digital impressions and 5.2 billion video views across social media platforms.
The statistics, released on Wednesday via the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) official social media channels, mark a significant leap from previous editions of the tournament. By comparison, AFCON 2023 generated about 2.1 billion digital views, meaning the Morocco 2025 edition nearly tripled that figure.
CAF described the achievement as unmatched, noting that it firmly places African football at the forefront of the global digital sports landscape.
“The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 has become the most-watched continental football competition, producing an extraordinary 5.2 billion video views,” the football body stated.
CAF attributed much of the growth to increased engagement from the African diaspora, with millions of new users interacting with tournament content throughout the competition.
From stunning goals and dramatic match moments to behind-the-scenes footage and fan reactions, CAF said AFCON 2025 content spread rapidly across borders, languages, and cultures, reinforcing the tournament’s status as a truly global event.
The body also revealed that fan participation was central to the tournament’s digital success, with 285 million total engagements recorded—an unprecedented level of interaction and emotional connection.
According to CAF, TikTok played a pivotal role in driving engagement, with over one million fan-created videos shared under the hashtag #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025, transforming the tournament into a cultural phenomenon that extended beyond football.
CAF added that the wide range of content—from goal celebrations and tactical breakdowns to humour, music, and fashion inspired by the event—helped attract younger audiences and introduce AFCON to new fans worldwide.
Hosted by Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, the tournament saw Senegal crowned champions, Morocco finish as runners-up, and Nigeria secure third place.
While the competition showcased modern stadiums and featured musical performances by artistes such as Davido, it was not without controversy. The tournament faced criticism over disputed refereeing decisions, clashes on and off the pitch, and reported Video Assistant Referee (VAR) malfunctions.
As of Thursday, CAF confirmed that Algeria, Senegal, and Morocco, along with several players, had been sanctioned for various misconducts during the tournament.