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TECNO Brings Immersive Fan Experience to Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 with Pop-Up Stores and Interactive Zones Across Morocco
Following the opening of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, TECNO extends its tournament presence into public spaces across Morocco through a series of TECNO AI pop-up stores and fan zones in Rabat and Casablanca. Designed to bring AI-powered innovation closer to consumers, these spaces allow visitors to experience how TECNO AI enhances everyday smartphone usage, from photography and gaming to productivity and entertainment. In total, the brand activated four experiential venues, two pop-up stores and two fan zones, with one of each established in both cities, creating a parallel rollout across Morocco's major urban centers.
The opening ceremony marked the starting point of TECNO's AFCON “Power Your Moment” campaign, welcoming invited clients, guests, and partners as the tournament officially began. From the same day, the brand opened its physical spaces to the public, shifting from a symbolic brand moment to hands-on consumer engagement.
This approach enables TECNO to stay connected with fans throughout different stages of the competition, offering repeated opportunities to discover TECNO AI features in real-life scenarios rather than limiting interaction to a single event. Special performances featuring live juggling ball demonstrations alongside African song and dance were presented on December 21 and are scheduled to return on January 18, creating a vibrant environment that blended technology, culture, and entertainment.
TECNO AI Pop-Up Stores: An Immersive Fan-First Experience
The TECNO AI pop-up stores, deployed in Casablanca and Rabat and located near Mohammed V Stadium and Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium respectively, are designed as immersive, consumer-centric environments rather than conventional retail spaces. Open for a limited period during the AFCON 2025 tournament, each location combines product discovery with interactive AI demonstrations, allowing visitors to test TECNO AI features directly across multiple touchpoints.
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed in a reception area offering complimentary gifts and guided experiences, while simple interactive challenges encourage participation and social sharing. By connecting physical interaction with digital engagement, the pop-up stores translate advanced AI technology into clear, tangible benefits that consumers can immediately understand and enjoy.
At the heart of the TECNO AI pop-up store, the AI Experience Area brings TECNO AI to life through practical, real-world applications showcased on large-format screens and interactive stations. Visitors can test TECNO AI features hands-on, discovering how AI enhances everyday moments such as photography, content creation, and daily productivity. By placing consumers directly in control of the experience, the activation positions TECNO AI not as a distant technology, but as an intuitive, accessible tool designed to make daily smartphone use smarter, easier, and more creative.
A fashion-inspired clothing swap installation offers jerseys representing the 24 national teams competing in AFCON 2025, allowing fans to express tournament allegiances while engaging in a creative, participatory activity. Nearby, the Champions Road installation invites visitors to interact with a team matchup chart using magnetic team markers, encouraging predictions and photo sharing that extend the experience beyond the physical space.
The Product Experience Area provides hands-on access to TECNO's latest smartphone lineup and connected devices, supported by on-site brand representatives. A customization station allows visitors to personalize their phones with tournament-themed back stickers, creating tangible mementos linked to the AFCON experience. Photo areas throughout the pop-up stores offer opportunities to capture moments against branded backdrops, while a CSR Culture Wall highlights TECNO's community initiatives and long-term engagement in youth development and grassroots football across Africa.
TECNO Fan Zones: Bringing Fans Together Beyond the Stadium
Alongside the TECNO AI pop-up stores, TECNO's fan zones are established in Casablanca and Rabat, located at Anfa Park and OLM Souissi respectively, as open-access community spaces operating throughout match days. Freely accessible to the public, without purchase or registration requirements, the fan zones welcome football supporters and passersby alike, emphasizing shared experience over transaction. These spaces feature relaxed product discovery areas, free photo-taking and printing services, and interactive challenges designed to encourage participation.
Skill-based football challenges, including juggling and heading activities, animate both the pop-up stores and fan zones, creating moments of spontaneous interaction and crowd engagement. Giveaway mechanics are tied to simple social media actions, while classification-style photo activities encourage visitors to capture and share moments online without competitive pressure, prioritizing participation and community visibility.
By activating simultaneously in Rabat and Casablanca and maintaining a presence across match days with special programming on key dates, TECNO establishes a sustained physical footprint throughout the AFCON period. Rather than limiting its engagement to the opening ceremony, the brand positions its pop-up stores and fan zones as ongoing touchpoints within the rhythm of the tournament, embedding technology, football, and urban culture into everyday public life during AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TECNO Mobile.Expanding Canon Europe, the Middle East and Africa’s (EMEA) Coral Conservation Initiative into East Africa
- New regional initiative supports science-based reef restoration, community training, and marine storytelling.
- Advanced imaging technology to enable accurate monitoring and documentation of fragile ocean ecosystems
- Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor but support nearly 25% of all marine life
Building on the momentum of Canon's EMEA launch of World Unseen 2.0, Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is expanding the initiative into East Africa in collaboration with Kenya's Oceans Alive Foundation. This regional chapter reflects Canon's commitment to supporting the protection of coral reefs—one of the most vital ecosystems on Earth, sustaining 25% of marine life, protecting coastlines, and contributing to the food security and wellbeing of millions across coastal communities.
Over half of the world's coral reefs have disappeared in the last three decades as a result of rising sea temperatures, pollution, overfishing, sedimentation and widespread disease. This decline has direct consequences for people, as ocean biodiversity plays a critical role in human health and wellbeing. In response to these growing pressures, the East Africa chapter places strong emphasis on science-led restoration, community capacity building and imaging-enabled monitoring to support long-term ecosystem recovery and resilience.
Building on Canon's partnership with Nature Seychelles and Coral Spawning International to establish the first coral breeding facility in the Western Indian Ocean, the East Africa chapter further strengthens community-led conservation along Kenya's fragile coastline through its collaboration with Oceans Alive Foundation. Together, the partners will drive local engagement, expand restoration work and support knowledge transfer to enhance reef recovery.
Guided by Canon's philosophy of Kyosei, meaning “living and working together for the common good”, the programme builds scientific capacity, expands restoration efforts and empowers coastal communities through education and visual storytelling. The Kenya launch brings together conservation science, imaging technology and community engagement. Through restoration work, youth training and imaging-led documentation, the project aims to build local ownership of marine protection and support wider ecosystem recovery. Additionally, the programme will deliver measurable environmental and social outcomes, aligned with Canon's Future of the Planet pillar and broader sustainability goals.
Somesh Adukia, Managing Director of Canon Central and North Africa, said: ‘The World Unseen in Kenya reflects our commitment to practical, science-based conservation that empowers communities. Paired with Oceans Alive's local leadership, Canon's imaging expertise will enable precise monitoring, credible storytelling, and stronger reef recovery efforts.'
Des Bowden, Founder of Oceans Alive Foundation, added: “We started in Kuruwitu with a bold belief — that communities are the true guardians of the sea. What began as a local effort to protect a dying reef has become a model for ocean recovery driven by the people who depend on it most.
Kenya's reefs are rich, fragile, and often unseen. Through this valuable collaboration with Canon, we are making the invisible visible — documenting life above and beneath the waves with scientific accuracy and cultural respect. When people truly see the ocean, they value it. When they value it, they protect it.”
A Community-Led Partnership for Reef Restoration
Founded in 2018 and rooted in the Kuruwitu community, Oceans Alive is one of Kenya's leading community-driven marine conservation organisations. Its core purpose is to revive degraded coral reefs and improve the wellbeing of coastal communities who depend on healthy oceans for food security and livelihoods.
Across Kuruwitu and the broader North Coast, Oceans Alive has successfully restored multiple reef patches, reintroduced thousands of coral fragments, and worked with local Beach Management Units to strengthen sustainable fisheries. Community members trained in reef monitoring and restoration now lead efforts that have resulted in increased fish abundance, improved reef structure, and measurable socio-economic benefits for local households.
Canon will sponsor nursery tables and reef infrastructure to support the propagation and outplanting of thousands more coral fragments onto permanent reef structures. The partnership also includes rigorous scientific monitoring and transparent impact reporting to ensure that each step of progress is measured and shared with accuracy.
Imaging Technology for Scientific Monitoring and Education
Canon is equipping Oceans Alive with advanced imaging tools – including PowerShot G7 X Mark III and EOS R8 cameras with underwater housings and specialised lighting systems – to capture photographic data on coral growth, bleaching events, fish recruitment, and overall reef structure. These images will provide scientists with measurable insights into coral size, survival rates, and ecosystem recovery.
Canon will also provide professional printing solutions to complete the workflow, enabling Oceans Alive to transform scientific research into high-quality educational materials and public displays for schools, community groups, and visitors.
Community Training, Youth Storytelling, and Education
Together, Canon and Oceans Alive will build practical storytelling platforms that support digital content creation, environmental education, and public awareness. The partnership includes underwater photography workshops, community conservation sessions, and youth-led media projects through Canon Academy.
These programmes ensure that local storytellers, student researchers, and volunteers contribute to documenting Kenya's marine environment with scientific accuracy and visually compelling narratives.
Purpose-Led Impact for People and Planet
‘The World Unseen' advances Canon's long-term vision for Africa by driving ecological recovery, strengthening community stewardship, and elevating local conservation leaders.
By turning ocean science into engaging visual stories, ‘World Unseen' invites people to learn, engage, and take action – reinforcing Canon's commitment to sustainability and a higher purpose.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com
APO Group - PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com
About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon's business within the Africa region - by strengthening Canon's in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon's commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.
Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa's rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.
Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/4rQGKpF) – ‘living and working together for the common good'. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon's products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.
For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com