Listen to this article
As Egypt gears up to host the Africa Cup of Nations 2026 in Morocco, excitement is all around, with hopes for the team to secure Egypt’s 8th title and the first victory since 2010.
And as always, AFCON in Egypt is not only about the tournament; it’s also about the campaigns launched each year to celebrate, promote, and engage fans.
From bold social media activations to completely out-of-the-box efforts, brands are competing to capture the spirit of AFCON. But how well are these campaigns performing, from one to AFCON-trophy worthy?
Halan
Starting the list or rating with Halan’s campaign. Halan entered the AFCON advertising arena with a humorous campaign aimed at football fans around the tournament period. The central idea: let Halan handle your financial stress, so you can focus on the football. Although the ad featured Hossam Hassan, the national team legend and current coach, it failed to leave an actual impact.
The humor and key message were there, but what was truly absent was the relevance. The campaign did not clearly connect with AFCON 2026 as a cultural moment or national event. Instead, it felt more like a football season-themed brand reminder.
Advert Rating:
Storyline 3/10
Visuals 4/10
Relevancy 2/10
So, on the AFCON Campaigns scale, Halan takes an 3.3
Hyde Park
It is always amazing to see a familiar face, and for an AFCON ad, who’s better than Hassan Shehata? The Hyde Park ad effectively combined nostalgia and a clear emotional message, tapping into fan passion. In a way, it leveraged cultural resonance and emotional storytelling to connect with audiences.
However, the use of AI elements in recreating moments of celebrations or digitally integrating Hassan Shehata into scenes may have slightly reduced authenticity. While technically impressive, some people may sense that the moments are less “real,” which can affect the emotional impact.
Advert Rating:
Storyline 6/10
Visuals 2/10
Relevancy 6/10
So, on the AFCON scale, Hyde Park takes a 4.7/10
Moving on to the second ad on the list, Pepsi Egypt’s AFCON campaign featuring Mohamed Salah, along with his two daughters, took a refreshingly simple approach. This ad steered clear of extravaganzas and kept everything clear, from the key message to the visuals and tone.
Unlike high-budget, overproduced campaigns that sometimes distract from the core idea, Pepsi’s spot focused on being a national pride.
Although the message was communicated effectively, the ad was missing a crucial element. While viewers could admire Salah and feel inspired by the narrative, fewer elements allowed the fan to belong within the story. In other words, the ad excelled at aspiration but could have been strengthened by integrating elements that make the audience feel personally connected to the AFCON experience.
Advert Rating:
Storyline 9/10
Visuals 8/10
Relevancy 4/10
On the AFCON scale, Pepsi Egypt takes a 7
Vodafone
Coming up is Vodafone Egypt, which is always an active participant in the AFCON season with top‑notch campaigns. As always, Vodafone Egypt took emotional storytelling to the high roofs, tapping into community sentiment and collective energy, which is the most important part of any tournament. With the voice of Mahmoud El Esseily and featuring Mohamed Salah, Mostafa Mohamed, Hamdy Fathy, and Ibrahem Adel, the ad doubled down on unity, national pride, and shared aspiration.
Vodafone positions the AFCON journey as a story of belonging and accomplishment, not just by the team but by every Egyptian. This creative direction prioritizes emotional authenticity rather than just star power.
Advert Rating
Storyline 9/10
Visuals 9/10
Relevancy 8/10
On the AFCON scale, Vodafone Egypt takes a solid 9
Orange
Lastly on the list is Orange Egypt, which drove away from the ordinary. In a humorous and nostalgic ad, Orange Egypt decided to play the AFCON game their own way. The ad featured a handful of legendary names in Egyptian football, who have had iconic accomplishments in the AFCON journey of Egypt.
The star elements in this ad were bringing back faces every Egyptian knows and loves in the football scene, and the sarcastic nature of the storyline that keeps you hooked from the very first minute.
The ad combines everything that makes it memorable and culturally resonant: humor, nostalgia, wit, and clever storytelling. From a marketing standpoint, Orange Egypt’s AFCON 2026 campaign succeeded in winning in this competitive race.
Advert Rating:
Storyline 10/10
Visuals 9/10
Relevancy 10/10
On the AFCON scale, Orange takes AFCON-trophy worthy out of ten with a solid 9.7
e& Egypt
“ولسه فيه و هنشجع أكتر”: heartwarming, uplifting, and perfectly executed; that’s what e& Egypt provided for the AFCON campaign race. The ad beautifully captures the spirit of unstoppable and irreplaceable fan support. The campaign highlights resilience and enthusiasm, which always differentiate Egyptian football fans. By focusing on sentiment and shared experiences rather than product messaging, e& positions itself as a brand that celebrates the journey of the fans. The choice of music and song by Hany el Dakkak, visuals, and storytelling all align to make it a memorable campaign for AFCON 2026.
Advert Rating:
Storyline 10/10
Visuals 10/10
Relevancy 10/10
On the AFCON scale, e& takes another AFCON-trophy-worthy out of ten.
In Conclusion
AFCON 2026 in Egypt has always been displayed as a platform for brands to engage with fans on a cultural and emotional level. As we’ve seen through this year’s campaigns, the approaches vary widely, from functional reminders to deeply resonant storytelling.
On the AFCON Campaigns scale, the lesson is clear: the most successful campaigns are those that make fans feel included in the journey and bring back the hope for victory in 2026 and claim the 8th title.
