Top 5 title contenders for AFCON 2025

The 35th edition of the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations is being hosted by Morocco and will be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. The 24 participating teams have been divided into six groups, from which 16 will move to the knockouts. The last edition of AFCON was held in 2023, where hosts Ivory Coast defeated Nigeria 2–1 in the final to lift their third continental title.

With the best players from the African continent participating in this tournament, there will be no dearth of quality football, exciting battles, and edge-of-the-seat thrillers.

Here, we present our pick of five teams who we believe have what it takes to go all the way at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

5. Nigeria

Last AFCON’s runners-up are yet again one of the top contenders this time around. Currently ranked 38th in the FIFA world rankings, Nigeria are the fifth-highest ranked team in Africa. 

In their squad, they have great balance both in offence and defence, boasting the likes of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Calvin Bassey, and Wilfred Ndidi amongst others. Even though they are one of the favourites to win the AFCON title, not qualifying for next year’s FIFA World Cup must have been disappointing.

For this AFCON, the Super Eagles have been placed in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania. Uganda and Tunisia will be tough tests in the group stage. Tunisia are a defensive team and do not concede goals easily, while Uganda have fared well in their World Cup qualifying campaign.

If Nigeria can figure out their midfield combination, they could very well go the distance. 

4. Côte d’Ivoire

On paper, the defending champions also have what it takes to retain their crown. Ivory Coast are 42nd in the FIFA world rankings and the sixth-highest ranked team in Africa.

Ivory Coast defeated Nigeria 2–1 in the final of the previous AFCON to lift their third continental title, winning the tournament in the most bizarre of circumstances after a coaching change midway through it.

The Éléphants topped their group in World Cup qualifying to secure direct qualification for the showpiece event. They have great quality in their current squad and an excellent mix of youth and experience, with the likes of Amad Diallo, Sébastien Haller, Yan Diomande, Wilfried Zaha, Ousmane Diomande, and Franck Kessié.

Côte d’Ivoire have been placed in a tough Group F, alongside Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique. Barring Mozambique, they will face two strong teams in Cameroon and Gabon, the former being a five-time AFCON winner and the latter featuring a few experienced players who will want to sign off in memorable fashion.

Ivory Coast certainly possess the quality and mentality to go all the way. However, they will need to be at the top of their game from the group stage itself as they go about defending their crown.

3. Egypt

The Pharaohs are the most successful team in the competition, having won it a record seven times. But it’s been more than a decade and a half since they last won it (in 2010). They are the third-highest ranked African side in the FIFA world rankings, coming in at 34th.

Egypt had a fantastic World Cup qualifying campaign as they topped their group and qualified for the tournament with one game left to play. Their squad is led by Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, but apart from him, Omar Marmoush, and Mostafa Mohamed, no other player is currently playing his trade in Europe.

Egypt are placed in a tough Group B alongside Angola, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The South Africans will arguably be their toughest competitors, as they have a competitive squad and finished third at AFCON in 2023. Angola have a decent squad with a good blend of experience and youth and punched above their weight to reach the quarter-finals of last AFCON, though their recent form in the World Cup qualifiers was poor. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will make for easy opponents, given they were unable to win any of their World Cup qualifying games.

If Egypt are to win AFCON this time around, they will need to rely heavily on Salah and Marmoush for goals as well as utilise their experience to beat the higher-ranked teams in the competition.

2. Senegal

The 2021 AFCON winners are currently ranked 19th in the FIFA world rankings and are the second-best African team. 

Last AFCON, Senegal were eliminated by Ivory Coast in the Round of 16. That said, they went unbeaten in their latest World Cup qualifying campaign. Currently, they have a host of players playing in the top leagues, with popular names like Sadio Mané, Nicolas Jackson, Ismaïla Sarr, Lamine Camara, Iliman Ndiaye, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Édouard Mendy representing the Teranga.

For this AFCON, Senegal have been placed in Group D alongside DR Congo, Benin, and Botswana. DR Congo performed well in their World Cup qualifiers as well, having come second to Senegal, and will feature at the inter-confederation play-offs. As for Benin and Botswana, they are significantly inferior sides in comparison and would make for easy prey for Senegal. 

1. Morocco

Morocco last hosted AFCON in 1988. Now, as they prepare to be hosts again, they are the highest-ranked African team in the FIFA world rankings, ranked 11th in the table.

Morocco have built an impressive team over the past few years, featuring top names like Hakim Ziyech, Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Díaz, Yassin Bounou, Sofyan Amrabat, Nayef Aguerd, Chemsdine Talbi, and Noussair Mazraoui, most of whom ply their trade in Europe. Morocco’s World Cup qualifying campaign was also an impressive one, as they became the first African team to qualify with a 100% record.

Morocco’s last AFCON performance wasn’t up to the mark, as they exited the competition in the Round of 16. They’ll at least want to improve on that this time around. They are also placed in a relatively easy Group A with Mali, Zambia, and the Comoros. Their biggest challenge in this group will be Mali, while the other two cannot match them for quality on paper.

With Paris Saint-Germain fullback Achraf Hakimi leading what is a strong squad, it’s difficult to see Morocco losing to anyone based on player quality, squad depth, and recent form. However, football is a game of glorious uncertainties, and the Atlas Lions will have to beware of complacency if they want to win their second continental crown.