The giant awakes: Can AFCON 2025 finally bridge the gap for African football?

The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 has set the stage for a series of quarter-final encounters that could redefine the global narrative of African football.

As the winds of change blow through the continent’s footballing landscape, a renewed sense of optimism and potential is taking centre stage. The teams that have progressed to the quarter-finals have drawn heavily on foreign-based players, including several born in European countries.

The continent, long considered a sleeping giant in football, is entering a pivotal moment marked by an unprecedented depth of talent and competitive opportunity.

The historical backdrop is familiar: the hopes of a continent have echoed since the legendary Pelé predicted that an African nation would clinch the World Cup title before the turn of the millennium. While the clock may have ticked past that landmark, there remains a palpable belief that the moment will eventually arrive.

The question lingers, however: can Morocco, who dazzled at the 2022 World Cup, build upon their impressive run, or will another contender rise from obscurity to take the world by storm?

Despite the growing optimism, the reality check is stark. Currently, African countries are absent from the top 10 of the FIFA World Rankings, highlighting a significant competitive gap with the world’s elite teams.

This absence poses a challenge to those fans yearning for an African victory on the grandest stage. Yet, the representation of over 200 African players in Europe’s top leagues confirms the continent’s vast talent, showcasing the skill and determination that resonate worldwide.

However, disparity remains.

Many African teams face financial constraints that hinder their participation in regular international competitions and, consequently, limit the vital exposure needed to reach the global stage.

While elite national teams elsewhere enjoy access to cutting-edge technologies and training methodologies, their African counterparts often remain in the shadows, deprived of such opportunities due to financial limitations.

These challenges underscore the need for consistent competition against the best to bridge the existing gap. African nations must leverage this vast footballing talent by developing cohesive systems that maximise player potential.

Africa must not focus solely on raw talent; it must also invest in infrastructure, training, and regular competition to cultivate winning teams and a winning mentality.