2025 AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS: PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS
The 2025 African Cup of Nations is the 35th edition of the tournament, and will take place in Morocco for the second time.
The tournament is scheduled to run from December 21 to January 18, marking the first time it will take place over Christmas and New Year’s.
Below are my group previews and predictions, including final group standings and knockout stages predictions. FIFA rankings are in brackets.
GROUP A
MOROCCO (11)
ZAMBIA (54)
MALI (90)
COMOROS (108)
The hosts Morocco are the highest-ranked FIFA team, playing in their 20th AFCON and won it once in 1976. In 2023, they exited in the last 16. They qualified top, eight points ahead of Gabon and are the only team to win all six group games. Key players are captain Hakimi, Mazraoui, Bono, Amrabat, El Khannouss, En-Nesry, Saibari and Diaz, who was the qualifiers’ top scorer. Morocco plays fluid attacking football, using energetic wing play.
Zambia are competing in their 19th AFCON and won it in 2012. However, they didn’t make it out the group in 2023. They qualified top, a point from Ivory Coast. Key players are defenders Banda & Sakala. Midfielder Chaiwa, also forwards Banda, Daka and Musonda, who was the joint third top scorer in qualifying. Coached by Avram Grant, Zambia are a more defensive team, who tries to snatch the odd goal on counterattacks.
Mali have reached their 14th AFCON, their best finish was runners-up in 1972. At the last tournament in 2023, they made it to the QF’s. In qualifying , they topped their group, three points from Mozambique. Their key players are Fofana & Traore at the back. Haidara, Coulibaly and Bissouma in midfield, with El Bilal and Nene up front. Mali like to play direct, physical football, with high press and athletic runners.
Comoros are appearing in their second finals. Their first was in 2021, where they made it to the last 16. They qualified top of their group, unbeaten and two points from Tunisia. Their key players are defenders Ahmed & Bakari. In midfield, M’Changama & Iyad, with Rafiki, Selemani and teenager Aboubacar, up top. Coached by an Italian, they are a defensive outfit who like to play counter-attacking football.
GROUP B
EGYPT (34)
SOUTH AFRICA (61)
ANGOLA (89)
ZIMBABWE (129)
Egypt are the most successful nation in AFCON with seven titles, the last was 2010. They are playing in their 27th tournament. In 2023, they lost in the last 16 on pens. They qualified top, six points from Botswana. Key players are Salah and Marmoush up front. Rabia & Hany at the back, and in midfield, Zizo, Fathy, and Trezequet, who was the joint third top scorer in qualifying. Egypt play direct, attacking football with plenty of runners.
South Africa could be a dark horse. They are playing in their 12th AFCON and won it in their first appearance in 1996. They qualified top, just a point ahead of Uganda. In 2023, they lost in the SFs and won the third-place playoff. Key players are the goalkeeper, Williams. Defenders Modiba & Mudau. In midfield, Mokoena. With Magkopa, Appollis and Foster upfront. South Africa plays controlled, expressive, possession football with flair.
Angola could be a mystery team. They are playing in their 10th AFCON, and the furthest they reached was QFs in 2008, 2010 and last time out in 2023. They qualified top of their group, six points from Sudan. Key players are defenders, Gaspar, Mata & Carmo. In midfield, Fredy and Maestro. Also, Dala, Milson and Mabululu up front. With a Portuguese influence, Angola play possession football, relying on good technical players on the ball.
Zimbabwe are playing in their 6th AFCON and have never been past the group stages. They qualified as runners-up, five points behind Cameroon but three ahead of Kenya. Their key players are defenders Lunga, Garananga and Takwara. In midfield, Nakamba & Rinomhota. With Chiwera and Dube up front. Zimbabwe try to play possession football, but often reverts to being a physical defensive team.
GROUP C
NIGERIA (38)
TUNISIA (40)
UGANDA (85)
TANZANIA (112)
After their World Cup heartbreak, Nigeria come into their 21st AFCON determined. They’ve won it three times in 80, 94 and 2013. They also lost the last final in 2023. They qualified top, three points ahead of Benin. Key players are Bassy and Sanusi at the back. Iwobi, Ndidi and Onyeka in midfield, with Osimhen and Lookman up top. Nigeria play expressive attacking football, with a blend of speed, power and athleticism.
Tunisia are playing in their 22nd AFCON and won it in 2004. In 2023, they surprisingly finished bottom of their group. They qualified for this tournament as runners-up, two points behind Comoros, but two ahead of Gambia. Key players are Talbi and Abdi at the back. Sassi, Ben Romdhane and Hannibal in midfield, with Mastouri and Saad upfront. Tunisia play a slow, controlled build-up, staying defensive and looking for key openings.
Uganda are appearing in their 8th AFCON, their best was second in 1978. Their last appearance was in 2019. They qualified as runners-up, just a point behind South Africa, but comfortably nine ahead of Congo. Their key players are Awany and Sibbick at the back. Semakula, Mutyaba and Aucho in midfield, with Mato and Ikpeazu up front. Uganda play disciplined defensive football, with a direct, physical attack.
Tanzania qualified for their 4th AFCON, and now two in a row. However, they have never been past the group stages. They qualified as runners-up, two points behind DR Congo, and just a point ahead of Guinea, whom they beat home and away. Key players are defenders Job and Kipabage. Midfielders, Fei Toto and Gego. With Samatta and Selamani up front. Tanzania play structured, possession football, hoping for the odd chance up top.
GROUP D
SENEGAL (19)
DR CONGO (56)
BENIN (92)
BOTSWANA (138)
Senegal are playing in their 18th AFCON and won it for the first time in 2021. In 2023, they lost in the last 16 on pens to eventual winners Ivory Coast. They qualified top, six points ahead of Burkina Faso. Key players are goalkeeper Mendy. Defenders Koulibaly & Diatta. Midfielders, Sarr, Gueye & Camara, with Mane, Sarr & Jackson up top. Senegal plays fluid attacking football with skill and plenty of interchanges.
DR Congo could be one to watch. They qualified for their 21st AFCON and have won it twice in ’68 and ’74. In 2023, they lost in the SFs to eventual winners Ivory Coast. They qualified top, two points from Tanzania. Key players are Goalkeeper Mpasi. Defenders Wan-Bissaka and Tuanzebe. Midfielders, Moutoussamy, Bongonda and Mbuku, with Essende and Bakambu up front. DR Congo plays disciplined passing football with defensive strength.
Benin are appearing in their fifth AFCON, the last was in 2019, where they reached the QFs, the furthest in their history. They qualified as runners-up, two points behind Nigeria, on the same points as Rwanda, but with a better goal difference. Key players are defenders Kiki, Verdon & Roche, midfielders, Hassane & Ahlinvi, with Tosin and Mounie up front. Benin play defensive football, with men behind the ball and slow attacks.
Botswana are the lowest-ranked team to qualify. This is their second AFCON after 2012, where they exited at the group stages. They qualified as runners-up, six points behind Egypt, but a point ahead of Mauritania. Key players are goalkeeper Phoko. Defenders Ditlhokwe & Velaphi. Midfielders Mohutsiwa & Ramotse with Seakanyeng & Orebonye up front. Botswana play compact, defensive football, looking for set pieces to nick a goal.
GROUP E
ALGERIA (35)
BURKINA FASO (62)
EQUATORIAL GUINEA (97)
SUDAN (118)
Algeria are playing in their 21st AFCON, they won it in 1990 and 2019. Surprisingly, in 2023, they never made it out the group. They qualified top, eight points ahead of Equatorial Guinea, who they will meet again; they also did not concede an away goal. Key players are Mendi, Dorval and Ait Nouri at the back. In midfield, Bennacer and Amour. With Mahrez, Bounedjah & Amoura up top. Algeria try to play free-flowing attacking football.
Burkina Faso has qualified for their 13th AFCON, their best was runners-up in 2013. In 2023, they exited at the last 16 stage. They qualified as runners-up, six points behind Senegal, but comfortably six points ahead of Burundi and Malawi. Key players are defenders Nagalo, Tapsoba & Kabore, midfielders Zougrana & Badalo, with Ouattara, B. Traore & L.Traore. Burkina Faso play structured pass and move football in a disciplined system.
Equatorial Guinea are making their 5th AFCON appearance. Their best was fourth in 2015. In 2023, they lost in the last 16 to Guinea. They qualified as runners-up, eight points behind Algeria, but two ahead of Togo. Key players are Goalkeeper Owona. Defenders Coco & Akapo. Midfielders Obeying, Balboa & Buyla. With Nsue, Miranda & Salvador up top. Equatorial Guinea play direct football with aggressive defending.
Sudan are playing in their 10th AFCON. They were champions in 1970. Their last appearance was in 2021, where they failed to get past the group stages. They qualified as runners-up, six points behind Angola, but a point ahead of Niger, and did not concede a goal at home. Key players are defenders Saeed & Altayeb. Midfielders Waliedin & Yogoud. With Yasir & Abdelrahman. Sudan play a mix of short and direct football with energetic runners.
GROUP F
IVORY COAST (42)
CAMEROON (57)
GABON (78)
MOZAMBIQUE (102)
Ivory Coast are playing in their 26th tournament. The 2023 champions made it three titles after winning it in 1992 & 2015. They surprisingly qualified as runners-up, a point behind Zambia, but seven points ahead of Sierra Leone. Their key players are defenders Kossonou, Boly & Ousmane. Midfielders, Seri, Kessie & Diamonde. With forwards, Zaha, Bayo & Haller. Ivory Coast are a physical outfit but likes to play quick, attacking football.
Cameroon qualified for their 22nd AFCON. They have won it five times previously, the last was in 2017. In 2023, they were knocked out in the last 16 by Nigeria. They qualified top, five points ahead of Zimbabwe and didn’t concede an away goal. Key players are defenders, Nouhou & Wooh, midfielders Onana & Beleba, with Mbeumo, Eyong and Magri up top. Cameroon often flirt between pass and move, to direct attacking football.
Gabon are entering their ninth AFCON. Their best was QF’s in 1996 & 2012. Their last tournament was in 2021, which they lost to Burkina Faso in the last 16 on pens. They qualified as runners-up, eight points behind Morocco, but six points ahead of Lesotho. Key players are defenders Oyono & Appendingoye. Midfielders Lemina & Poko. With Aubameyang & Openda up top. Gabon play a flexible passing game with wide runners.
Mozambique are in their sixth AFCON and have now qualified for two in a row, but have never been past the group stages. They qualified as runners-up, three points behind Mali and six points ahead of Guinea-Bissau. Key players are the goalkeeper, Siluane. Defenders Bruno & Reinildo. Midfielders, Nene, Geny & Kambala. With Ratifo & Pelembe up front. Mozambique play disciplined football to stop opponents, then use quick counterattacks.
