The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations officially kicked off this Sunday with Morocco's 2-0 victory over Comoros. This opening win allowed the Atlas Lions' coach, Walid Regragui, to look beyond the simple sporting result and discuss the evolution of African football.

In a press conference, the Moroccan coach was particularly complimentary about the current level of the Africa Cup of Nations, which he now considers comparable to that of major European competitions. According to him, African football has taken a decisive step forward in recent years, both in terms of infrastructure and the quality of the participating national teams.

“Africa is making enormous progress. Today, the AFCON is a competition as high-level as the Euros. There are real teams, real stadiums and an organization that is constantly improving,” Regragui stressed to the media.

Convinced that this momentum will continue, the Moroccan coach predicts a promising future for the continent's premier competition. He is counting in particular on the emergence of a new generation of talent to strengthen the tournament's appeal and competitiveness.

"In the next 15 to 20 years, the AFCON will be one of the most watched competitions in the world. Very high-level young players are coming through, and this will also be felt in future World Cups," he added.

These are strong statements that confirm the growing ambition of African football and the desire of the continent's players to establish themselves permanently on the international stage.