Why the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations matters for global club line-ups and player valuation
As a continental tournament, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, or AFCON, has become a little bit more than the standard tournament this year. Because of its proximity to the FIFA World Cup and integration into the regular football calendar, this year's AFCON has become a pivotal event. This is because its changing club rosters, influencing transfer valuations and even changing the way the rest of the world sees African football talent.
Clubs around the world are seeing AFCON with increasing significance. It’s not just the clubs; fan interest and betting activity across the continent are surging during this period. For example, sports betting platform in Malawi have reported a notable increase in user engagement as supporters follow games and players. Beyond fans and bettors, clubs and talent scouts are closely watching AFCON matches to identify players who shine and might become solid investments.
Showcasing local talent
Each AFCON tournament is a great time to see the local talent from all African domestic leagues and European clubs. For many players, this is the best time for them to showcase what they can do on the international stage. And because of this, clubs and scouts are all there watching closely to see which players are worth their time. With the right scout in the right place, a strong AFCON performance can chance the perceived value of a player overnight. Recent analysis by a transfer market platforms found that players signed within six months of an international tournament produced a better performance for their new clubs. This was noticeably different when compared to signings outside of this period. Not only that, but players signed during international windows also got higher numbers of minutes played, and typically more goals and assists.
For clubs, the obvious upside is that signing a young African talent means getting great short- term performance potential, and long-term, an asset for resale. This is why players from AFCON teams often get some of the best transfer fees, more then 50% higher than players without international exposure.
Disruptions and opportunities
2025's AFCON has aimed to not be as disruptive to many European clubs in particular. This is because it's moved to a slot that hopefully eases mid-season issues, avoiding the main part of domestic league campaigns. Despite this effort, the tournament still represents a challenge for clubs dependent on African internationals. As such, many European clubs still risk losing top players for many weeks, some of whom can miss 3 to 6 games during this time.
Disruptions on this level are forcing clubs to rethink strategies, squad depth and the use of younger players. While this can mean the short-term performance might drop, there are long- term implications. Being forced to utilise other players means that it's prime time to test bench players or academy graduates. Some clubs even prepare in advance knowing this is coming, rotating players and promoting reserves to give them game time. Out of all the times of the year for AFCON to take place, during the winter months is also the best time. It reduces the risk of burnout and means clubs are able to manage player welfare more effectively.
Financial implications
AFCON, like most football tournaments, is a commercial event. The 2025 edition is expected to generate more than $190 million from sponsorships, media rights and tickets. This means it will be Africa's most lucrative football event. The exposure this event brings to national federations, clubs and players is also huge. Major performances at this tournament can increase global recognition, boost player resale value and so on. It also builds brand visibility for clubs employing star players raising merchandise sales and global fan engagement.
The timing of AFCON this year is particularly pertinent. This is because it's at a time when European clubs are trying to balance player performance, workload and scouting opportunities. It also means that, unlike previous years where African internationals had congested game schedules, this year is different. Clubs are far more likely to release players during this time, allowing them to play in AFCON without fear of injury or fatigue.
Africa Cup of Nations 2025