Africa Cup of Nations: Observations from the first round of matches

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicked off with the first round of matches from the group stage taking place over the last four days. Hosts Morocco, as well as other tournament favorites like Senegal, Algeria and defending champions Ivory Coast all began with victories with few surprises.

While little can be concluded from the first round of fixtures, we now have an early view of how each team looks and an idea of what to look for as the group stage proceeds. Below, Pan-Africa Football identifies what happened in each group and what each team can take away from their opening matches:

Group A

 

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Results

Morocco 2-0 Comoros

Mali 1-1 Zambia

Observations

• Despite Soufiane Rahimi’s penalty kick failure early on, hosts Morocco picked up from where they left off in World Cup qualifying where the Atlas Lions continue to dominate African competition with impunity. The result in the opening match was never in doubt and Morocco remains the leading favorites to win on home soil despite their less than impressive recent history at the Africa Cup of Nations. Mali will provide a good test in the next match, let’s see if the Atlas Lions continue to dominate against a step up in competition.

• Comoros showed that they are more than capable of advancing to the knockout stages with a strong defensive performance. The good thing about facing the group favorites is that now the island nation is battle tested and ready for lesser competition against Mali and Zambia. They look very strong on the counter-attack but their next match against Zambia presents a different challenge where they will need to show they can assert themselves.

• What a disappointing result for Les Aigles of Mali, who dominated but only have a point to show for their efforts. However, they established themselves as the favorites to finish runner-up in the group and their attack looks strong. Let’s see how the West Africans fare when their defense will be tested to its limites against Morocco.

• Just like in 2023, Zambia’s Chipolopolo attack looks disjointed and the team appears to perform to less than the sum of its parts. Fashion Sakala is a high risk dribbler who shows little signs of chemistry with fellow star Patson Daka. The question remains: How can this team progress if their two best attackers are not on the same page? That being said, the defense surprisingly performed admirably and shows that this team has plenty of fight in them.

Group B

 

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Results

South Africa 2-1 Angola

Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe

Observations

• Group favorites South Africa and Egypt did not have an easy time against less fancied opponents. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana showed resilience against a motivated Angola team and it is a great sign that Lyle Foster started and scored. Overcoming a difficult opponent at the start is a great sign for Bafana Bafana, who are on a mission to prove that South Africa is here to stay as a potential contender for the final stages.

• Angola are established at this point and their run to the quarterfinals at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was no fluke. The central midfield looks strong for Palancas Negras but they lacked efficiency in the attack and on the wings. Coach Patrice Beaumelle has some difficult decisions to make with talented options and Angola’s tournament prospects will depend on whether he discovers the right combinations on the wings and in the forward line.

• There is a lot of pressure on Egypt to compete in Morocco and despite defeating Zimbabwe, it was a disappointing performance. Mohamed Salah was very passive for most of the match, content to be a passer for long stretches. A victory is good in the end but Zimbabwe had no business playing the Pharaohs to a close match, and Egypt coach Hossam Hassan will continue to feel the heat with a final appearance expected.

• Zimbabwe have little to no expectations at this tournament, but coach Mario Marinica is showing why he is a good choice for the Warriors. Similarly to when he guided Malawi to the knockout stages in 2021, the Romanian coach utilizes a direct, counter-attacking style of play that makes him a good fit for teams that know they will have to defend for long periods. Zimbabwe will need to find a way to be more proactive but facing regional rivals South Africa and Angola will motivate the Warriors since they know these opponents well.

Group C

 

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Results

Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania

Tunisia 3-1 Uganda

Observations

• It is an easy group for Nigeria and Tunisia, who will be able to gain some needed momentum ahead of the knockout stages.

• We all know how it works with Nigeria, who always have a high level of potential with Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman involved and tend to perform well when they are counted out. However, this team has not been operating in top form since the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and it must be said that they allowed a rather weak Tanzania side to give them a difficult match. Many have labeled the Super Eagles among the favorites due to their past success but North African powers (Morocco, Algeria, Egypt) and several sub-Saharan African nations (Ivory Coast, Senegal, South Africa, DR Congo) look superior at this point.

• Tanzania showed their best level in the opener but there is little to be excited about with the Taifa Stars. Veteran forwards Mbwana Samatta and Simon Msuva created little danger and are past their primes while promising forward Kelvin John offered little as a substitute. The defense remains strong with talented midfielder Novatus Miroshi, and a familar East African foe in Uganda provides a potential pathway to the best possible finish for this team: The Round of 16.

• Tunisia look much more efficient in the attack this time around after an unceremonious group stage exit in 2023. Elias Achouri is showing signs of fulfilling his potential with the FC Copenhagen player a dynamic attacker who could make the Eagles of Carthage a bit more unpredictable in a good way. This team is always solid in the defense and midfield, let’s see if their attack can continue the good work against Nigeria as seen against a weak Uganda side.

• The rumblings from the Uganda camp ahead of the tournament were not positive, and the Cranes were overmatched against Tunisia. Coach Paul Put admitted that he took Tunisia’s strengths with too much consideration, and neutralized his own attack by leaving Travis Mutyaba and Allan Okello out of the starting eleven. Steven Mukwala is not a good enough striker for this level but that may allow us to see more of 17-year-old starlet James Bogere, who is already superior to Mukwala at this point and could make an impact at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Group D

 

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Results

DR Congo 1-0 Benin

Senegal 3-0 Botswana

Observations

• The two favorites in this group are clear after wins for Senegal and DR Congo. Senegal look rejuvenated with players like Nicolas Jackson and Sadio Mané looking very motivated. The Lions of Teranga were relentless against Botswana and the chemistry appears at top level under Pape Thiaw. Hopefully we will see more of this, where Senegal can suffocate weaker foes and show versatile styles of play depending on the opponent.

• Botswana will have a difficult time at this tournament. Star attackers like Kabelo Seakanyeng and Tumisang Orebonye failed to create danger from the few opportunities they had while the midfield was completely overrun. Facing Senegal is a difficult prospect to begin the tournament, but the Zebras looked particularly overwhelmed by the occasion and they have not won a competitive match since March (2-0 over Somalia in 2026 World Cup qualifying).

• It is clear that DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre is going to lean on his excellent defense to make the Leopards a contender. With Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Chancel Mbemba and Axel Tuanzebe on the defensive line, this team is probably the most difficult team to break down at the tournament. Add in Noah Sadiki in the midfield and the Leopards will be fierce defensively. But we will see their true capabilities when goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi is tested more and questions remain about the striker position, where veteran Cedric Bakambu continues to look generally ineffective.

• For Benin, they are a team that has in intriguing mix of veteran contributors but a lot of young talent that continues to show potential. Their next match against Botswana will reveal more, but they competed well with the DRC. Coach Gernot Rohr will learn a lot from the opener, where his squad was stretched with a handful of regulars out, and it is clear that he needs to move on from a couple past stars like Jodel Dossou who are not at this level.

Group E

 

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Results

Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea

Algeria 3-0 Sudan

Observations

• Algeria are a legitimate contender at tournament where it appears that we are likely to see a champion from North Africa. Mohamed Amoura is the forward that Les Verts have been looking for, something that was sorely lacking during shock group stage exits in 2023 and 2019. With a motivated Riyad Mahrez along with consistent units in the defense and midfield, Algeria will be happy to gain momentum while not getting quite the scrutiny that contenders are given.

• Sudan are mired in a long-term slump at this point and the Africa Cup of Nations will not provide any solace for coach James Kwesi Appiah and his men. Like other recent Sudan teams at this tournament, they lack the firepower to trouble opposition defenses and the defense does not look much better in what will be an uphill battle in Group E.

• Burkina Faso needed a late rally to defeat Equatorial Guinea but the momentum gained is clear. The team is still figuring out some things but they are on course for another knockout stage appearance. The question remains whether this team can compete with Africa’s top teams and we will learn a lot more about what this team is capable of after their next match against Algeria.

• For Equatorial Guinea, it appears that Nzalang Nzalang look less capable than the teams that advanced to the knockout stages at the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations. The key players from those previous teams do not look as lively and there are no clear replacements in line. This team has a solid foundation in the defense and central midfield but they must perform against Sudan next match, the only fixture that they look capable of winning.

Group F

 

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Results

Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique

Cameroon 1-0 Gabon

Observations

• Defending Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast were well in control against Mozambique but did little to end concerns about their inconsistent goal scoring. Young attacking starlets Amad Diallo and Yan Diomandé are a clear upgrade after being given important roles but the return of Wilfried Zaha and substitute striker Vakoun Bayo did little with the service they were given. This is a serious issue for the Elephants’ chances of defending their crown, even if they do look quite strong otherwise.

• Mozambique have the fight to compete at this tournament but the Mambas’ attack depends a lot on playmaker Geny Catamo…likely too much for their prospects in Morocco. The defense performed well but against Ivory Coast but where are the goals going to come from?

• Don’t look now, but Cameroon looked convincing to many observers despite being in the news for all the wrong reasons before the tournament. Karl Etta Eyong’s first goal for the Indomitable Lions was great to see for supporters but there remains a lot to prove and their next match against Ivory Coast will reveal a lot. A win to start the competition is encouraging but let’s pump the brakes on any discussion of Cameroon as a contender until they prove a bit more.

• It was a bewildering opening match for Gabon, with coach Thierry Mouyouma bringing in stars Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mario Lemina as a curious double substitution around the half hour mark. The Panthers recovered from a poor start to compete well with Cameroon but there just isn’t enough depth in this team to take them seriously for a deep run. They will look to gain some momentum against Mozambique next match but the Mambas are more than capable of causing problems in a crucial clash.