**The Official AFCON Thread**

[Hømme]

This years African Cup of Nations is hosted by Morocco, who as it stands will also be a host country for part of the 2030 World Cup. It kicks off on December 21st. We have Hearts interest this time around in the form of Pierre Landry Kabore who left the squad earlier this week to join up with his International team Burkina Faso. We are all well versed in Landry's recent international exploits scoring two hat tricks in two games and as Hearts fans should be excited to see how he gets on. BF face a higher standard of opposition in AFCON to those games but has PLK done enough to earn a start at the tournament? Fingers crossed he has. A rejuvenated, confident Kabore can definitely help with a title chase should we be in the mix when he returns.

 

Burkina Faso are drawn in Group E alongside Algeria, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan. Algeria are the group favourites but BF can definitely be aiming for qualification in 2nd place or as one of the x4 best 3rd place teams. Their fixtures are as follows:-

 

Burkina Faso v Equatorial Guinea - 24th December @ 12:30pm

Burkina Faso v Algeria - 28th December @ 17:30pm

Burkina Faso v Sudan - 31st December @ 16:00pm

 

There are a couple of ex Jambos also at the tournament in the Uganda squad in the form of Tony Sibbick and Uche Ikpeazu

 

Elsewhere, there is AFCON interest at other Scottish clubs. These are:

 

Hibs - Rocky Bushiri (DR Congo), Jordan Obita (Uganda), Miguel Chaiwa (Zambia)

Celtic - Ange Balikwisha (DR Congo), Sebastian Tounetki (Tunisia)

Motherwell - Tawanda Maswanhise (Zimbabwe)

Dunfermline - Alfons Amade (Mozambique)

 

Tounetki is seen as a key player at Celtic and Hibs and Motherwell could well feel the effects of having their own key players gone for a few fixtures. We are quite fortunate in the fact that although Kabore has been good in spells for us, it has been our other strikers who have carried the ball for the majority of our season.

[Australis]

Hopefully a successful campaign and he tucks a few away with good performances. ♥️

[Sooperstar]

Didn't realise Hibs would be losing those 3. All regularly on the field for them so will no doubt be missed. Shame.

[Cade]

I believe that Channel 4 has broadcasting rights in the UK so it'll be free to view the entire tournament.

 

Expect the usual kung-fu challenges, hilarious goalkeeping and at least one team going on strike over pay.

[Robbo-Jambo]

10 minutes ago, Sooperstar said:

Didn't realise Hibs would be losing those 3. All regularly on the field for them so will no doubt be missed. Shame.

Wish that Rocky was here tbh, he likes to do us a wee favour or two.

[If carlsberg did rivals...]

39 minutes ago, Cade said:

I believe that Channel 4 has broadcasting rights in the UK so it'll be free to view the entire tournament.

 

Expect the usual kung-fu challenges, hilarious goalkeeping and at least one team going on strike over pay.

Not forgetting wild allegations of "black magic!" I'm sure a coach or physio was arrested for this one tournament long ago!

[buba]

Are Rangers not losing a couple as well,  thought Djiga played for Burkina faso also? 

[alicante jambo]

Them 3 are a big loss for hibs btw. 3 of them firt teamers.

[Mikey1874]

2 minutes ago, buba said:

Are Rangers not losing a couple as well,  thought Djiga played for Burkina faso also? 

 

Hibs - Chaiwa, Bushiri, Obita

 

Celtic - Tounekti, Balikwishi

 

Rangers - Djiga

 

Motherwell - Maswanhise

[Cade]

9 minutes ago, If carlsberg did rivals... said:

Not forgetting wild allegations of "black magic!" I'm sure a coach or physio was arrested for this one tournament long ago!

The Cameroonian goalkeeping coach, Thomas Nkono, was arrested for allegedly placing a charm on the pitch before a match in 2002.

 

And more recently in the World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and DR Congo, Nigeria accused DR Congo of using voodoo magic by sprinkling water on the penalty spot.

 

[Bauld]

Celtic strengthened massively by losing those 2 for a while.

 

Celtic fans will rejoice at the prospect of neither showing up in the line up on match day. 

[Hømme]

Forgot about Djiga!

[Auld Castle Rock]

Quite surprised Congo haven’t looked to get Beni or Kabangu involved. 
 

Although I remember an interview from Beni where he stated his family may not be too keen on the idea.

[Mikey1874]

Uche going too for Uganda

[tian447]

4 hours ago, Hømme said:

There are a couple of ex Jambos also at the tournament in the Uganda squad in the form of Tony Sibbick

 

I wonder how his brother, Toby Sibbick, will get on

 

[Morgan]

7 minutes ago, tian447 said:

 

I wonder how his brother, Toby Sibbick, will get on

 

I was tempted, I really was...

 

😎

[Morgan]

It's amazing that the AFCON is going to be responsible for slowing down Hibs title push.

[Dido of Consequence]

Kabore could be a miss for us. I know he isn't really a 1st pick but injuries could feck us as they tend to do 

[If carlsberg did rivals...]

1 hour ago, Cade said:

The Cameroonian goalkeeping coach, Thomas Nkono, was arrested for allegedly placing a charm on the pitch before a match in 2002.

 

And more recently in the World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and DR Congo, Nigeria accused DR Congo of using voodoo magic by sprinkling water on the penalty spot.

 

If it works I'm all for trying it at Tynie!

[indianajones]

Usually an awful standard but will watch a few of the games no doubt! 

[iantjambo]

2 hours ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

Hibs - Chaiwa, Bushiri, Obita

 

Celtic - Tounekti, Balikwishi

 

Rangers - Djiga

 

Motherwell - Maswanhise

Maswanhise is a massive loss for Motherwell

[Bridge of Djoum]

The good thing for us may be he has a good tournament to go along with his qualifying goals and he gets noticed by a ''bigger'' club. We could make a few quid.

2 hours ago, Sooperstar said:

Didn't realise Hibs would be losing those 3. All regularly on the field for them so will no doubt be missed. Shame.

I'd prefer Rocky was playing against us TBH.

[jamboinglasgow]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6896882/2025/12/19/the-radar-scouting-2025-afcon/?source=twitteruk

 

Kabore is on the Athletic's players to watch at AFCON.

[Hømme]

14 hours ago, tian447 said:

 

I wonder how his brother, Toby Sibbick, will get on

 

 

[Hømme]

12 minutes ago, jamboinglasgow said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6896882/2025/12/19/the-radar-scouting-2025-afcon/?source=twitteruk

 

Kabore is on the Athletic's players to watch at AFCON.

 

Requires a sign up...What are they saying about him?

Edited December 19, 2025 by Hømme

[gregzy2k7]

16 hours ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

Hibs - Chaiwa, Bushiri, Obita

 

Celtic - Tounekti, Balikwishi

 

Rangers - Djiga

 

Motherwell - Maswanhise

Surely that strengthens rangers and celtic? Lol all of their representatives have looked sh1te.

 

Motherwell will miss maswanhise and the boy chaiwa at hibs looked alright tbf.

[kila]

26 minutes ago, Hømme said:

 

Requires a sign up...What are they saying about him?

 

 

Meet the man who can’t stop scoring hat-tricks. Well, not really, but after scoring two trebles in his last two appearances for Burkina Faso, Hearts forward Pierre Landry Kabore heads into AFCON in the best immediate international form. 

The first, in October’s World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia, were his first goals for his country and made him the only Hearts player to ever score a senior international hat-trick.

Kabore joined the Scottish side in the summer from Estonian club Narva Trans, part of a new data-driven recruitment strategy — introduced after Brighton owner Tony Bloom became a shareholder — aimed at unearthing undervalued talent from less-heralded leagues. 

Among that crop of new arrivals, Kabore is still finding his feet. He has played just 359 league minutes this season, but two goals and an assist in that time hint at his potential. Kabore is mobile and fond of drifting to the right, and his creative quality was on display with his brilliant assist against Kilmarnock, flicking the ball in behind for Lawrence Shankland while running back towards his own goal.

It will take time for him to adapt to Scottish football, but for Burkina Faso he represents a rare commodity at international level: a proven goalscorer. Alongside his prolific recent international record, he scored 22 goals in his final 20 games in Estonia before signing for Hearts.

Conor O'Neill

Photo:

Mark Scates/SNS Group via Getty Images

Burkina Faso

Hearts

Group E

Forward

 

[Tazio]

Cameroon are making a right arse of things. Or rather Samuel E’eto is. Sacked the manager, who refused to leave the post. Two separate squads announced and the player who could beat E’eto’s scoring record is mysteriously out of the squad of his choice of manager. 

[Jambo dans les Pyrenees]

15 hours ago, indianajones said:

Usually an awful standard but will watch a few of the games no doubt! 

 

I always find it interesting to see the stadiums etc.  Doubly so for Morocco - as someone above has mentioned, they host part of the 2030 world cup.

 

Just Googled this - impression stadiums…

 

https://www.nss-sports.com/en/lifestyle/43664/afcon-2025-morocco-stadium-guide

[Midloth_Iain]

17 hours ago, Hømme said:

Forgot about Djiga!

 

Easy done mate 

[Hømme]

21 minutes ago, Midloth_Iain said:

 

Easy done mate 

 

We will miss him on Sunday!

[Lovecraft]

5 minutes ago, Hømme said:

 

We will miss him on Sunday!

Was just about to post that.

 

 

[neilnunb]

Pity about Maswanhise being away given Motherwell have Rangers and Celtic soon. 😐

[Jack Torrance]

Wait, what! No Rocky for the derby? He would've been worth the entrance fee alone.

 

Goodbye sweet prince. 

 

 

[Locky]

Plan on watching as much as I can of this, despite the fact every time I have in the past, I can't get over how awful the standard is.

[Negan]

Gutted Rocky is away for the Derby. Hes prime time viewing ☹️

[Cade]

1 hour ago, Tazio said:

Cameroon are making a right arse of things. Or rather Samuel E’eto is. Sacked the manager, who refused to leave the post. Two separate squads announced and the player who could beat E’eto’s scoring record is mysteriously out of the squad of his choice of manager. 

 

A team in turmoil?

At AFCON?
SURELY NOT

 

[braveheart]

Going across for a short break from the 26th-30th with the brother.1st couple of tickets dropped into our ticket apps today.1 st game Senegal v Congo in Tangier then Algeria v Burkina Faso in rabat.hopefully another 3 games after that.

[Hømme]

1 hour ago, braveheart said:

Going across for a short break from the 26th-30th with the brother.1st couple of tickets dropped into our ticket apps today.1 st game Senegal v Congo in Tangier then Algeria v Burkina Faso in rabat.hopefully another 3 games after that.

 

Hope you have your Hearts flag for game 2!

[neilnunb]

Thank feck

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgjnx6x4281o

[Cade]

1 hour ago, neilnunb said:

Thank feck

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgjnx6x4281o

 

Aye but this new "African Nation's League" will throw spanners in the works, being an annual thing.

[neilnunb]

5 minutes ago, Cade said:

 

Aye but this new "African Nation's League" will throw spanners in the works, being an annual thing.

 

 

True, probably makes things even worse. 🤣🤦‍♂️

[tiger Rudi]

Hibs losing Chaiwa, Bushiri and Obita does actually significantly weaken them . All 3 been getting plenty of game time. 

 

 

[Gershwin]

12 minutes ago, tiger Rudi said:

Hibs losing Chaiwa, Bushiri and Obita does actually significantly weaken them . All 3 been getting plenty of game time. 

 

 

 

Rocky is also key to them stifling our attacking threat. The number of fouls he has gotten away with on Shanks the last few years has been ridiculous. I actually think it's a great thing he's not playing. 

[weaz1981]

On 19/12/2025 at 10:33, Locky said:

Plan on watching as much as I can of this, despite the fact every time I have in the past, I can't get over how awful the standard is.

Yeah but it's always brilliant fun to watch. Great to have a team to support this year.

[Mikey1874]

E4 for the game, programme just started 

 

Or

 

http://www.fawanews.sc/Morocco vs Comoros.html

[Hømme]

Tournament favourites kicking off in the first match now.

 

Morocco v Comoros

[Jambo Buckets]

The last AFCON was one of the best major tournaments in memory. This one might not be as good as that, but still looking forward to it, always a good watch

[Mikey1874]

The TV coverage was good.

 

All the pressure on Morocco and it showed though nicely underway.

[Hømme]

This thread dropped down thanks to our amzing victory yesterday.

 

Morocco kicked off with a 2-0 win and one of the goals was a spectacular overhead kick. Definitely worth checking out.

 

Today's matches:-

 

Mali v Zambia (2pm)

South Africa v Angola (5pm)

Egypt v Zimbabwe (8pm)

 

Edited December 22, 2025 by Hømme