Africa Cup of Nations 2025: Anticipation and Challenges Ahead

As the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) kicks off in Morocco on Sunday, the spotlight has shifted from debates on player availability and tournament timing to the pitch itself.

Leading up to the 2025 finals, two primary narratives dominate the conversation: Can the host nation extend their world record of 18 consecutive victories and secure a second title? And will Mohamed Salah finally lift the trophy with Egypt?

The 33-year-old's future with Liverpool has been a hot topic since his controversial statement on December 6, where he claimed he had been "thrown under the bus" by the club. After returning from the bench at Anfield last Saturday, Salah is now focused on his fifth attempt to win Africa's most prestigious prize, especially after suffering two defeats in previous finals.

However, narrowing the discussion to just these two points would overlook the tournament's unpredictable nature. Last February, Ivory Coast achieved an incredible home victory despite sacking their coach during the group stage, while Senegal's strong performance was highlighted by their win over England in June.

Nigeria aims to improve upon their performance at the 2023 finals, while fellow powerhouse Cameroon appears to be in disarray, with both nations seeking redemption after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With seven different champions in the last eight editions, the 2025 tournament in Morocco promises to be captivating as teams vie for what has been described as the "holy grail of African football" by Benin's assistant coach, Tunde Adelakun.

"Winning the Africa Cup of Nations is incredibly challenging. People may love you, but if you win, they will remember you forever," remarked Morocco midfielder Sofyan Amrabat during an interview with the BBC World Service.

Morocco's Hopes

The Atlas Lions are favored to win, bolstered by home advantage and their status as the continent's top-ranked team following a historic semi-final run in the 2022 World Cup. Their impressive victory streak, which surpassed Spain's previous record of 15 wins, is tempered by the fact that their only win against a team in the world's top 50 was against Tunisia (ranked 49 at the time) in June.

For coach Walid Regragui and his squad, who were eliminated in the last 16 in 2023, managing the pressure will be crucial. Tickets for matches featuring the hosts sold out within hours, and fans are eager to celebrate a first Afcon title since 1976 in Rabat on January 18.

Although influential captain Achraf Hakimi is racing to regain fitness, Morocco is expected to advance to the knockout stage regardless. "We need to create an atmosphere similar to what we had in Qatar, with everyone supporting us," Amrabat said. "In Africa, playing with heart is paramount. The fans can provide us with significant energy, and we must demonstrate intensity. If we achieve that, combined with our talent, we can go very far."

This year, members of Gen Z protested against the substantial investment in football infrastructure ahead of Morocco co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, while recent flash floods in the coastal Safi region resulted in at least 37 fatalities. Organizers will be vigilant about potential disruptions during Afcon as the country seeks to reinforce its position as Africa's leading football nation.

Concerns Leading Up to the Tournament

The mid-season scheduling of Afcon has once again created challenges for European clubs. The Confederation of African Football (Caf) faced limited options regarding the tournament's timing, especially after FIFA scheduled the expanded Club World Cup for June and July. As a result, FIFA mandated that players only need to be released seven days before the finals, rather than the customary 14 days required for most major tournaments.

This decision threw the preparations of several national teams into disarray, with Mali's coach Tom Saintfiet labeling it "catastrophic." "The world needs to respect African football," the Belgian stated.

Mali's Group A opponents, Comoros, whose entire squad is based abroad, had to shorten their training camp and cancel a friendly, which impacted their preparations for the opening match against Morocco on Sunday at 19:00 GMT. "We are frustrated by this; it was unfair to inform us of the change just one week prior," said Comoros coach Stefano Cusin. "Had we known earlier, we could have devised a different plan."

Caf remains committed to hosting the tournament every two years, as it is a primary revenue generator essential for reinvesting in African football.

Challenges for Cameroon

Among the potential challengers, South Africa has formed a cohesive unit under coach Hugo Broos, who led Cameroon to victory in 2017. Algeria boasts the top scorer in the African World Cup qualifiers, Mohamed Amoura, who netted 10 goals, and the North Africans appear poised to advance past the knockout stage for the first time in three editions.

However, five-time champions Cameroon faced a tumultuous lead-up to the tournament, with federation president Samuel Eto'o dismissing coach Marc Brys, and key players Andre Onana and Vincent Aboubakar being excluded from the squad. "We aimed to approach things differently. They are talented players, but we have chosen others to foster a new mindset," said new coach David Pagou.

No debutants will feature this year; however, Sudan remarkably qualified despite playing all their qualifiers away from home due to the ongoing civil war. Botswana, Mozambique, and Tanzania are all in search of their first Afcon victories, hoping to progress beyond the group stage for the first time, while Tanzania prepares to co-host the tournament in 2027 alongside Kenya and Uganda.

With 12 former champions in the mix, a first-time winner may seem unlikely, but seasoned observers know to expect the unexpected at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Africa Cup of Nations 2025: Anticipation and Challenges Ahead

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