Exclusive - Paulo Duarte: “At the AFCON, there is never a predetermined winner” | OneFootball

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Exclusive - Paulo Duarte: “At the AFCON, there is never a predetermined winner”

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on December 21, 2025 with a Morocco-Comoros clash, before a final scheduled for January 18, 2026. As the opening whistle approaches, Paulo Duarte, head coach of Guinea, shares his expert perspective on a competition he knows inside out.

For the Portuguese coach, this 2025 AFCON is shaping up to be another remarkable edition. “AFCON always brings something unique and historic,” he emphasizes. And in his view, the Moroccan edition will be no different:

But beyond the setting, it’s the unpredictability that truly creates the magic of AFCON. Paulo Duarte insists: “There are never any easy matches, and never any winners written in advance.” While some sides enter as favorites, others could, as so often happens, spring a surprise.

A tougher AFCON than before?

Former coach of Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Togo, now at the helm of Guinea, Paulo Duarte has witnessed a clear evolution in the Africa Cup of Nations:

The coach also highlights the impact of African players competing in Europe. “More and more players are playing in the biggest leagues and for the biggest clubs, which has greatly raised the technical and tactical level,” he observes. The direct result: AFCON has become much more demanding: