RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Fans play a big part in the Africa Cup of Nations. Many wear wigs, face paints and costumes as they support their nation's team, from the Pharaohs of Egypt to the Atlas Lions of host Morocco. The knockout stage of Africa's biggest soccer tournament starts Saturday.
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A fan cheers prior the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A fan cheers prior the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Nigeria fans cheer before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, a DR Congo fan impersonating late Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba, strikes a pose during 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 Mali fan cheers before the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Mali and Tunisia in Casablanca, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa fans celebrate ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between South Africa and Cameroon in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Moroccan supporters react as they wait for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A Cameroon fan looks sceptical ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between South Africa and Cameroon in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A Mali fan cheers before the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Mali and Tunisia in Casablanca, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Senegal fans support their national team during the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Senegal and DR Congo in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A DR Congo fans cheer 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)
Ivory Coast fans during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Ivory Coast and Cameroon, in Marrakech, Morocco, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Senegal fans cheer their team during the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Senegal and DR Congo in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Dec. 27, 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 Mali soccer fan waits for the start of the African Cup of Nations Group A soccer match between Morocco and Mali in Rabat, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A Moroccan fan waits for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 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 fan wats for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Sudan in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A senegal fan cheers during the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Senegal and DR Congo in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Morocco fans wait for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Egypt fans support their team during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Egypt and South Africa in Agadir, Morocco, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
A fan cheers prior the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A fan cheers prior the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Nigeria fans cheer before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal soccer match between Nigeria and Algeria, in Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, a DR Congo fan impersonating late Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba, strikes a pose during 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 Mali fan cheers before the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Mali and Tunisia in Casablanca, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa fans celebrate ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between South Africa and Cameroon in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Moroccan supporters react as they wait for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A Cameroon fan looks sceptical ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between South Africa and Cameroon in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A Mali fan cheers before the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Mali and Tunisia in Casablanca, Morocco, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Senegal fans support their national team during the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Senegal and DR Congo in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
A DR Congo fans cheer 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)
Ivory Coast fans during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Ivory Coast and Cameroon, in Marrakech, Morocco, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Senegal fans cheer their team during the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Senegal and DR Congo in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Dec. 27, 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 Mali soccer fan waits for the start of the African Cup of Nations Group A soccer match between Morocco and Mali in Rabat, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A Moroccan fan waits for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 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 fan wats for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations group E soccer match between Algeria and Sudan in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A senegal fan cheers during the Africa Cup of Nations group D soccer match between Senegal and DR Congo in Tangier, Morocco, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Morocco fans wait for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Egypt fans support their team during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Egypt and South Africa in Agadir, Morocco, Friday, Dec. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
