The draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was held Monday evening at the Mohammed V Theater in Rabat, Morocco.
Spotlight on Group A
As the host nation, Morocco appears to have a clear path to the Round of 16. However, the steady rise of Mali, Comoros, and Zambia in recent tournaments suggests that the competition will be anything but predictable.
Zambia's historic triumph in 2012 serves as a reminder of the potential for "outsiders" to rise to the occasion and defy expectations.
Mali’s stellar performance at AFCON 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire saw them top their group, defeating strong contenders and advancing to the quarterfinals before being eliminated by the eventual champions and host nation.
That said, history favors Morocco in head-to-head encounters with Mali. The Atlas Lions have emerged victorious in three of their last four meetings, including a commanding 6-0 win during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Ranked 14th in the world, Morocco is expected to kick off the tournament with a confidence-boosting win against the formidable Comoros "Coelacanths," ranked 103rd, on December 21. This opening victory could set the tone for their progression into the knockout stages.
Group F: A Clash of Titans
Group F promises fireworks as the Ivory Coast Elephants face off against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. The two teams share a storied rivalry, having last met during AFCON 2015, where the Ivory Coast emerged victorious and went on to claim the title in Malabo.
The Ivorians, fresh from their third AFCON title in February 2024 in Abidjan, will need to bring their A-game against Cameroon, a team that has lifted the trophy five times, beginning with their historic 1984 win in Abidjan led by Roger Milla.
Emerse Faé’s squad will face a determined Cameroon side eager to live up to their "Indomitable" moniker and exact revenge.
Egypt’s Challenge
Seven-time champions Egypt find themselves in a challenging group alongside South Africa, third-place finishers in the previous edition, Angola, unbeaten in qualifiers and a quarterfinalist, and Zimbabwe.
Led by Mohamed Salah, the Pharaohs are no strangers to the advanced stages of the tournament. However, they haven’t claimed the title since their golden generation’s triumph in 2010. They’ll aim to navigate this tricky group without any major upsets.
Nigeria’s Road to Redemption
Runners-up in the last edition, where they lost to the Ivory Coast 2-1, Nigeria will face Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania. The latter two nations, co-hosts of the next CHAN tournament alongside Kenya, may prove to be dark horses.
Fixtures like Nigeria-Tunisia and Senegal-DR Congo are among the standout matches revealed during the draw conducted by African football legends Mustapha Hadji, Serge Aurier, Aliou Cissé, and Joseph Yobo.
With just under a year to go, the stage is set for an unforgettable tournament, showcasing the best of African football.
(Source: MAP)