Sporting Success of Africa: Lessons from the Africa Cup of Nations 2025

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosted by Morocco marked a significant commercial success, with revenue growing by 90 percent compared to previous tournaments. This success highlights the potential for sports to drive economic growth in Africa. However, other major sporting events on the continent, such as the African Games and the African Nations Championship, have struggled to attract similar levels of investment. The key to their success lies in establishing dedicated commercial arms to attract private-sector partners and ensure long-term economic benefits.