AFCON occupies a peculiar space in the minds of European football fans. For Premier League supporters, the Africa Cup of Nations often registers first as an inconvenience, a mid-season disruption that strips clubs of key players for weeks at a time.
Managers grumble about fixture congestion. Pundits debate whether clubs should be compensated. The conversation frequently centers on what Europe loses rather than what Africa gains.
But this framing misses the bigger picture entirely.
The Africa Cup of Nations stands as one of international football’s most compelling tournaments, a competition with deeper history than the Euros and a cultural significance that transcends the sport itself.
The question of whether AFCON surpasses the European Championship in excitement and meaning deserves more than a dismissive glance at fixture lists. It demands a proper examination of what makes each tournament special and why perception often diverges so dramatically from reality.
The Case for AFCON
First tournament held: February 1957
Euros debut: 1960 (as European Nations’ Cup)
Time advantage: 3+ years
The Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in February 1957, more than three years before UEFA staged its first European Nations’ Cup in 1960.
This head start matters. While European football often positions itself as the center of the global game, African nations were already competing for continental glory before Europe had even organized its equivalent tournament.
Tournament frequency:
- AFCON editions (before 2025): 34
- Euros editions (before 2024): 17
- Ratio: 2:1
The frequency tells its own story. Not counting AFCON 2025, the tournament has been staged twice as many times as the Euros.
This regularity has woven AFCON into the fabric of African football culture in ways that biennial repetition allows. Generations have grown up with AFCON as a constant, a rhythm that marks time and creates shared memories across decades.
Most successful nations:
- Egypt: 7 titles
- Cameroon: 5 titles
- Ghana: 4 titles
- Nigeria: 3 titles
- Ivory Coast: 3 titles
The tournament has witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, unlikely champions emerging from nowhere, and heartbreak that has shaped entire nations.
Zambia’s emotional triumph in 2012, won on penalties in Gabon, the same country where their entire team had perished in a plane crash 19 years earlier, stands as one of football’s most powerful stories.
The Stakes Feel Higher
World Cup allocation (2018-2022):
- African spots: 5
- European spots: 13+
- Disparity: Nearly 3:1
European fans might bristle at this suggestion, but the Africa Cup of Nations often means more to its participants than the Euros do to theirs. This comes down to simple mathematics and opportunity.
The Euros matter enormously, particularly to nations without a World Cup pedigree. But for powerhouses like France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, the World Cup remains the ultimate prize. The Euros sit comfortably as the second-most important trophy, valuable but not existential.
2026 World Cup allocation:
- African spots: 9-10 (pending playoffs)
- Improvement from previous: 80-100%
For African nations, the equation looks different. The historical imbalance means no African team appears in the top 30 of the all-time World Cup table.
The 2026 World Cup will feature nine or ten African nations, a significant improvement, but decades of disparity have shaped how the continent views AFCON.
AFCON 2025 World Cup experience:
- Teams that have never qualified for a World Cup: 12 out of 24
- Percentage: 50%
Exactly half of the teams heading to Morocco for AFCON 2025 have never qualified for a World Cup. For these nations, AFCON represents their only realistic shot at international glory. For players from Comoros, Botswana, or Mozambique, winning AFCON would stand as the defining achievement of their careers.
This scarcity of opportunity creates intensity. When your chances are limited, each one burns brighter. AFCON carries the weight of being, for many, the only stage that matters.
SEE ALSO | AFCON 2025: Fixtures, Groups, Match Schedule
Unpredictability Reigns
Last 8 AFCON champions:
- 2010: Egypt
- 2012: Zambia
- 2013: Nigeria
- 2015: Ivory Coast
- 2017: Cameroon
- 2019: Algeria
- 2021: Senegal
- 2023: Ivory Coast
- Different winners: 7 out of 8
The past eight AFCON tournaments have produced seven different champions. Compare that variety to recent Euros, where Spain won three of the past five editions, and England reached consecutive finals in 2020 and 2024.
Recent AFCON finals:
| Year | Result | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Egypt 1-0 Ghana | Luanda, Angola | 50,000 |
| 2012 | Zambia 0-0 Ivory Coast (8-7 pens) | Libreville, Gabon | 40,000 |
| 2013 | Nigeria 1-0 Burkina Faso | Johannesburg, South Africa | 85,000 |
| 2015 | Ivory Coast 0-0 Ghana (9-8 pens) | Bata, Equatorial Guinea | 32,857 |
| 2017 | Cameroon 2-1 Egypt | Libreville, Gabon | 38,250 |
| 2019 | Algeria 1-0 Senegal | Cairo, Egypt | 75,000 |
| 2021 | Senegal 0-0 Egypt (4-2 pens) | Yaounde, Cameroon | 48,000 |
| 2023 | Ivory Coast 2-1 Nigeria | Abidjan, Ivory Coast | 57,094 |
Penalty shootout finals: 4 out of 8 (50%)
Four of the past eight AFCON finals went to spot kicks, adding another layer of drama and unpredictability. This openness creates better theater. When you genuinely believe ten different teams could lift the trophy, every match carries extra weight.
SEE ALSO | AFCON Legends: Top All-Time Highest Goal Scorers
The Atmosphere Cannot Be Matched
Geographic comparison:
- Africa land area: 30.37 million km²
- Europe land area: 10.18 million km²
- Ratio: Nearly 3:1
European football struggles with hooliganism, and sanitized modern stadiums often feel corporate and controlled. AFCON offers something entirely different.
The stands pulse with life from the opening whistle to the final kick. Drums thunder. Dance breaks out spontaneously. Color floods every section.
Africa spans a landmass three times larger than Europe, creating diversity that manifests in how fans support their teams. West African support differs from North African backing, which differs from East and Southern African approaches. This variety makes each match feel distinct.
AFCON transcends sport and becomes a cultural celebration.
The tournament showcases African identity in all its complexity and beauty, making even routine group stage matches feel like events rather than obligations.
This authenticity stands as perhaps AFCON’s greatest strength in a football world that often feels overly commercialized and predictable.
The Case for the Euros
AFCON 2023 attendance:
- Total: 1,109,593
- Matches: 52
- Average per game: 21,338
- Final: 57,094
Euro 2024 attendance:
- Total: 2,681,288
- Matches: 51
- Average per game: 52,574
- Final: 65,600
Attendance comparison:
- Euro’s total advantage: +141%
- Euro’s average advantage: +146%
Numbers tell part of the story. Euro 2024 attracted over 2.6 million fans, more than double AFCON 2023’s attendance. The infrastructure supporting the Euros allows for consistently larger crowds, better facilities, and a production value that broadcasts across the globe with crystal clarity.
This scale matters for global reach and commercial success.
The Euros generate massive revenue, attract enormous television audiences worldwide, and create moments that dominate sports coverage for weeks.
Financial Rewards Tell Their Own Story
AFCON 2025 Prize Money:
| Stage | Prize Money (USD) |
|---|---|
| Champion | $7,000,000 |
| Runner-up | $4,000,000 |
| Semi-finalists (each) | $2,500,000 |
| Quarter-finalists (each) | $1,300,000 |
| Round of 16 (each) | $800,000 |
| Third in group (each) | $700,000 |
| Fourth in group (each) | $500,000 |
| Total prize pool | $32,000,000 |
Euro 2024 Prize Money:
| Stage | Prize Money (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Participation fee (each) | €9,250,000 |
| Group stage win (each) | €1,000,000 |
| Group stage draw (each) | €500,000 |
| Round of 16 qualification | €1,500,000 |
| Quarter-finals qualification | €2,500,000 |
| Semi-finals qualification | €4,000,000 |
| Runner-up | €5,000,000 |
| Champion | €8,000,000 |
| Maximum for champion | €28,250,000 |
| Total prize pool | €331,000,000 |
Prize Money Comparison:
- Euro 2024 total pool: €331 million (approximately $353 million)
- AFCON 2025 total pool: $32 million
- Euro’s advantage: +1,003% (more than 10 times larger)
The financial disparity between the two tournaments is staggering.
UEFA distributes €331 million at the Euros compared to CAF’s $32 million at AFCON. Every team at Euro 2024 received €9.25 million just for participating, which is more than AFCON’s total prize for winning the entire tournament ($7 million).
Spain earned approximately €28.25 million for winning Euro 2024 after winning all their matches. That figure alone nearly matches AFCON’s entire prize pool. Even teams eliminated in the group stage at Euro 2024 took home around €9.75 million, significantly more than the AFCON champions receive.
This financial gap reflects the broader economic disparities between European and African football. UEFA benefits from wealthy broadcasting deals, massive sponsorship agreements, and high stadium capacities that generate enormous revenue.
CAF has increased AFCON prize money by 40% in recent years, with the winner’s prize rising from $4 million in 2021 to $7 million in 2025, showing progress in the right direction. Still, the gulf remains HUGE.
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Depth of Talent Runs Deeper
AFCON 2025 star players:
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt): 4th in 2024 Ballon d’Or
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco): Widely considered the world’s best fullback
- Victor Osimhen (Nigeria): Serie A Golden Boot winner
- Sadio Mané (Senegal): Former Premier League star
Mohamed Salah will headline Egypt’s attack at AFCON 2025, fresh off finishing fourth in Ballon d’Or voting. AFCON always features world-class talent at the top level.
Ballon d’Or representation:
- European players in 2024 top 30: 24
- African players in 2024 top 30: 1 (Salah)
- Ratio: 24:1
The Euros showcase a deeper pool of elite players across more teams. Europe houses the richest leagues, the biggest clubs, and consequently the highest concentration of Ballon d’Or contenders. Even mid-tier European nations field squads packed with players from top leagues.
This depth means the Euros rarely feature mismatches. The quality floor sits higher, ensuring that most matches showcase technical excellence and tactical sophistication.
Goals Flow More Freely
Last 5 AFCON tournaments:
| Tournament | Matches | Goals | Goals per game |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFCON 2023 | 52 | 119 | 2.29 |
| AFCON 2021 | 52 | 100 | 1.92 |
| AFCON 2019 | 52 | 102 | 1.96 |
| AFCON 2017 | 32 | 66 | 2.06 |
| AFCON 2015 | 32 | 68 | 2.13 |
| Average | 44 | 91 | 2.07 |
Last 5 Euros:
| Tournament | Matches | Goals | Goals per game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Euro 2024 | 51 | 117 | 2.29 |
| Euro 2020 | 51 | 142 | 2.78 |
| Euro 2016 | 51 | 108 | 2.12 |
| Euro 2012 | 31 | 76 | 2.45 |
| Euro 2008 | 31 | 77 | 2.48 |
| Average | 43 | 104 | 2.42 |
Goal differential: +0.35 goals per game in favor of Euros (+17%)
Neutrals love goals, and international tournaments rely heavily on neutral interest. The past five Euros have averaged 2.42 goals per game compared to 2.07 for AFCON. Euro 2020 exploded with 2.78 goals per match, creating an attacking festival that captivated audiences.
AFCON matches can be cagey, particularly in knockout rounds where defensive solidity takes priority. For casual viewers tuning in for entertainment, this goal differential matters.
Perception Versus Reality
Jamie Carragher sparked controversy in early 2025 when he suggested that AFCON was not viewed as a major tournament in the context of Ballon d’Or voting. The backlash was fierce and immediate, but Carragher had exposed an uncomfortable truth about European perceptions of African football.
European media coverage comparison (estimated):
- Premier League clubs mentioning AFCON as “disruption”: Common
- Major European outlets leading with AFCON coverage: Rare
- Coverage hours: Euros significantly higher
For many English fans in particular, AFCON registers primarily as a mid-season inconvenience. Liverpool loses Salah. Man United loses key players. The focus stays locked on what Premier League clubs lose rather than what the tournament represents.
This narrow lens distorts understanding. The Euros feel familiar and comfortable precisely because European fans watch these players and leagues every week. Familiarity breeds comfort, but comfort does not equal superiority.
AFCON offers a genuine difference. The football unfolds in unique conditions. The atmosphere crackles with different energy. The emotional stakes feel more raw and visible because national identity and cultural expression sit at the heart of every match.
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Different Does Not Mean Lesser
The comparison between AFCON and the Euros ultimately reveals more about the person answering than about the tournaments themselves. Personal preference, shaped by cultural background, media exposure, and football consumption patterns, determines which tournament resonates more strongly.
The Euros deliver:
- Higher attendance (2.6M vs 1.1M)
- More goals per game (2.42 vs 2.07)
- Deeper talent pool across all teams
- Superior infrastructure and facilities
- Greater commercial reach
AFCON delivers:
- More history (1957 vs 1960)
- Greater tournament frequency (34 vs 17)
- More unpredictable outcomes (7 different winners in 8 tournaments)
- Higher emotional stakes for participants
- More vibrant, culturally authentic atmosphere
- Raw passion and genuine surprise
The Euros showcase European football at its peak with polished excellence and familiar comfort. AFCON celebrates African football’s unique character with raw passion and cultural intensity.
What matters most is recognizing that both tournaments bring value to the global game. Both deserve respect, attention, and appreciation for what they contribute to making football the world’s game rather than just Europe’s sport.
The real answer might be that we need both. Football is richer for having both tournaments, each serving different needs and appealing to different sensibilities. Perhaps the question should not be which is better or more exciting, but rather why we feel compelled to rank them at all.
Maybe recognizing their different strengths and celebrating what each brings to international football represents the more mature, more global perspective that the sport needs as it continues evolving beyond its European roots.
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