The Death of the “Small Team”: Why AFCON 2025 Is Already a Nightmare for the Giants

For years, the opening rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations have followed a predictable script. The continental heavyweights would arrive, flex their muscles, and comfortably dispatch the so-called “minnows.”

If the first 48 hours in Morocco have taught us anything, it’s that those days are officially over.

From the rainy pitch in Rabat on the opening day to the late-night drama in Agadir, AFCON 2025 hasn’ t eased into life since it started. It has exploded. The opening games haven’t just been matches, they've been wake-up calls for the favourites.

Yes, Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa all walked away with three points. But they did so with their hearts in their mouths and their reputations hanging by a thread.

On Sunday, host nation Morocco found themselves locked in a 55-minute stranglehold. Despite a stadium vibrating with expectation, a disciplined Comoros side that was inspired by the heroics of goalkeeper Yannick Pandor held the Atlas Lions at bay.

It took a flash of individual brilliance from Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz and a spectacular bicycle kick from Ayoub El Kaabi to finally break the resistance. A 2–0 win on paper, but a tactical war on the grass.

Then came Monday’s Pharaoh’s Fright. Egypt, seven-time champions, trailed for over 40 minutes against a Zimbabwe side that's ranked 129th in the world. When Mohamed Salah finally swivelled to fire home a 91st-minute winner, the way they celebrated wasn’t about their dominance it was actually pure and unfiltered relief for them as they went on to win 2 goals to 1 with goals from Marmoush and Salah, answering the shock 20th-minute opener from Zimbabwe's Prince Dube.

Elsewhere, the pattern continued. In Group B, South Africa needed a 79th-minute thunderbolt from Lyle Foster to edge past Angola 2–1, after Oswin Appollis had his early opener cancelled out by Angola’s Show. Zambia, who refused to bow, snatched a 1–1 draw against a dominant Mali thanks to a stoppage-time header from Patson Daka, which finally cancelled out Lassine Sinayoko’s second-half strike.

What we’re seeing now is that African football is leveling up. Teams no longer get beaten just because of better coaching, fitness, or organisation, everyone is raising their game and there are no “easy” three points anymore.

As Nigeria, Senegal, and Algeria get ready for their AFCON games today and tomorrow, worrying about FIFA rankings won’t help them. They should be studying the footage from the last 48 hours.

At AFCON 2025, the so-called underdogs are not here to just make up the numbers. They are here to hunt.

The message is clear: kill the game early or the game, and the continent, will come for you.