The 2025 AFCON tournament kicked off with an opening match between host nation Morocco and Comoros on the 21st of December, 2025.
The tournament has now reached the quarterfinal stage, with the final eight teams set to clash later this week as the fight for the prestigious trophy continues.
Throughout the competition, a number of history-making moments have been recorded, from individual milestones to team performances that have defined this edition of the tournament.
In this article, SportPremi highlights nine new records that have been set o far at the ongoinf African Cup of Nations tournament;
1. Mohamed Salah becomes first Egyptian to score in five AFCON editions
Mohamed Salah scored a late winner in Egypt’s 2-1 win over Zimbabwe in their opening match at the 2025 AFCON tournament, becoming the first player from the country to score in five editions of the tournament.
He has now matched Ivory Coast’s trio Didier Drogba, Abdoulaye Traore and Yaya Toure as well as Tunisia’s Youssef Msakni in achieving the historic feat.
The Liverpool superstar had previously scored at the 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023 editions and has taken his goal tally at the continental showpiece event to 10 goals from 22 appearances.
The 33-year-old could still extend that tally, with Egypt still in contention in Morocco as they face Ivory Coast in their quarterfinal clash
2. Sadio Mane becomes AFCON all-time assister
With his brace of assists in Senegal’s 3-1 win over Sudan in the Round of 16, Sadio Mane became the player with the most assists in the history of the African Cup of Nations tournament, surpassing Yaya Toure’s record of seven.
The former Liverpool forward has been very impressive for the Lions of Teranga so far in Morocco and will be hoping to help them overcome Mali in their last eight clash.
3. Ibrahim Mbaye becomes AFCON youngest goalscorer in the 21st century
Ibrahim Mbaye came on in the 74th minute of the Round of 16 tie between Senegal and Sudan and took only three minutes to make history.
He scored Senegal’s third goal of that encounter and became the youngest player to score in the African Cup of Nations tournament in the 21st century, surpassing former Nigerian captain John Obi Mikel who previously held the record at 18 years and 9 months.
4. Sudan qualifies for knockout without actually scoring
Sudan reached the knockout rounds of the 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament as one of the best-ranked third placed teams.
They recorded three points from their three group games, with their only win coming in the 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea in Group E.
However, the only goal of that encounter was actually an own goal scored by Saul Coco, meaning Sudan became the first nation in AFCON history to reach the knockout without scoring an actual goal by themselves.
5. Equatorial Guinea exit at the first round for the first time
In their four previous appearances at the African Cup of Nations tournament, Equatorial Guinea have always progressed beyond the first round.
They reached the last eight on their debut in 2012 and then in 2021, while they also achieved their highest ever finish in fourth at the 2015 tournament and reached the Round of 16 two years ago in Ivory Coast.
This time around, they did even record a single point as they failed to make it out of the group stage for the first time in their history.
6. Brahim Diaz makes Morocco goalscoring history
Morocco forward Brahim Diaz currently leads the 2025 AFCON Golden boot race with four goals from four matches to lead the host nation to the last eight.
In doing so, he became the first player from the country to score in four consecutive matches at the African Cup of Nations, following his goals against Comoros, Mali, Zambia and the winner in the Round of 16 clash against Tanzania.
7. Riyad Mahrez becomes Algeria all-time record scorer at the AFCON
Riyad Mahrez already has three goals to his name at this edition of the African Cup of Nations, taking his total haul in the history of the tournament to eight goals.
This ranks him as the highest-scoring Algerian player in the history of the competition. Coincidentally, one of his eight strikes was the winner in 2019 against Nigeria – their opponent in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
At 34 years and 306 days, the former Manchester City forward also became the oldest player to score a brace in the history of the tournament.
8. Mozambique record first-ever win at the AFCON
Mozambique recorded their first ever victory at the African Cup of Nations, following their 3-2 win over Gabon in a Group F match.
The Mambas were without a win in their five previous appearances and had never gone beyond the group stages.
They also reached the knockout rounds for the first time courtesy of a third-placed finish, before they were eliminated by Nigeria, who ran out 4-0 winners.
9. Benin Republic win first match in AFCON history
In their only knockout appearance in 2019, Benin Republic qualified with three points after recording three draws in their group games.
This time around, the Cheetahs secured their first ever win at the championships, defeating Botswana 1-0 in Group D.
They progressed to the Round of 16, but suffered a 3-1 defeat to Egypt in extra-time to crash out of the tournament.
