Nigeria, Jan. 29 -- The tournament drew 8.5 million new followers, making it the most digitally engaged African football event in history, with fans logging 285 million interactions. TikTok led the charge, hosting over one million videos under the official hashtag, featuring goal celebrations, tactical breakdowns, humor, music, and fashion inspired by the championship.

"The milestone cements Africa's flagship football event at the very top of global digital engagement," CAF said, noting the surge was particularly strong among the African diaspora, with content spreading across borders, languages, and cultures at record speed.

CAF hailed the achievement as proof of its commitment to innovation, fan engagement, and global growth, declari...