AFCON 2025 Preview: Group A

AFCON 2025 Preview: Group A

Photo: Royal Moroccan Football Federation

AFCON 2025 Preview: Group A

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is upon us with kickoff in Morocco set for December 21! Pan-Africa Football will preview each group and our first preview begins with Group A, which features Mali, Zambia, Comoros and hosts Morocco. Read about the key players to watch below.

 

Morocco

 

Introduction

 

Morocco feels like their time is now when it comes to the Africa Cup of Nations and will take the pitch for their opener on December 21 as the tournament favorites. The Atlas Lions established themselves as not only an African powerhouse but also a force to reckon with in world football, claiming fourth place at the 2022 FIFA World Cup before embarking on a dominant stretch where they have not only defeated all African opponents, but have completely dominated them.

But there will be just a slight element of doubt when it comes to the AFCON. Since winning their only continental title in 1976, the North Africans are notorious for failing to meet expectations at the tournament with only a runner-up finish in 2004 among many group stage exits and early eliminations in the knockout stages. However, the atmosphere is much more optimistic these days after an extended period of excellent organization, dutiful recruitment of talented dual national players and gradual improvements in its domestic football and youth development.

AFCON Record

 

Appearances19
Best FinishChampions (1976)
Last Appearance2023- Round of 16

 

Key Players

 

Achraf Hakimi (Club: Paris Saint-Germain [FRA])

 

The rightful winner of the African Footballer of the Year award, Hakimi will arrive while recovering from an injury and Moroccan supporters will hope that he is able to play himself back into shape before the knockout stage. A world class right back with supreme technical ability and athleticism, Hakimi is excellent with both feet and has excellent attacking instincts that allows him to dominate his flank. After an excellent year where he was a key figure as Paris Saint-Germain ended their UEFA Champions League curse, the taciturn Hakimi lets his play on the pitch do all the talking.

 

Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal [KSA])

 

If anybody forgot Bounou’s quality during Morocco’s magical 2022 World Cup run, the veteran goalkeeper gave us all a reminder over the summer with incredible saves for Saudi big spenders Al Hilal at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Considering the quality that the Atlas Lions have at all positions, it is demoralizing to the opposition that they will have to find a way past “Bono” even if they are able to get close to the Moroccan goal. Now Bounou’s objective is to star at the AFCON, a tournament he failed to impress in during the previous two editions.

 

Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid [ESP])

 

The one-time Spain international switched allegiance to Morocco in 2024, a move that was greeted with high excitement and anticipation. Diaz stepped right into the team and was a key player during qualifying for the upcoming AFCON, scoring seven goals in four matches as the Atlas Lions pummeled opponents. The former Manchester City youth player possesses an entertaining style of play with dynamic dribbling and clever creativity either in an attacking midfielder or wide forward role. It has been a difficult 2025-26 season with club Real Madrid but the AFCON will provide a welcome break where Diaz will relish a prominent role at his first major national team tournament.

 

X-Factor

 

Ismaël Saibari (PSV Eindhoven [NED])

 

One of the many dual national players recruited to represent Morocco in recent years, the Spanish-born attacking midfielder/winger is enjoying his time in the spotlight at 24 years of age. Strong performances with PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch top flight Eredivisie as well as the UEFA Champions League have seen Saibari emerge as a player who appears destined for a transfer to a major European league and the AFCON will be an excellent stage just before the January transfer window. A direct player who enjoys taking risks in the attack, Saibari adds an element of explosiveness to a steady and consistent group.

 

Mali

 

Introduction

A talented team that continues to be seen as a nation on the brink of success in African football, Les Aigles took a step back after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2023 AFCON. A disappointing 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign has resulted in guarded expectations for the team in Morocco, where former Gambia national team tactician Tom Saintfiet will lead the West Africans into battle.

The Belgian has one of Africa’s strongest midfields to work with in a team that has both rising talents as well as experienced leaders for Saintfiet to call upon. By being put in the same group as hosts Morocco, Mali are firm favorites to progress to the knockout stages. The Eagles have a good historical record at this tournament and showed the potential of the current group when they nearly took down current African champions Ivory Coast on their turf in 2023. With Malian players regularly doing well in European club football, the question remains: Can this team do the job against Africa’s top teams in the final stages?

 

AFCON Record

 

Appearances13
Best FinishThird Place (2012, 2013)
Last Appearance2023- Quarterfinals

 

Key Players

 

Kamory Doumbia (Brest [FRA])

 

An essential player for the Eagles. In a team that has numerous talented central midfielders but lacks creativity, Doumbia has the attacking instincts to make successful forward runs to support the attack as well as an excellent eye for goal that has seen him score 14 goals in 26 appearances with his national team. Still quite young at 22-years-old, Doumbia is irreplaceable at this point in his national team career and has done more than enough to earn a transfer to a bigger stage in his club career.

 

Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly [EGY])

 

Dieng has long been considered one of African club football’s highest regarded talents due to a successful spell at Egyptian giants Al Ahly. A physically bruising central midfielder with good technical ability who has won four CAF Champions League titles with his current club, the 28-year-old has recently taken on more of a leadership role with Mali where he serves as the captain. After featuring at two AFCON’s in a bit role, Dieng will be Saintfiet’s most trusted lieutenant this time around as an undisputed starter.

 

Dorgeles Nene (Fenerbahçe [TUR])

 

Nene is an electric forward who has plenty of flair and pace, making him a popular player with supporters. Used more in a substitute role during the 2023 AFCON, the 22-year-old is now ready to be one of the stars for the Eagles after improving his consistency, finishing and final ball. One of many Malian players at high levels in European club football whose career began at the JMG Academy set up by former French national team player Jean-Marc Guillou, who has developed a consistent pipeline from his academy in Bamako to Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg. 

 

X-Factor

 

Lassine Sinayoko (Auxerre [FRA])

 

His early national team career with Mali saw Sinayoko play a limited role until his breakout tournament at the 2023 AFCON, where he scored three goals for the Eagles. The 26-year-old is a good example of how national team success can positively impact a player’s club career, with Sinayoko moving on to become an important player in strong form at French Ligue 1 club Auxerre. What separates him from his competition at the forward position with Mali is his ability to create for teammates and his versatility to play anywhere on the attacking line.

 

Zambia

 

 

Introduction

 

The team popularly known as Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets) has endured difficult times since emerging out of nowhere to capture the 2012 AFCON, but the fact remains that Zambia remains an African nation that must be taken seriously in the continent’s biggest competition. They finished top of a qualifying group that also included Ivory Coast and the nation’s domestic league is being taken seriously more and more as a producer of talented young players.

 

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However, an underwhelming 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign combined with a miserable 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) performance a few months ago has reduced confidence in the team. Now under head coach Moses Sichone, a former FC Koln and Chipolopolo defender who was on three AFCON squads, Zambia have little to lose but must not be underestimated.

 

AFCON Record

 

Appearances18
Best FinishChampions (2012)
Last Appearance2023- Group Stage

Players to Watch

 

Patson Daka (Leicester City [ENG])

 

Starved of service during Zambia’s group stage exit at the 2023 AFCON, the striker has a lot to prove in Morocco after difficult times with Chipolopolo stretched into struggles with club Leicester City. After scoring goals for fun with RB Salzburg earlier in his club career and establishing himself as one of Africa’s best strikers with Zambia youth national teams, this tournament could be a crucial moment in his career for both club and country. Daka understands this better than anybody else and Zambian supporters will be hoping that he gets more support because the striker cannot do everything by himself.

 

Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha [KSA])

 

Sakala’s performances at the 2023 AFCON were, to be blunt, awful. A forward who was forced to play at a less natural position out wide, Sakala’s poor showing at the 2023 edition led to a self-imposed exile from the national team that only ended recently. He is an excellent dribbler with blazing speed but his risky approach on the ball can lead to turnovers and missed opportunities, a major reason why Patson Daka lacked support at the last edition. Zambian supporters are happy to see him back in the fold but a major storyline for Chipolopolo will be if Sakala and Saka can co-exist or if they will get in each other’s way again like in 2023.

 

Kings Kangwa (Hapoel Be’er Sheva [ISR])

 

Kangwa enjoyed a fantastic 2024-25 season in Israel with club Maccabi Be’er Sheva, winning the Israeli top flight’s Foreign Player of the Year as well as the Israel State Cup. A creative force in the center of the midfield, the diminutive playmaker enjoys a free role where he can dart around the pitch to connect with teammates. Capable of scoring or assisting goals, watch out for Kangwa’s late runs into the box where he utilize his strong shooting ability.

 

X-Factor

 

Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian [SCO])

 

The 21-year-old defensive midfielder’s role continues to gradually increase with Chipolopolo. Since moving to Swiss club BSC Young Boys at the age of 18, Chaiwa has shown patience despite struggling to earn regular playing time but a transfer to Scottish Premiership club Hibernian appears to be an excellent fit for both entities. Quick to make tackles while his passing abilities improve match by match, Chaiwa will act as a crucial shield for the defensive line and do the less glamorous work to allow star playmaker Kangwa more freedom in his attacking role.

 

Comoros

 

Introduction

 

The Coelacanths are back at the AFCON for a second appearance to follow up on a run to the Round of 16 on their debut at the 2021 edition. They did it in dramatic fashion with a thrilling victory over The Gambia in Morocco, and Stefano Cusin’s team will arrive in Morocco with a similar looking squad to the 2021 team that is composed of many dual national players.

 

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Placed in the same group as hosts Morocco, reaching the knockout stages is certainly a realistic goal for the island nation. With star power in the form of attackers like striker Myziane Maolida and winger Rafiki Said, this time around the team looks more talented with higher expectations but Comoros are a capable side that must not be taken lightly by their fellow Group A teams.

 

AFCON Record

 

Appearances1
Best FinishRound of 16 (2021)
Last Appearance2021- Round of 16

 

Key Players

 

Myziane Maolida (Al Kholood [KSA])

 

A talented forward who represented France at the European U-19 Championship in 2018, Maolida went through a difficult period of his career after moving to German club Hertha Berlin during the 2021-22 season. Relegated to the club’s reserve team at one point, an excellent loan spell with Scottish club Hibs and strong performances with Comoros resurrected his club career and now he is doing well with Al Kholood in the Saudi Pro League. Maolida, who was not part of Comoros’ 2021 AFCON team, gives the Coelacanths a legitimate goal threat this time around.

 

Rafiki Said (Standard Liege [BEL])

 

 

A tricky winger who earned a move to Belgian top flight side Standard Liege after excelling in France’s Ligue 2, Said is another dual national who elected to represent Comoros after the success of the 2021 AFCON team. With deadly pace and capable finishing when he gets into scoring positions, the 25-year-old provides an unpredictable style of play that can unsettle and unlock defenses.

 

Zaydou Youssouf (Al Fateh [KSA])

 

Another former France youth international, Youssouf made a big money move to Saudi Arabia with Al Fateh after a very successful period with Portuguese Primeira Liga side Famalicao. A combative defensive midfielder who is not afraid to put in a firm challenge, Youssouf provides toughness and stability to the midfield after committing to Comoros late in the 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign.

 

X-Factor

 

Youssouf M’Changama (Al Batin [KSA])

 

 

The 35-year-old is certainly in the final stage of his career but the Marseille native committed to play for Comoros back when it was much less fashionable to do so. A set piece specialist who has a flair for spectacular goals, M’Changama continues to provide the occasional moment of magic for his national team as well as current club Al Batin in the Saudi second tier. He may not play from the start at the AFCON but will certainly be a weapon for coach Cusin when he is looking for a moment of magic or inspiration at an important time.

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AFCON 2025 Preview
Comoros
Mali
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