TotalEnergies AFCON 2025: a competition used as a strategic testing ground for African football

Since the opening match of the competition on 21/12/2025, the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 Technical Study Group's (TSG) mission has been to "observe, dissect, and evaluate every match with methodical precision," said the Confederation of African Football on 07/01/2026.

Headed by Jaida Zaikaria, CAF TSG manager, and Belhassen Malouche, CAF TSG leader, this hub of expertise based in Rabat (MOR) brings together 12 African experts working with "a cutting-edge setup: real-time video analysis tools, advanced statistical platforms, individual and collective performance databases," according to the body.

"This in-depth work supports a refined understanding of how the game evolves throughout the competition. In parallel, the system is not limited to remote observation. Members of the Technical Study Group are also present in the stadiums, close to the action, in order to capture on-field dynamics, in-game tactical adjustments, and details invisible on screen. This complementarity between centralized analysis and in-situ observation ensures a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of performances…