Moving on to this year's edition, it looks stronger than ever with many talented squads competing. Who do you expect to be battling it out in the latter stages of the tournament?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIvory Coast <\/strong>are the reigning champions, and that status brings both confidence and expectation. Yan Diomande is electrifying and I can\u2019t wait to see him playing, Franck Kessi\u00e9 brings power and leadership in midfield, and Wilfried Zaha adds flair. They showed in 2023 that resilience and unity can carry them through, and with that experience behind them, they\u2019ll be aiming to defend their crown.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNigeria<\/strong> look very strong this year. With Victor Osimhen leading the line, they have one of the most feared strikers in world football. Add in the pace and creativity of Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze, plus Wilfred Ndidi\u2019s stability in midfield, and you see a team with balance and depth. Nigeria were runnersup last time, and with this mix of stars they\u2019ll believe they can go all the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMorocco<\/strong>, as hosts, will carry the hopes of a nation. Achraf Hakimi\u2019s recovery from injury will be crucial, his drive from the back changes games. Even without Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal, they still have Youssef EnNesyri and Sofyan Amrabat to provide strength and creativity. With the home crowd behind them, they\u2019ll expect to be in the latter stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSenegal<\/strong> and Egypt<\/strong> also have to be mentioned. Senegal\u2019s squad is full of quality, with Sadio Man\u00e9 and Kalidou Koulibaly still leading the way, while Egypt remain dangerous thanks to Mohamed Salah\u2019s ability to decide matches on his own. Both nations have the pedigree to reach the knockout rounds and cause problems for anyone they face.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor me, those are the teams most likely to be battling it out in the latter stages, but I do think Ivory Coast or Nigeria are the ones I\u2019d put my money on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are there any dark horses who could surprise people at AFCON 2025?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEvery AFCON has a team that nobody expects to go far, but they end up making headlines. For me, South Africa<\/strong> are one to watch. They\u2019ve been building quietly and their domestic league produces a lot of talent that doesn\u2019t always get the same attention as Europe. With their organisation and pace, they can frustrate bigger sides and sneak through the knockout rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBurkina Faso<\/strong> are another. They\u2019ve shown before that they can punch above their weight, reaching the final in 2013 and the semis in 2017. This time, they have a forward line that can hurt anyone: Dango Ouattara with his pace, Lassina Traor\u00e9 and Bertrand Traor\u00e9\u2019s creativity and finishing. At the back, Edmond Tapsoba is a leader who gives them stability and confidence. They may not have the depth of Nigeria or Ivory Coast, but they have unity, resilience, and enough quality in key positions to upset favourites.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhich established stars are set to light up AFCON?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAFCON always brings the big names to the stage, and this year is no different. Victor Osimhen is the headline act, his goalscoring record speaks for itself, and he has the mentality to carry Nigeria deep into the tournament. PierreEmerick Aubameyang may be in the later stages of his career, but his pace and finishing still make him a threat, especially in knockout football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mohamed Salah is a superstar who doesn\u2019t need introduction, he has the ability to decide games on his own, and Egypt will lean on him heavily. Achraf Hakimi, if fully fit, is one of the best fullbacks in the world; his energy and drive from the back can change matches. And of course, Sadio Man\u00e9 remains Senegal\u2019s talisman. He\u2019s proven time and again that he can deliver in the biggest moments. These are the players fans will expect to shine, and they have the pedigree to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which lesserestablished names should fans keep an eye on?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAFCON isn\u2019t just about the stars everyone knows, it\u2019s also about the players who announce themselves on the big stage. Seko Fofana is a powerhouse in midfield, and his ability to dominate games could be decisive for Ivory Coast. Yan Diomande is another Ivorian talent who brings energy and creativity, and this tournament could be his breakthrough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ayoub El Kaabi has been scoring freely in the Greek league, and AFCON is the perfect platform for him to show what he can do internationally. Dango Ouattara is a young winger with pace and directness, he\u2019s looked great from Brentford in the EPL, and defenders won\u2019t enjoy facing him. And Raphael Onyedika gives Nigeria extra steel in midfield; he\u2019s still developing, but tournaments like this are where players grow into leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are the names I\u2019ll be watching closely, because AFCON always produces new heroes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who do you think will finish as top goalscorer at AFCON?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen you talk about goals at AFCON, you have to mention Mohamed Salah and Sadio Man\u00e9. Their international records speak for themselves, they\u2019ve delivered consistently for Egypt and Senegal over many years, and they always rise to the big occasions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But if I had to pick one name for this tournament, it\u2019s Victor Osimhen. He\u2019s in incredible form, and Nigeria\u2019s group gives him the chance to start fast. Against Tanzania and Uganda, he could get a few goals early, and once a striker like Osimhen builds momentum, he\u2019s very hard to stop. He has the hunger, the quality, and the mentality to finish as top scorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, I\u2019d also an eye on Mohamed Amoura for Algeria. He\u2019s less established, but he\u2019s been scoring regularly in Europe and has the pace to trouble defences. He\u2019s the kind of player who could surprise people, and, with the service of Riyad Mahrez, make a name for himself at this tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What kind of atmosphere do you expect at AFCON 2025?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAFCON atmospheres are always intense, but Morocco hosting makes this edition special. The last time they staged the tournament was back in 1988, that\u2019s almost four decades ago. Since then, Morocco has come a long way, both as a football nation and as a country. You only have to look at their World Cup run in 2022 to see how far they\u2019ve progressed, and now they have the infrastructure, the passion and the belief to host AFCON at the highest level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another thing that makes AFCON unique is accessibility. We\u2019ve all seen the headlines about World Cup ticket prices, thousands of dollars just to follow your team. AFCON is different. CAF has made sure tickets are affordable, starting from around 100 dirhams in the group stage. That means ordinary fans, families and young supporters can be part of the experience. When you have that mix of people in the stands, the atmosphere becomes even more powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moroccan fans are famous for their tifos, their chants, the rhythm of the drums, it\u2019s not just support, it\u2019s theatre. That energy will lift the home team but also put them under pressure, because every touch is judged. For me, that\u2019s what makes AFCON unforgettable: the atmosphere isn\u2019t just a backdrop, it becomes part of the contest itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n