We play differently - Former Arsenal star says AFCON has grown beyond football into a celebration of African identity

Former Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor has described the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as more than just a football tournament, saying it has evolved into a powerful celebration of African culture and identity.

The Former Arsenal and Manchester City striker, who featured at AFCON during his playing career, reflected on the tournament’s transformation in an interview with CAFonline, noting the significant changes he has witnessed over the years.

Adebayor recalled that the competition looked very different during his early playing days, both on and off the pitch.

“It’s very different now, in the sense that many things have changed. When we went to AFCON, we wore tracksuits, sometimes a suit, only once if I remember correctly,” he said.

According to Adebayor, modern AFCON represents more than footballing excellence; it reflects African creativity, expression, and pride.

“Now it’s beautiful. It’s art. It’s our culture. We play different, we dress different, we talk different. At the end of the day, we must remember that we are Africans. We have our values. We have our cultures,” he explained.

He emphasised that AFCON now provides a platform for African nations to showcase their uniqueness to the world.

Despite the changes in presentation and professionalism, Adebayor noted that certain traditions remain unchanged, particularly the spiritual and emotional rituals players embrace before matches.

“We would arrive at the stadium singing, glorifying God, singing gospel, just to motivate ourselves. That’s how we grew up,” he recalled.