Nigeria, Jan. 3 -- The Africa Cup of Nations has once again reminded the football world why when AFCON comes around, everything else takes a back seat.

From raw emotion and improbable storylines to global icons filling the stands, AFCON 2025 has delivered the kind of moments that keep fans glued to their screens long after the final whistle. It has been chaotic, inspiring, dramatic, and unmistakably African.

Although officially branded AFCON 2025, this edition has spilled into 2026 following scheduling adjustments, making it one of the most unusual timelines in the tournament's long history.

Yet rather than dilute the spectacle, the extended calendar has amplified interest, allowing narratives from the 2023 edition to evolve naturally ...