AFCON 2025
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is right upon us and the stage is set for the 35th edition of the continent’s most-revered tournament.
This post examines the teams in Group A and B: potential group winners and the teams likely to cause an upset.
Morocco: The Atlas Lions are one of the favorites to win the tournament and being hosts gives the 1976 champions a further boost. Morocco parades stars like the reigning African Footballer of the Year, Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz, Youssef En-Neyseri- Neysri among others. Led by Walid Regragui who helped the team reach the 2022 World Cup semi-final, Morocco has maintained a consistent squad which has helped them build team chemistry over the last three years.
Mali: The Hawks are one of the most resilient teams on the continent and pose a threat to any of the top teams. They are defensively solid and quick in transition with forwards like Kamory Doumbia, Lassana Coulibaly, and Dorgeles Nene. The Malians will look to build on their quarter-final finish at the 2023 edition. They are likely to finish in second place behind Morocco but no one should be surprised if they cause an upset.
Comoros: They are arguably the weakest side in the group but capable of causing an upset. At the 2021 edition, Comoros beat Ghana to qualify as one of the best losers into the second round. Les Coelacantes finished top of their qualifying group ahead of Tunisia and will look to push the group favorites to the limit.
Zambia: The Chipolopolo have been quite inconsistent in the tournament since they won in 2012 having failed to qualify on three consecutive editions between 2017 and 2021. The Copper Bullets are likely to exit the tournament in the group stage like they did in the last edition.
Matches in Group A will be played in Casablanca and Rabat.
Group B: This group is quite a tricky one with two top teams and two others capable of standing toe-to-toe with any one of the group favorites. It also consists of three teams from the COSAFA region.
Egypt: The Pharaohs are a record seven-time champions of the Africa Cup of Nations. Led by Mohammed Salah, Egypt are one of the most-experienced sides and favorite to win the tournament. Egypt came close to winning in 2021 but lost to eventual champions, Senegal.
South Africa: Hugo Broos has put the Bafana Bafana on a steady rise over the last couple of years. South Africa finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and also qualified the team for their first World Cup since 2010 beating Nigeria to the sole ticket. Lyle Foster, Oswin Appollis, Teboho Mokoena, Sphephelo Sithole, Themba Zwane, and captain, Ronwen Williams are some of the key players.
Zimbabwe: The Warriors return to the tournament after missing out on the 2023 edition due to FIFA suspension. Zimbabwe have a new coach, Marian Marinica after the sack of Michael Nees, and will look to put their off-the-pitch issues behind them as they look to get out of the group stage of the competition for the first time. If South Africa has to beat a team by going to the carmel’s eye, it has to be Zimbabwe.
Angola: The Super Eagles of Nigeria stopped Angola from reaching the last four of the last AFCON. The Palancas Negras play with flair and compactness with most of their players playing on the continent and across Europe. Angola are not to be seen as a pushover as they carry some level of potency to trouble the favorites in the group.
Marrakesh and Agadir will host matches in this group.
