Lions roar and Eagles fly: All the 24 teams' nicknames at the Africa Cup of Nations

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — The Indomitable Lions, Bafana Bafana and the Super Eagles have all been competing at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Cameroon, South Africa and Nigeria are just three of the 24 teams taking part in the four-week tournament in Morocco. All have nicknames carried proudly by their supporters, though some have been more successful than others.

Here’s a look at the nicknames and how the teams lived up to them in the group stage which ended Wednesday.

The barbary lions that used to prowl the mountains of north Africa live on only through the Africa Cup’s home team. The last known photograph of a wild lion in Morocco was taken by French army photographer Marcelin Flandrin from a flight over the Atlas Mountains in 1925. But Achraf Hakimi’s Atlas Lions are alive and remain on course for the title after topping the group.

The eagle symbolizes strength and power for Malians. The country is run by a military junta after Col. Assimi Goita installed himself as president in 2021. The team is hard to beat. Mali progressed to the last 16 with three straight draws.

Taking part in just its second Africa Cup tournament, island nation Comoros’ nickname comes from an ancient fish that was thought to be extinct until living specimens were found off the coast of South Africa in 1938. They are now known to live in the sea around Comoros off the east coast of Africa to the northwest of Madagascar. The team didn’t progress.

The Zambian team is named after one of the country’s biggest exports, copper, with the term bullets added to signify the team’s speed and danger. Unfortunately for its fans, it didn’t help as Zambia finished bottom of the group after two draws.

Named after the ancient Egyptian leaders, now led by Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah, the Pharaohs are among the top favorites to claim what would be a record-extending eighth Africa Cup title. Egypt was the first to qualify for the knockout stage.

Meaning “the boys, the boys” in Zulu, Bafana Bafana was popularized as a term of endearment after the team’s readmission into competitions following the end of apartheid in the country. South Africa finished runner-up and next faces Cameroon on Sunday.

The sable antelope is the national animal of Angola and can also be found on banknotes and stamps. The team failed to progress because Tanzania scored a goal more.

Named for the fighting sprit and resilience in the face of adversity displayed by the team from the landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. The team fought hard but ultimately went out after losing its last match against local rival South Africa.

After gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1960, the Nigerian team played in green and white kits to reflect the country’s flag. Previously known as the U.K. Tourists, the Red Devils (for their red jerseys) and then the Green Eagles with the change in kit after independence, the team became known as the Super Eagles in the 1980s. It topped the group with three wins.

Another team of eagles who look to the historic Phoenician republic of Carthage for inspiration. Near the present-day Tunisian capital Tunis, Carthage was one of the biggest cities in the world as its height of power when it controlled a swath of territory across northwestern Africa and southeastern Iberia, and the islands in-between. Tunisia finished runner-up and next faces Mali.

Coming from the Swahili word for nation, Taifa brings together the best players from the mainland formerly known as Tanganyika and the island of Zanzibar. They merged to form Tanzania in 1964. The Taifa Stars reached the knockout stage for the first time and will face host nation Morocco in the next round.

Named after the grey crowned crane, Uganda’s national bird. It has featured on Uganda’s flag and coat of arms since the country became independent in 1962, and also before as a protectorate of the British Empire. The Cranes finished bottom of the group.

“Teranga” means hospitality in the Wolof language spoken in Senegal and parts of neighboring countries. But these lions are only hospitable off the field, finishing top of the group. They’ll be doing all they can to repeat their only success after winning the 2021 trophy.

Leopards are central to Congolese culture and have been since antiquity, featuring on the country’s coat of arms and the team’s crest. The Leopards next face Algeria on Jan. 6.

Benin’s team used to be known as the Squirrels until the country’s soccer federation felt in 2022 that a change was needed to reflect a more assertive, speedier, perhaps even fearsome attitude. It wanted an “evocative and respectable” nickname. Now, Benin’s players have to live up to their billing as the fastest land animals in the world. They squeezed into the knockout round thanks to a win over Botswana.

Named after the national animal of Botswana. Ultimately, the Zebras didn’t earn enough stripes to make it to the knockout round.

Named after the small desert foxes, the smallest foxes in the world, that manage to survive in the Sahara and other arid environments across north Africa. The Fennec Foxes topped their group to stay in Rabat for the next round.

Two stallions feature on the country’s coat of arms, a reference to the story of Yennenga, a warrior-princess who left her kingdom when her father would not let her marry. Yennenga met a hunter, Rialé, with whom she had a son, Ouédraogo, which means stallion in honor of the white horse that Yennenga traveled on. The Stallions next face defending champion Ivory Coast.

The name refers to the secretary bird found in much of Sudan and across the open grasslands of the sub-Saharan region. It features on the country’s coat of arms. Despite a campaign overshadowed by war at home, the Falcons of Jediane made it to the last 16 with a win over Equatorial Guinea and will next face Senegal.

Unfortunately, it didn’t strike in Morocco, where the team was eliminated after just two games and ultimately lost all three.

The defending champions get their nickname from the forest elephants that used to be widespread in the country. They feature on the coat of arms. The country itself derives its name from the ivory trade. There are still elephants in Ivory Coast, but not as many as before.

As if lions aren’t fearsome enough already, the five-time champions were undefeated in its group with two wins and a draw. Cameroon faces a showdown against South Africa in the round of 16.

Named after the highly venomous and fast snakes found in the sub-Saharan Africa. The black mamba found in Mozambique is one of the most feared of all the mambas and can strike when antagonized. Nigeria's Super Eagles will be warned.

The black panther is the national animal of Gabon and it features on the crest of the country’s soccer federation, while there are two of them on the country’s coat of arms. The Panthers are going home already after three defeats.

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

A DR Congo fan cheers prior to the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Botswana and DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

A senegalese fan cheers during the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Benin and Senegal in Tangier, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

A DR Congo fan cheers prior to the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Botswana and DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

A DR Congo fan cheers prior to the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Botswana and DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

An Egypt supporter at the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — Dozens of people are presumed dead and about 100 injured, most of them seriously, following a fire at a bar in a Swiss Alps resort town during a New Year’s celebration, police said Thursday.

“Several tens of people” were killed at the bar, Le Constellation, Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said during a news conference.

Work is underway to identify the victims and inform their families but “that will take time and for the time being it is premature to give you a more precise figure," Gisler said, adding that community is “devastated.”

Beatrice Pilloud, Valais Canton attorney general, said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. Experts have not yet been able to go inside the wreckage.

“At no moment is there a question of any kind of attack,” Pilloud said.

Officials called the blaze an “embrasement généralisé,” a firefighting term describing how a blaze can trigger the release of combustible gases that can then ignite violently and cause what English-speaking firefighters would call a flashover or a backdraft.

“This evening should have been a moment of celebration and coming together, but it turned into a nightmare,” said Mathias Rénard, head of the regional government.

The injured were so numerous that the intensive care unit and operating theater at the regional hospital quickly hit full capacity, Rénard said.

Helicopters and ambulances rushed to the scene to assist victims, including some from different countries, officials said.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin said in a social media post that the government’s “thoughts go to the victims, to the injured and their relatives, to whom it addresses its sincere condolences.”

Thursday was Parmelin’s first day in office as president as the seven members of Switzerland’s government take turns holding the presidency for one year. Out of respect for the families of the victims, he delayed a traditional New Year address to the nation meant to be broadcast Thursday afternoon, Swiss broadcasters SRF and RTS reported.

A witness who spoke to French broadcaster BFMTV described people smashing windows to escape the blaze, some gravely injured, and panicked parents rushing to the scene in cars to see whether their children were trapped inside. The young man said he saw about 20 people scrambling to get out of the smoke and flames and likened what he saw to a horror movie as he watched from across the street.

In a region busy with tourists skiing on the slopes, the authorities have called on the local population to show caution in the coming days to avoid any accidents that could require medical resources that are already overwhelmed.

With high-altitude ski runs at around 3,000 meters (1.86 miles) in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana is one of the winter sports centers of Switzerland’s ski-crazy Valais region, also home to Zermatt, Verbier and other resorts nestled in the snowy peaks and pine forests drawing winter sports enthusiasts from across the planet. The resort is one of the top race venues on the World Cup circuit in Alpine skiing and will host the next world championships over two weeks in February 2027.

In four weeks’ time, the resort will host the best men’s and women’s downhill racers for their last events before going to the Milan Cortina Olympics, which open Feb. 6.

Crans-Montana also is a premium venue in international golf. The Crans-sur-Sierre club stages the European Masters each August on a picturesque course with stunning mountains views. Le Constellation bar is about 250 meters (273 yards) down the street from the golf club.

Crans-Montana is less than 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Sierre, Switzerland, where 28 people including many children were killed when a bus from Belgium crashed inside a Swiss tunnel in 2012.

The Swiss blaze on Thursday came 25 years after an inferno in the Dutch fishing town of Volendam on New Year’s Eve, which killed 14 people and injured more than 200 as they celebrated in a cafe.

From left, Mathias Reynard, State Councillor and president of the Council of State of the Canton of Valais, Stephane Ganzer, State Councillor and head of the Department of Security, Institutions and Sport of the Canton of Valais, Frederic Gisler, Commander of the Valais Cantonal Police, Beatrice Pilloud, Attorney General of the Canton of Valais and Nicole Bonvin-Clivaz, Vice-President of the Municipal Council of Crans-Montana during a press conference in Lens, following a fire that broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge leaving people dead and injured, during New Year’s celebration, in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP)

A skier walks in the area where a fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge leaving people dead and injured, during New Year’s celebration, in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP)

A banner stating that fireworks are prohibited due to the risk of fire is pictured near the area where a fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge leaving people dead and injured, during New Year’s celebration, in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP)

Police officers inspect the area where a fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge leaving people dead and injured, during New Year’s celebration, in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP)

Police officers inspect the area where a fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge leaving people dead and injured, during New Year’s celebration, in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP)

Police officers inspect the area where a fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge leaving people dead and injured, during New Year’s celebration, in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP)

Police officers inspect the area where a fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar and lounge leaving people dead and injured, during New Year’s celebration, in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP)