AFCON 2025: Lions, Pharaohs & Dark Horses In Morocco’s Shadow
By AUGUSTUS ISICHEI
AS the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 approaches (21st December – 18th January in Morocco), the continent is bracing for a festival of football, a theatre where giants rise, underdogs bite, and dreams are either cemented in glory or broken in heartbreak. But amid the anticipation, the question remains: who truly stands as favourite?
Morocco: Hosts Under Heavy Expectation
Morocco, riding a 14-game winning streak and still basking in the glow of their historic 2022 World Cup semi-final run, enter AFCON 2025 as the team to beat. Walid Regragui’s men, led by Achraf Hakimi, represent a golden generation. The home advantage is undeniable, but so too is the pressure. Their 2023 Round of 16 exit to South Africa is a stark warning: in African football, pedigree means little if composure falters.
The Challengers: Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, South Africa
If Morocco is the favourite, Senegal is the predator lurking close behind. Champions in 2021 but wounded by a shock 2023 campaign, the Lions of Teranga are rebuilt under Pape Thiaw. Sadio Mané, Koulibaly, and Gana Gueye provide leadership, while Pape Matar Sarr and Habib Diarra embody the new energy of Senegalese football. Their recent resilience makes them Morocco’s most credible threat.
Algeria, often accused of inconsistency, have steadied under Vladimir Petkovic. Blending Riyad Mahrez’s experience with youthful verve, the Fennecs glide quietly into the competition—perhaps the best position for a team always underestimated.
Egypt, Africa’s most decorated football nation, never need hype; history speaks for them. Hossam Hassan has revitalised the Pharaohs, with Salah and Marmoush leading an unbeaten squad back into serious contention. Their hunger to erase the pain of DR Congo’s 2023 upset is palpable.
South Africa, too, are no longer underdogs. Hugo Broos has forged a cohesive Bafana Bafana side—built around Mamelodi Sundowns’ chemistry—that stunned Morocco and finished third in 2023. Cohesion, not star power, makes them dangerous.
The Rest: Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and the Wild Cards
Ivory Coast, the defending champions, look fragile. Emerse Faé’s Elephants have stumbled in recent qualifiers, yet they carry depth and pedigree. Champions rarely surrender their crown easily.
Nigeria, meanwhile, remain the eternal puzzle. Blessed with firepower—Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze—the Super Eagles continue to underwhelm in execution. Eric Chelle’s task is to unlock chemistry. If he succeeds, Nigeria may yet soar.
The dark horses, Cameroon, Mali, and DR Congo, complete the picture. Cameroon thrives in chaos, their off-pitch drama rarely translating into mediocrity on the pitch. Mali, haunted but talented, could finally break their quarter-final jinx. DR Congo, mercurial but dangerous, can upend anyone on their day.
Conclusion: A Battle of Fire and Nerves
AFCON 2025 is Morocco’s to lose—but that is both a privilege and a burden. The continent’s heavyweights—Senegal, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria—circle with intent, while South Africa and the dark horses sharpen their knives in silence.
The tournament promises not just football, but theatre—where giants clash, history weighs heavy, and every whistle blows with possibility.
