Why Africa Cup Of Nations Holds Special Place In My Heart – Henry

French and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has shared his deep affection for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), revealing that his passion for the tournament began with the 1988 edition hosted by Morocco.

Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, the 1998 World Cup winner explained why he will always tune in to watch the continental showpiece.

Henry recounted his early memories: “I want to give you a little background about me and the Africa Cup of Nations, and I will talk about what happened in the final. I started to watch the Africa Cup of Nations in 1988, and it was actually in Morocco. Cameroon won against Nigeria.” He recalled iconic players from that era, including Roger Milla and Joseph-Antoine Bell.

The former striker highlighted the tournament’s cultural significance in his upbringing. “I grew up watching it because where I’m from, in my neighbourhood, that’s how it was. You watch the AFCON because of some guys we talked about, like Lakhdar Belloumi, a very famous player. In Ivory Coast, you will have Abdoulaye Traoré. His nickname is Ben Badi.” He also cited European-based African stars like Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, and Jay-Jay Okocha.

“It was always a tournament I enjoyed watching because you could see skills and great teams. I also watched this competition; I will always watch it,” Henry affirmed. The recent AFCON 2025, also held in Morocco, saw Senegal’s Teranga Lions triumph over the Atlas Lions with a 1-0 victory in the final, securing their second title.