The Moroccan national team, both host and top favorite, is eager to shine at the AFCON 2025. With their automatic (yet still impressive) qualification as the host nation and a squad full of talent, Morocco is determined to make a strong mark on the tournament. The Morocco Africa Cup promises to be an exciting football chapter, in which the Atlas Lions showcase their ambition to make history once again. On this page, we delve deeper into everything related to the Morocco Africa Cup: from qualification and statistics to Morocco’s competitors and ticket availability. Discover why Morocco is considered one of the top contenders and what makes this team so special.
Qualification
The Moroccan national team secured its place at the AFCON 2025 in convincing fashion. Although Morocco qualified automatically as the host nation, the Atlas Lions still participated in the qualification matches in Group B, alongside Gabon, The Central African Republic and Lesotho. They finished top of the group with a perfect record: six wins in six matches and a goal difference of 26 scored and only 2 conceded. This gave them the best goal difference across the entire qualification campaign. Check out the other results here.
| Friday 6 september 2024 | ||
 Morocco Gabon | 4 1 | H. Ziyech (2x), A. El Kaabi, B. Díaz |
| Monday 9 september 2024 | ||
 Lesotho Morocco | 0 1 | B. Díaz |
| Saturday 12 october 2024 | ||
Morocco Central African Republic | 5 0 | A. Ounahi (2x), A. Ezzalzouli, A. Hakimi, S. Rahimi |
| Tuesday 15 october 2024 | ||
| Central African Republic Morocco | 0 4 | E. Ben Seghir (2x), A. Ezzalzouli, Y. En-Nesyri |
| Monday 11 november 2024 | ||
| Gabon Morocco | 1 5 | B. Díaz (2x), I. Saibari, J. Harkass, Y. En-Nesyri |
| Tuesday 18 november 2024 | ||
| Morocco Lesotho | 7 0 | B. Díaz (3x), S. Rahimi (2x), I. Saibari, Y. En-Nesyri |
| Team | PTS | G | W | D | L | GS | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | 18 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | +24 |
| Gabon | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -2 |
| Lesotho | 4 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 13 | -11 |
| Central African Rep. | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 14 | -11 |
Player Statistics
During Morocco’s qualification campaign, one clear topscorer emerged: Brahim Díaz. With 7 goals, he also became topscorer of the entire 2025 AFCON qualification. When it comes to assists, things were more evenly distributed. With two players leading the way: Azzedine Ounahi and Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, each providing 3 assists. Ultimately, Díaz’s 7 goals also earned him the title of Morocco’s best player in the qualifiers, with an average rating of 8,2.
| Player | Goals | Assists | Minutes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brahim Díaz | 7 | 0 | 233 | 8,2 |
| Hakim Ziyech | 2 | 0 | 108 | 7,9 |
| Abdessamad Ezzalzouli | 2 | 3 | 428 | 7,9 |
| Eliesse Ben Seghir | 2 | 1 | 265 | 7,8 |
| Azzedine Ounahi | 2 | 3 | 389 | 7,7 |
| Achraf Hakimi | 1 | 1 | 450 | 7,7 |
| Ismael Saibari | 2 | 1 | 77 | 7,6 |
| Jamal Harkass | 1 | 0 | 360 | 7,6 |
| Adam Aznou | 0 | 1 | 174 | 7,5 |
| Soufiane Rahimi | 3 | 2 | 308 | 7,5 |
| Youssef Belammari | 0 | 1 | 180 | 7,5 |
| Oussama Targhalline | 0 | 0 | 90 | 7,4 |
| Yunis Abdelhamid | 0 | 0 | 90 | 7,4 |
| Nayef Aguerd | 0 | 1 | 507 | 7,2 |
| Noussair Mazraoui | 0 | 0 | 270 | 7,1 |
| Bono | 0 | 0 | 302 | 7,1 |
| Sofyan Amrabat | 0 | 1 | 450 | 7,1 |
| Munir Mohamedi | 0 | 0 | 238 | 7,0 |
| Amine Adli | 0 | 0 | 89 | 7,0 |
| Bilal El Khannouss | 0 | 0 | 161 | 6,8 |
| Youssef En-Nesyri | 3 | 1 | 191 | 6,8 |
| Osame Sahraoui | 0 | 0 | 22 | 6,8 |
| Ayoub El Kaabi | 1 | 0 | 246 | 6,8 |
| Amir Richardson | 0 | 0 | 67 | 6,8 |
| Ilias Akhomach | 0 | 0 | 87 | 6,60 |
| Reda Belahyane | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6,6 |
| Adam Masina | 0 | 0 | 14 | 6,5 |
| Abdelkabir Abqar | 0 | 0 | 114 | 6,4 |
| Zakaria Aboukhlal | 0 | 0 | 26 | 6,4 |
AFCON 2025
Morocco has been placed in Group A of the 2025 AFCON. The group promises intense matches and though competition. Alongside Morocco, the group includes Comoros, Mali and Zambia. It’s considered one of the toughest groups in de tournament, as all four teams finished first in their respective qualification group. Take a look how the other three teams qualified here.
Morocco’s Match schedule
| Sunday 21 december 2025 | ||
Morocco Comoros | Stade Moulay Abdallah (Rabat) | |
| Thursday 26 december 2025 | ||
Morocco Mali | Stade Moulay El Hassan (Rabat) | |
| Monday 29 december 2025 | ||
Morocco Zambia | Stade Moulay Abdallah (Rabat) | |
Morocco tickets
For the 2025 AFCON, CAF will once again launch online ticket sales. This time with even more improvements to provide fans with a seamless experience. Ticket sales for the 2023 AFCON began two months before the tournament, and the same timeline is expected for the 2025 edition. Keep an eye on CAF’s official ticketing platform for updates.
In 2023, ticket sales opened two days early for holders of VISA payment cards. After that, general public sales began on the platform. During this phase, 25 percent of the group stage tickets were made available. Ticket prices ranged from around 8 US dollars for Category Three, around 16 US dollars for Category Two and around 24 US dollars for Categroy One. Fans were allowed to purchase up to six tickets per household.
CAF is expected to apply the same conditions for the 2025 AFCON. However, it remains to be seen whether ticket prices will stay at the same level.
Morocco’s Opponents
Comoros
Nickname: The Coelacanths
Appearances: 2
Best result: Round of 16 (2021)
Last edition (2023): –
They hail from an island group in the Indian Ocean and were long considered one of Africa’s football minnows, but that image is quickly changing. Comoros has once again qualified for AFCON and is determined to prove that their 2021 surprise run was no fluke.
Qualification
Group A: Comoros, Tunesia, Gambia, Madagascar
Final standing: 1st place – 12 points
Goal difference: 7 scored, 4 conceded
Comoros secured their spot at the 2025 AFCON by finishing top of Group A. The highlight was a hard-fought 1-0 victory over group favorite Tunesia, which is a clear sign of their growth as a serious contender.
The coach
Since taking charge in 2023, Italian-French coach Stefano Cusin has shaped a tight-knit and disciplined squad. His strategy emphasizes defensive solidity and quick counterattacks. His side is well-organized and plays with unity. The win against Tunesie perfectly illustrates the succes of his approach.
Keyplayer: Myziane Maolida
The 25-year-old striker is the man in form. Since making his debut in November 2023, he has scored 4 goals in 11 international appearances. His 90th-minute winner against Gambia secured Comoros the much-coveted AFCON ticket. Expectations are high for Maolida to be a key figure for Comoros in Morocco.
Historical Overview
In their AFCON debut, Comoros caused a major upset by beating Ghana 3-2 and reaching the Round of 16. In that legendary match against Cameroon, outfield player Chaker Alhadhur was forced to play as goalkeeper due to a COVID outbreak. They lost 2-1, but earned widespread respect for their courage and spirit.
Mali
Nickname: The Eagles
Appearances: 14
Best result: Finalist (1972)
Last edition (2023): Quarter-finals
Mali is heading to Morocco for their 14th AFCON appearance and is seen as a serious dark horse. The West Africans have been a consistent presence at the tournament for years, but one thing still eludes them: a title.
The squad
Mali boasts a strong core of players competing in top European leagues. The backbone of the team is formed by talented professionals who play at the highest level week in and week out. Some standout names include:
- Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur) – the midfield leader, strong in duels and creative in build-up play.
- Nene Dorgeles (RB Salzburg) – a fast, technically skilled forward with excellent movement.
- Kamory Doumbia (Stade Brestois) – an attacking midfielder with great positional awareness and an eye for goals.
Qualification
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Eswatini
Final standing: 1st place – 14 points
Goal difference: 10 scored, 1 conceded
A convincing qualification run, marked by defensive solidity and efficiency. Mali conceded just one goal across six matches.
The coach
Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet took over in August 2024, succeeding Éric Sékou Chelle. Saintfiet is a well-known figure in African football, having led Gambia to a surprise quarter-final appearance at AFCON 2021. In 2022, he was named CAF Coach of the Year. He is known for his organizational strength and his ability to build cohesive teams.
Under his leadership, Mali remained unbeaten in qualification, topping Group I with four wins and two draws.
Keyplayer: Yves Bissouma
The 28-year-old Bissouma is the engine of this team. A regular starter at Tottenham Hotspur and a fan favorite in Mali, he is a complete midfielder: strong in ball recovery, creative in distribution and not affraid to shoot from distance. With 45 international caps to his name, he is set to play a key role once again.
Historical overview
Mali has qualified for every AFCON since 2010. While the team often goes deep into the tournament, the trophy has remained just out of reach:
- 1972 – Finalist
- 2002, 2004 – Fourth place
- 2012, 2013 – Third place
- 2023 – Quarter-finals
Zambia
Nickname: Chipolopolo
Appearances: 18
Best result: Champions (2012)
Last edition (2023): Group stage
Zambia, the second Southern African nation to win the Africa Cup of Nations (after South Africa), is preparing for its 19th appearance at the tournament. Since their legendary victory over Côte d’Ivoire in the 2012 final, Chipolopolo has yet to shine again on Africa’s biggest stage.
Qualification
Group G: Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Chad
Final stading: 1st place – 13 points
Goal difference: 7 scored, 4 conceded
Zambia qualified convincingly for the tournament with a strong run of matches. The 2012 champions won four of their six games and finished top of the group, one point ahead of Côte d’Ivoire.
The coach
In 2022, the Zambian Football Association appointed Avram Grant as head coach. The former Chelsea manager made his return to the African continent, having previously led Ghana to the semi-finals of AFCON 2017.
Though Zambia failed to progress beyond the group stage in de previous edition in Côte d’Ivoire, the team now has one of modern football’s most experienced coaches. Grant brings deep tactical knowledge and valuable international experience.
Keyplayer: Lubambo Musonda
Musonda is the team captain and a vital figure for Zambia. The midfielder brings valuable European experience as the team chases new succes. The 29-year-old has played in Armenia, Poland, Denmark and currently plays for FC Magdeburg in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga.
Historical overview
As they prepare for their 19th AFCON appearance, Zambia hopes to deliver another memorable run. Of their previous 18 appearances, they reached the podium six times: twice as runners-up (1974 and 1994), three times as bronze medalists (1982, 1990 and 1996) and once as champions (2012).