The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially introduced “Assad” on Monday as the mascot for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, set to take place in Morocco from December 21 to January 18. The character, a long-maned lion inspired by the country’s national symbol, was revealed as part of the promotional campaign building momentum ahead of Africa’s premier international tournament.

According to the CAF, the name Assad means “lion” in Arabic and represents “strength, pride and cultural authenticity,” values designed to resonate with fans in Morocco and across Africa. The mascot appears as a young, smiling lion dressed in a red shirt featuring the CAF emblem and holding the tournament’s official match ball.

A Symbol for a Historic Tournament

Morocco enters the competition as one of the heavy favorites to lift the trophy, boosted by its strong footballing progress and the momentum generated since its historic run at the 2022 World Cup. The AFCON 2025 will feature 24 national teams, competing across six Moroccan host cities that are finalizing preparations to welcome thousands of traveling supporters.

The unveiling of the mascot is part of Morocco’s broader strategy to present a modern, vibrant image—merging cultural heritage with top-level sporting infrastructure.

Major Investments Amid Social Protests

Despite investing heavily in stadiums and infrastructure for AFCON and in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal, not everything has unfolded smoothly. In recent weeks, the youth movement GENZ212 has led demonstrations calling for a portion of those funds to be redirected toward essential sectors such as education and healthcare.

Even with the protests, the organizing committee has stated that preparations will continue on schedule, highlighting the tournament as a major opportunity to strengthen Morocco’s economy, tourism and international presence.

With Assad now serving as its symbolic ambassador, the AFCON 2025 begins its official countdown—promising a tournament rich in history, expectations and the unifying power of African football.