Comoros
Profile
- Nickname: The Coelacanths
- Appearances: 2x
- Last appearance: 2021
- Titles: 0
- FIFA Ranking: 105
Hailing from an island group in the Indian Ocean, the Comoros were long considered football minnows in Africa, but that perception is changing rapidly. They have once again qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations and are determined to prove that their 2021 breakthrough was no fluke.
Qualification
Comoros impressively secured a spot at AFCON 2025 by finishing of Group A. The highlight was a hard-fought 1-0 win over tournament favorites Tunisia. This victory serves as clear evidence of their growth into a serious contender.
Coach: Stefano Cusin
Since his appointment in 2023, Italian-French coach Stefano Cusin has forged a tight-knit and disciplined team. His focus is on defensive solidity and quick counterattacks. The team is well-organized and functions as a cohesive unit. The win against Tunisia is a textbook example of his succesful approach.
Key Player: Myziane Maolida
The 25-year-old striker is the team’s standout performer. Since making his debut in November 2023, he has scored 4 goals in 11 international matches. His dramatic 90th-minute winner against Gambia secured Comoros a coveted AFCON ticket. Maolida is expected to play a crucial role for the team in Morocco.
Previous AFCON performances
In their debut at the Africa Cup, Comoros shocked the continent by defeating Ghana 3-2 and reaching the Round of 16. In that legendary knockout match against Cameroon, outfield player Chaker Alhadhur was forced to play as a goalkeeper due to COVID-19 cases. Though Comoros lost 2-1, they earned widespread admiration and respect.
Mali
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- Nickname: The Eagles
- Appearances: 14x
- Last appearance: 2023
- Titles: 0
- FIFA Ranking: 53
Mali heads to Morocco for its 14th Africa Cup of Nations appearance and is considered 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.
Qualification
In the qualifiers, Mali was drawn into Group I alongside Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau and Eswatini. The team lived up to expectations and finished top of the group unbeaten, with 14 points. Scoring 10 goals and conceding just 1, the Eagles proved dominant both offensively and defensively.
Coach: Tom Saintfiet
Belgian head coach Tom Saintfiet took over from Éric Sékou Chelle in August 2024. Saintfiet is no stranger to African football. He led Gambia to a surprise quarter-final finish at the 2021 Africa Cup and was named CAF Coach of the Year in 2022. He is known for his organizational skills and ability to build cohesive teams.
Key Player: Yves Bissouma
The 28-year-old Bissouma is the engine of this team. A long-time starter at Tottenham Hotspur and a fan favorite in Mali, he is a complete midfielder, strong in ball recovery, creative in build-up play and not affraid to shoot from distance. With 45 international caps to his name, Bissouma is set to play a key role once again.
Previous AFCON performances
Mali has qualified for every AFCON since 2010. The team often progresses deep into the tournament but has yet to capture the ultimate prize.
- 1972 – Finalist
- 2002, 2004 – Fourth place
- 2012, 2013 – Third place
- 2023 – Quarter-finals
Morocco
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- Nickname: The Atlas Lions
- Appearances: 20x
- Last appearance: 2023
- Titles: 1 (1976)
- FIFA Ranking: 12
Morocco is the host nation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and is determined to claim its second continental title. The Atlas Lions are facing a new challenge: to prove their strength and recapture the form they showed at the end of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Moroccan fans have high expectations for the team, esspecially after the disappointing exit in the previous edition of the Africa Cup.
Qualification
Morocco qualified for the 2025 AFCON as the host country, but also participated in the qualification phase in an official capacity. They finished top of Group B, which included Gabon, Lesotho and the Central African Republic. They achieved this with six victories, earning the maximum of 18 points. Morocco was the only team to win all of its qualifying matches.
Coach: Walid Regragui
Walid Regragui, a 49-year-old former Moroccan international, is the man tasked with leading the country to victory. He has been managing the Moroccan national team since 2022. Prior to this, he coached several Moroccan clubs, including FUS Rabat, Wydad Casablanca and Al Duhail in Qatar.
Under Regragui’s leadership, Morocco achieved international succes during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals. During the tournament, they defeated several strong opponents. Regragui quickly succeeded in building a cohesive and resilient team.
Key Players
Achraf Hakimi: The Paris Saint-Germain star is one of the key pillars of the Moroccan national team. With his vast experience and technical skills, consistently demonstrated both at club level and internationally, he plays a crucial role in the squad.
Brahim Díaz: The Real Madrid player is one of the leading figures in the Moroccan national team. The coaching staff has great confidence in him. He is always a key part of Regragui’s plans and hopes to make a significant contribution.
Previous AFCON Performances
The Moroccan national team has often distinguished itself in past editions of the Africa Cup, frequently advancing deep into the tournament. Although they have only been crowned champions once (in 1976), Morocco has reached the final twice, finished third once and ended in fourth place on two occasions.
Zambia
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- Nickname: Chipolopolo
- Appearances: 18x
- Last appearance: 2023
- Titles: 1 (2012)
- FIFA Ranking: 88
Zambia, the second nation from Southern Africa 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 AFCON final. Chipolopolo have not managed to shine again on Africa’s biggest football stage. During the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’ivoire, they were eliminated in the group stage. The upcoming edition in Morocco offers Avram Grant’s team a new opportunity to compete against the continent’s elite.
Qualification
Zambia qualified convincingly for the final tournament with a strong performance in Group G, where they were grouped with Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Chad. The 2012 champions won four of their six group matches and finished top of the group, edging out Côte d’Ivoire by one point.
Coach: Avram Grant
In 2022, the Zambian Football Association appointed Avram Grant as head coach. The former Chelsea manager returned to the African continent, where he has previously led Ghana to the semi-finals of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Although Zambia failed to progress beyond the group stage in the previous edition in Côte d’Ivoire, the team now has one of the most experienced coaches in modern football at the helm. Grant brings in-depth tactical knowledge and extensive international experience.
Key Player: Lubambo Musonda
Musonda is the captain and a key figure for Zambia. The midfielder brings valuable European experience in the team’s pursuit of renewed succes. The 29-year-old has played in Armenia, Poland, Denmark and is currently under contract with FC Magdeburg in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga.
Previous AFCON performances
As Zambia prepares for its 19th participation, the team hopes to deliver another memorable performance. Of their previous 18 appearances, they finished on the podium six times: twice as runners-up (1974 and 1994), three times in third place (1982, 1990 and 1996) and once as champions (2012).
Did you know?
Zambia’s historic title in Gabon was won at the very site of a tragic 1993 plane crash that claimed the lives of nearly the entire national team. The victory marked Zambia’s first-ever gold medal at the Africa Cup of Nations and carried a deep emotional significance.