Overview
- CAF officials refuted reports that stadium gates were opened for free entry, stating no procedure exists for distributing complimentary tickets before matches after media accounts suggested otherwise.
- President Patrice Motsepe’s move to shift the Africa Cup of Nations to a four‑year cycle from 2028, with an annual Nations‑League‑style tournament from 2029, has drawn public criticism from coaches including Mali’s Tom Saintfiet.
- Operational storylines marked the opening days, with a 15‑minute VAR outage during DR Congo–Benin and heavy rain handled by upgraded pitch technology that kept matches running on quality surfaces.
- Club‑country tensions flared as Olympique de Marseille voiced anger that Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang, initially deemed out for Gabon’s opener, played over an hour, citing concerns about re‑injury risk.
- Morocco seeks early qualification against Mali on Friday, with coach Walid Regragui managing Achraf Hakimi’s return from injury, and Kylian Mbappé scheduled to attend after arriving in Rabat.