This archive report was first published on 20 July 2019.
On a sweltering Egyptian summer, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 turned out to be a resounding success, despite initial doubts and logistical challenges.
With 24 teams competing, the tournament saw a significant increase in drama and football quality, with two teams led by young African coaches reaching the final. Algeria emerged victorious, beating Senegal 1-0.
The knockout stages were filled with nail-biting moments, including South Africa's elimination at the hands of Nigeria, who themselves were pushed to the limit by a late Riyad Mahrez free kick in their semi-final against Algeria.
Senegal and Tunisia's semi-final match was also a thriller, with both teams missing penalties before Tunisia scored a bizarre own goal and had another penalty revoked by VAR.
Algeria's forward Baghdad Bounedjah was left in tears after missing a second-half penalty and being substituted in the quarter-final against Ivory Coast.
Madagascar, making their debut at the finals, reached the last eight, while outsiders Benin also made it to the quarter-finals, despite not winning a single game in regular time.
The tournament's success can be attributed to the move from the traditional January-February slot to late June, which allowed players to rest after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
However, this change also meant that European-based players will have to catch up with their clubs, who began pre-season training several weeks ago.
Some teams showed stability, with Nigeria and Senegal retaining their coaches despite being eliminated in the group stage at last year's World Cup.
Senegal's coach, Aliou Cisse, has been in charge for four years, a rare feat in African football, and his team's success is a testament to his hard work and dedication.
Facilities, including stadiums, were generally of high quality, with pitches being particularly impressive.
However, fans often struggled to get into the stadiums due to a complex online-based ticketing system, while journalists faced difficulties with conflicting instructions from security officials.
As a result, most games were played in near-empty stadiums, a problem that still persists in African football.
Former Zambia captain Kalusha Bwalya expressed concern over the trend, emphasizing the need to sell more tickets.
