AFCON Matchday 1 Recap: Goals, Drama, and Big Names Shine
AFCON Matchday 1 delivered an action-packed start to the tournament, featuring strong performances from the continent's top teams and players. Hosts Morocco began with a convincing win, while Senegal, Algeria, Nigeria, and Cameroon all secured important victories. Star players such as Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez made decisive contributions, and several matches were defined by late goals, red cards, and narrow scorelines. Overall, the opening round set a competitive tone as teams now look to build momentum and push for qualification in the upcoming fixtures.
Muhammad Saad Ismail 
Matchday 1 did not disappoint us, with a few incredible performances outshining others. Top African stars Mo Salah, Riyad Mahrez, Lookman, and Brahim scored. An opening fumble from Gabon saw Aubameyang being subbed on after conceding.
The Africa Cup of Nations is currently happening in Africa, where the event started on the 22nd of December. The event is scheduled from December 22 to January 19 in Morocco. The 24 teams are divided into six different groups.
The opening game was between Morocco and Comoros, where we witnessed not only a win for the hosts but also a considerable Puskás nomination goal from Ayoub Al Kaabi in the 74th minute. Morocco beat Comoros 2-0 in the first game. The other game in this group resulted in a draw between Mali and Zambia, where a late equaliser saved Zambia.
Group B had its first game between South Africa and Angola, where South Africa beat Angola comfortably by 2-1. Burnley star Lyle Foster scored the winner for South Africa in the 79th minute. In the second game of the group, Egypt faced Zimbabwe, which was considered an easy game for Egypt. But it did not happen like that, as Zimbabwe fought tough against Mo Salah’s side. Mo Salah grabbed a win for Egypt, but Zimbabwe earned respect with their performance.
Group C had its first game between last edition’s runner-up, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Nigeria got a decent win, resulting in a 2-1 victory. Lookman scored the match-winner for the Eagles. The other game was a one-sided show where Tunisia beat Uganda 3-1. Copenhagen striker Elias Achouri scored twice for Tunisia and played a vital role in securing three points.
Group D had the opening game between DR Congo and Benin. The result was in favour of DR Congo, 1-0, where Theo Bongonda scored in the 16th minute. Benin failed to pull off an equaliser despite having plenty of time on the clock. The second game was between Senegal and Botswana. Here, Senegal outclassed Botswana 3-0, where Nicolas Jackson scored twice and Chérif Ndiaye once. Botswana did not have a single attempt on target.
Group E featured one of the most interesting games, with the first match between Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso. The match was special as we got a dramatic ending where Equatorial Guinea maintained the lead until extra time. But in the last three minutes, Burkina Faso struck twice and grabbed a 2-1 win. Basilio Ndong received the first red card of the tournament.
In the other game, Algeria faced Sudan. This game had the fastest goal of the tournament, where Riyad Mahrez scored within 120 seconds. He scored twice for Algeria in a 3-0 win over Sudan. This game also had a red card, which was given to Salah Adel. Another highlight was that Luca Zidane made his debut, while his father, legendary midfielder Zidane, was present in the stadium. He enjoyed his child’s first international appearance for Algeria.
Group F had the most anticipated game, where the Ivory Coast faced Mozambique. The match was a tough call for the champions, where Amad Diallo scored his first goal for the Ivory Coast. It resulted in a narrow 1-0 win for them. The other game was between Cameroon and Gabon, the first big star clash of Mboumo vs Auba. Cameroon beat Gabon 1-0, where Etta Eyong scored in the sixth minute, while Gabon failed to score.
Matchday one had an interesting face-off, and now the stage is set for the Matchday Two games. Let’s see how Matchday Two goes and which teams start qualifying for the next round.
