Rabat, Morocco – December 8, 2025 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) have officially launched ‘Assad’, the mascot for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025.
The announcement was made on Monday through a detailed statement on CAF’s official website, just 13 days before the tournament kicks off on December 21, 2025.
Inspired by the Atlas lion — one of Morocco’s most powerful national symbols and an animal revered across Africa — Assad (meaning “lion” in Arabic) represents strength, pride, and deep cultural authenticity that connects with football fans from Casablanca to Cape Town.
More than just a friendly face, Assad has been designed as a long-term ambassador for African football. He will energise stadiums, fan zones, and community events throughout the competition while playing a central role in global marketing campaigns, digital content, interactive fan experiences, and CAF’s broader brand storytelling.
His youthful and expressive design features a warm smile, dynamic pose, and a colour palette that perfectly matches the official tournament branding. Wearing a red shirt with the CAF logo and holding the official match ball, Assad radiates the joy, creativity, and diversity of the continent.
Importantly, Assad is not a one-tournament wonder. CAF has confirmed he will continue to appear in grassroots programmes, youth development initiatives, school activations, and future digital content long after the final whistle in January 2026, helping inspire the next generation of African footballers and fans.
The unveiling comes as final preparations intensify across Morocco’s six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, and Fez. The tournament runs from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 — a winter slot chosen to avoid clashing with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup and to take advantage of Morocco’s mild December–January weather.
Morocco, hosting the AFCON for only the second time (the first being 1988), arrives as one of the favourites, buoyed by their historic semi-final run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Atlas Lions will open the competition against Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Within hours of the reveal, #AssadAFCON began trending across social media platforms, with fans sharing artwork, memes, and messages of excitement. Children in schools and football academies across the country have already started drawing their own versions of the cheerful lion.
With world-class venues, passionate crowds, and a mascot that captures the soul of African football, the stage is set for what many are calling the most eagerly anticipated AFCON in years.
Assad is ready to roar. Africa is ready to celebrate.
