Although the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has yet to begin, the event has already spawned a flurry of controversy that has caused drama in the build-up.
The biggest tournament in African football once more lives up to its reputation for being unpredictable, from shock squad omissions to internal power struggles.
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Among those significant debates, let’s look at some of them:
Ivory Coast Squad Shock Omission Pépé, Adingra,
Unsurprisingly, Nicolas Pépé and Simon Adingra were left out of the national team’s squad, which was one of the first conversation points to emerge from the Ivory Coast.
Both were anticipated to contribute to the Elephants’ title defense in the 2023 AFCON victory.
When Pepe was excluded, coach Emerse Fae said, “He (Pepe) would be with us if we were to take into account only the sporting aspect.”
You need to consider a lot of factors, both on and off the field, to compile a list. Nico’s absence from the list is a result of all of these things.
Fae remarked about Simon’s struggle to make a start at Sunderland. When choosing our candidate, we had to do without his traits.
Power Tussle and Cameroon Selection Contests
The most chaotic of all the preparations appears to be Cameroon. The Indomitable Lions made headlines when it was reported that Marc Brys, the team’s head coach, and Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation, were reportedly at odds with one another.
Eto’o intervened and demanded André Onana’s inclusion, which reportedly started when he was denied entry to the first squad.
The coach’s claims that he had been fired led to an uprising in the press, which he later denied. Since then, there have been conflicting reports about squad lists and leadership authority, which represent administrative chaos.
The inclusion of Arnold Mael Kamdem, an a  player from Brazil’s sixth tier, was a rare occurrence at the international level, which further drew criticism and disbelief.
Nigerian Squad Selection Drama
Following the announcement of the Super Eagles squad, controversy has dominated Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 preparations.
Fans and experts were questioned about the selection criteria after Muhammed Usman, a veteran midfielder, started for the national team for the first time in more than seven years.
Meanwhile, young stars like Crisantus Uche were omitted, causing accusations of favoritism and raising questions about whether young talent is being cut short.
Deliberations on goals have also sparked debate. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has fueled rumors about alleged interference with the recall of Francis Uzoho and the unexpected exclusion of Maduka Okoye. However, the federation has vehemently denied any interference and emphasized that all decisions were based solely on merit.
Nigeria’s identity crisis stems from football.
National pride has suffered as a result of back-to-back World Cup qualifying defeats, giving fans hope for redemption.
Beyond the on-field experience, the AFCON campaign is increasingly seen as a reflection of Nigeria’s footballing identity and governance. Administrative controversies continue to obscure the nation’s undeniable talent pool, leaving questions about national team management, decision-making, and leadership.
Success at AFCON is not just about winning the trophy; it is also about restoring faith in the institutions that govern the sport, and about reaffirming a long-held national football identity.
Foreign-Based Dominated Squad of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Fans were surprised to learn that only one home-based player, Fiston Mayele, was chosen as Sébastien Desabre’s 26-man squad for DR Congo’s AFCON 2025, while the rest of the squad was made up of European-based players, so no local stars from clubs like TP Mazembe or AS Vita made the final cut.
The key to success, Desabre says, is professionalism.
Professionalizing the organization’s structure and instilling discipline and strict game practices.
