The Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in Morocco on December 21, 2025, and runs until January 18, 2026. Hosts Morocco started strong with a 2-0 win over Comoros. Brahim Diaz scored the opener, and Ayoub El Kaabi added a second-half goal. The next day, Egypt came from behind to beat Zimbabwe 2-1. Mohamed Salah grabbed the winner with a penalty in stoppage time.
These results got people talking across Africa and beyond. But a lot of the chatter on social media turned to Fabrizio Romano, the popular transfer journalist. Many African fans pointed out that he had not posted much about the tournament. They compared it to how he covers European club news or deals in places like Saudi Arabia. Some said it showed a lack of interest in African football. A few even unfollowed him.
Romano did share a couple of things. He posted about Brahim Diaz scoring the first goal of AFCON for Morocco. He also mentioned Salah’s late penalty for Egypt in some updates. But for many, that was not enough. Fans wanted more regular coverage, like match highlights or player news from the games.
The complaints spread quickly on X. Posts accused him of ignoring the whole event. One said he was pretending AFCON was not happening. Others wondered if there was bias, especially since he often reports on big European transfers. Some fans called for more respect for African stars like Achraf Hakimi, who plays for Morocco.
Not everyone agreed. A few users defended Romano. They said he focuses on transfers, not live match reporting. One pointed out that CAF could pay influencers if they wanted big coverage from him. Others said fans should support African journalists instead of expecting it from someone based in Europe.
Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono weighed in too. He suggested people follow local experts for better AFCON updates. Chin’ono often speaks about African issues and corruption back home. His comment highlighted a bigger push for more homegrown voices in covering the tournament.
AFCON features big names playing in top European leagues. Salah with Egypt, Hakimi captaining Morocco, and others like Victor Osimhen for Nigeria. The event draws huge crowds in Morocco and millions watching online. Yet, some feel it still gets less global attention than tournaments like the Euros or Copa America.
This debate comes up often with AFCON. The timing over Christmas and New Year means it overlaps with busy club seasons. Clubs lose players, and some managers complain. But for African fans, it is the biggest stage for their national teams.
Romano has millions of followers, many from Africa. His “Here we go” posts on transfers go viral fast. When he stays quiet on AFCON matches, it stands out. Fans want the same energy for their tournament.
The group stage continues with more games this week. Nigeria, Senegal, and Ivory Coast are among the favourites. Morocco aims to win it as hosts for the first time since 1976.
As the matches go on, the online talk about coverage might keep growing. Some say it is a chance for African media to step up. Others just want more recognition from big names like Romano. Either way, the football on the pitch is delivering excitement so far.
