FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, has praised the quality and intensity of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, describing the tournament as “unbelievable” ahead of Sunday’s final between hosts Morocco and Senegal.
Wenger made the remarks on Friday in Rabat during a workshop with the competition’s Technical Study Group (TSG), where he highlighted the high physical, mental, and tactical standards displayed throughout the tournament.
“I would say overall the competition was very intense, which is a hallmark of modern football,” Wenger said. “The intensity was very high, the mental attitude of all the teams was very strong, and the physical level was absolutely unbelievable.”
The former Arsenal manager noted that the gap in quality among teams at the tournament was minimal, making outcomes difficult to predict, a factor he said underscored the competitiveness of the championship. He added that Morocco and Senegal had shown technical maturity and consistency to earn their places in the final.
Wenger also welcomed the fact that all four semi-finalists were coached by Africans, describing it as a clear sign of growing confidence and progress in African football development.
He concluded by commending the work of the Technical Study Group, saying its detailed analysis would play a crucial role in shaping the future direction of the game on the continent.
