Streets are beginning to buzz, fan rivalries are rekindling, and anticipation is building for the spectacle that unites Africa like nothing else.

In the midst of this rising energy, TECNO has stepped into the spotlight with a bold new offering, one that promises to change not just how fans watch football, but how they live it.

Drawing on the power of its proprietary Ella AI system, the company has unveiled a suite of football-focused AI features crafted for the modern African fan.

It’s no longer just about being in the stadium or gathered around the TV; today’s game unfolds through smartphone lenses, social feeds, instant reactions, real-time commentary and the heartbeat of digital communities.

TECNO’s new tools are designed for this moment, where football passion meets technology, and where every fan can become a storyteller, analyst, creator, and commentator in real time. The launch marks a fresh chapter in how AFCON 2025 will be experienced: more immersive, more connected, and more personal than ever before.

For many fans, the smartphone has become a second screen, a debate platform, a slow-motion studio and a memory archive. TECNO’s latest tools attempt to formalize that reality, turning everyday devices into active companions capable of interpreting the match as it unfolds.

At the center of the rollout is Ella Match Decoder, an AI engine that reads on-field movement, tactical patterns and key plays in real time.

The feature delivers instant, simplified analysis normally reserved for professional commentators, allowing casual viewers to understand momentum shifts, defensive structures or build-up sequences with unusual clarity.

The suite also includes visual recognition capabilities through Ella Snap & Know, while Ella Match Highlight compiles personalized summaries of decisive actions, goals, recoveries, combinations, errors or turning points. Fans gain autonomy over what they revisit and share, independent of official broadcast clips or social-media circulation.

Meanwhile, Ella Star Cam shifts focus from the pitch to the stands. Described by TECNO as a “superstar lens,” the tool is built to capture what defines the AFCON experience for many: the chants, synchronized dances, sharp pivots of excitement and collective euphoria that animate African football culture.

The feature anticipates movement and emotion, creating footage that feels closer to immersion than observation.

Visa, a global leader in digital payments and the chosen digital payment provider for the tournament, has collaborated with several partners including financial institutions, football federations, community partners and NGOs.

Together, they have selected more than 800 boys and girls, aged 9 to 13, to escort some of the world’s top football players onto the pitch during the games.

“Visa is proud to support the Africa Cup of Nations, a celebration of Africa’s vibrant football heritage and passion. Our Player Escort Programme is designed to fuel the passion of young enthusiasts and cultivate their love for football while creating memories that will last a lifetime. We’re thrilled to offer these budding stars a once-in-a-lifetime experience and to highlight the unifying power and spirit of football” said Aida Diarra, Senior Vice-President, and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Visa.

Already, 500 children have had the thrilling experience of stepping onto the AFCON pitch alongside their football heroes during the Group Stage.

The tournament’s opening game was particularly special, featuring 22 children from families hailing from three cocoa-producing regions – Agboville, Abengourou, and Aboisso.

Their parents are part of the pilot phase of a national traceability system for coffee and cocoa, a project initiated by the Cocoa Coffee Council of Côte d’Ivoire, Panelys, and Visa, aiming to offer end-to-end digital financial traceability solutions to over 700,000 cocoa farmers in the region.

“During the start of the tournament, we have already seen how AFCON 2023 is inspiring a new generation of future football fans across Côte d’Ivoire, and we are delighted to be able to partner with Visa on the Player Escort Program,” said Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of the Ivorian Federation of Football.

“Having the opportunity to walk on the pitch alongside their idols will bring special memories to last a lifetime for more than 800 young Ivorians and a truly unique experience that will help strengthen passion for the game throughout the country.”

Other children involved in the program were carefully selected from a variety of sources. These include the academies and training camps of the Ivorian Football Federation, an educational institution managed by the Foundation Magic System NGO, children of Visa employees, and young ones related to Visa’s banking and fintech customers.

The TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, Côte d’Ivoire 2023 tournament is hosting 24 teams playing 52 matches across six stadiums, with Visa facilitating digital payment technology at all venues and for tickets purchased both in-person and online.

In October, Visa announced the extension of its partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which now includes all AFCON tournaments until 2026.

For the first time, the partnership will also cover the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), the African high Schools tournament, and the integration of Visa products and services in all of CAF’s operations.