The Africa Cup of Nations has once again turned into a festival of fans, with supporters from across Africa travelling to Morocco and stealing the spotlight through creativity, costumes, and cultural expression. From statue-like tributes and futuristic outfits to cross-border dances and handcrafted attire, let's discover this edition's most dedicated fans. DR ‹ › The Africa Cup of Nations is not just a football tournament; it is a festival. Its true performers are the fans, who have travelled from across Africa to Morocco, making a pilgrimage to cheer on their national teams, the African way. During the group stage, clips of dedicated super-fans have taken the internet by storm. Forget the usual cap, flag, and scarf starter pack: at AFCON, the streets and stadiums of the six host cities have been taken over by spectacularly costumed supporters, adorned from head to toe with symbolic, handcrafted accessories, sometimes in truly astonishing ways. A human statue of Patrice Lumumba With a striking resemblance to Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and leader of the Congolese National Movement from 1958 until his assassination in 1961, this supporter has become the main attraction at every DR Congo match during AFCON. Known simply as «Lumumba», the devoted fan spends the full 90 minutes standing like a statue, one arm raised in the air. Completely motionless, he recreates the iconic pose of the late prime minister, a symbol of Congolese independence and national pride. In Morocco, videos of his performance have left both stadium-goers and internet users in awe, with countless clips circulating on social media. Dressed in a blue suit, the color of the DR Congo flag, the statue-fan's message goes far beyond football. It is a tribute to a leader who shaped the country's path to independence, and a symbolic guardian of the Leopards, as they try to book a spot in the round of 16. The «glass man» from Squid Game During Senegal's 3–0 victory over Botswana in their Group D match last Tuesday, attention briefly shifted from the pitch to the stands, where another supporter went viral. Around the 19th minute, television cameras picked up a fan dressed head to toe in a shiny silver outfit, quickly nicknamed the «glass man» by viewers. His futuristic look, compared online to a character from Squid Game, stood out sharply against the rest of the crowd, sparking a flood of memes, screenshots, and reactions. One question quickly followed: how long did it take to make such a costume? The dedication alone impressed viewers. Another mystery remains, which team is he supporting? The silver-clad fan has been spotted at several matches, prompting spectators to turn his appearances into a game of their own: who will spot the glass man next and capture a photo? The most Senegalese Moroccan fan Not all viral AFCON fans stand out for their costumes. One Moroccan supporter has captured hearts for something else entirely: the team he cheers for. Nicknamed «the most Senegalese Moroccan fan» by Senegalese supporters themselves, he has been spotted repeatedly at Senegal's matches, dancing among Senegalese fans to their famous chants and rhythms. Easy to identify, he is often the only one dressed in red, the color of Morocco's Atlas Lions, surrounded by a sea of Senegal's yellow and green. This is not his first viral moment. The same fan was already spotted during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he was seen dancing alongside Senegalese supporters. Burkina Faso's spectacular costumes Burkina Faso's supporters have also stolen the show at this AFCON. During their match against Algeria on Sunday, their presence was impossible to miss at the Moulay Hassan Stadium, from the sound of trumpets and drums to their striking attire. One supporter appeared entirely covered in handcrafted accessories, adorning his body from head to toe. His green and yellow costume was studded with cowrie shells, topped with a mask and a multi-tiered crown. He was far from alone: several Burkina Faso fans were seen wearing similar outfits, each with its own creative variation, turning the stands into a moving exhibition of cultural expression. Ivory Coast's fiery atmosphere In the stands at Ivory Coast's match against Cameroon on Sunday at the Grand Stade de Marrakech, the atmosphere was electric, despite the city's cold weather. It was music, not costumes, that reigned. Dressed in orange, Ivorian fans sang and danced throughout the entire match. Their chants echoed across the stadium as they swayed to the rhythm of drums, transforming the stands into a non-stop celebration. The competition is still in its early stages, with teams now fighting for places in the round of 16 and more decisive matches ahead. One thing is certain: fans still have plenty of time to surprise, inspire, and outdo themselves as AFCON continues, proving once again that the tournament's magic lives just as much in the stands as on the pitch.
