The numbers from the accumulation date of the
2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco
accentuate a clash apprenticed by advancing ambition, acclimatized ascendancy and moments of abandoned excellence.
Across 36 matches, a absolute of 87 goals were scored, bearing an boilerplate of 2.42 goals per game, a amount that reflects the absolute absorbed apparent by teams from the aperture blare to the final accumulation accessories on Wednesday night.
At the arch of the scoring charts, Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco), Brahim Díaz (Morocco) and Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) accomplished akin as the competition’s arch marksmen afterwards the accumulation phase, anniversary with three goals.
Their goals were not abandoned statistical footnotes. El Kaabi’s analytic finishing powered Morocco’s bland access into the knockout rounds, Díaz provided adroitness and attention from added positions, while Mahrez’s accord and administration were axial to Algeria’s absolute group-stage record.
Nigeria set advancing standard
Beyond abandoned scorers, Nigeria emerged as the best almighty advancing ancillary of the accumulation stage.
The Super Eagles accomplished with eight goals, the accomplished account in the competition, from 21 shots and 10 on target, while additionally recording the
highest boilerplate ascendancy amount at 66%
.
Those numbers allegorize a ancillary that accumulated aggregate with efficiency, assertive area and converting burden into goals.
Nigeria’s advancing achievement stood in adverse to the tournament’s struggles at the added end of the scale, area Botswana recorded the weakest arresting figures, acceptance seven goals, managing aloof
one ambition scored
, and averaging
38% possession
.
Conduct and control
The accumulation date was not after its edge. A absolute of
126 chicken cards
and six red cards were shown, underlining the concrete acuteness of the antagonism as accomplishment places tightened.
Red cards were advance beyond several teams, absorption the accomplished margins complex back matches swung backward and burden mounted.
Despite the concrete demands, abounding teams managed conduct alongside control, decidedly those that avant-garde with possession-based approaches.
Assists, penalties and bold management
The abetment archive accent teams able of unlocking defences through movement and aggregate play, reinforcing the accent of aggregate advancing patterns rather than assurance on abandoned accuracy alone.
From the amends statistics, Tunisia led the way with two spot-kicks awarded, while
Algeria, DR Congo, Egypt, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan and Tanzania
anniversary becoming one.
These moments accepted absolute in bound accumulation contests, area a distinct accommodation generally shaped accomplishment outcomes.
Ascendancy trends beyond contenders
Beyond Nigeria’s dominance, Morocco and South Africa both averaged 62% possession, while Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire followed carefully at 60%, highlighting a bright trend amid advancing teams: ascendancy of the brawl as a belvedere for success.
These abstracts accentuate a broader appropriate change at AFCON 2025, area accommodating accession and territorial ascendancy more complemented acceptable counter-attacking strengths.
What the numbers advance next
As the clash moves into the knockout phase, the statistics accommodate a bright narrative. Goals accept flowed, advancing teams accept been rewarded, and ability in both boxes has afar contenders from those branch home.
With El Kaabi, Díaz and Mahrez ambience the aboriginal scoring clip and Nigeria establishing themselves as the accumulation stage’s best alarming advancing force, the abstracts credibility against a knockout date area margins will be alike bigger — and area those who antithesis creativity, conduct and ascendancy are best acceptable to thrive.
The accumulation date may be over, but the numbers advance the best is still to come.