African football legend Emmanuel Adebayor believes the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has evolved into something far greater than a football tournament, describing it as a celebration of African culture, identity and pride.
Speaking to CAF Online, the former Togo captain reflected on how the continent’s flagship competition has grown beyond the pitch, blending football with fashion, tradition and spectacle.
“It’s very different now, in the sense that many things have changed,” Adebayor said.
“When we went to AFCON, we wore tracksuits ; sometimes a suit, only once if I remember correctly.
Now it’s beautiful. It’s art. It’s our culture.”
The ongoing AFCON 2025 in Morocco has reinforced that transformation, with colourful team arrivals and cultural displays capturing global attention even before a ball was kicked.
Defending champions Ivory Coast stole the spotlight with vibrant traditional outfits, while runners-up Nigeria matched the moment in striking all-green, traditionally woven attire.
“It was just beautiful to watch. Magnificent,” Adebayor added.
The former Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid striker believes AFCON’s uniqueness lies in how it expresses African diversity.
“We play different, we dress different, we talk different,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we must remember that we are Africans. We have our values. We have our cultures.”
Adebayor, who represented Togo at AFCON during the late 2000s, also spoke amid ongoing discussions about the tournament’s future format. CAF has confirmed AFCON will move from a biennial event to a four-year cycle from 2029.
On the pitch, the tournament now enters its decisive phase, with the round of 16 kicking off on Saturday, as Senegal face Sudan and Tunisia take on Mali.
