The CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will get below manner on Sunday, with the host nation Morocco going through Comoros in Group A at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Throughout the 4 weeklong continental showpiece, among the sport’s largest names will take centre stage.
Right here’s a take a look at our top-10 gamers who’re set to mild up the competitors:
⚽ Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Arguably the most important African soccer star of his technology, Mohamed Salah heads into the match hoping to steer Egypt to a record-extending eighth title. However the 33-year-old arrives short of his usual standards: he has scored simply 5 objectives in 20 matches throughout all competitions this season and has slipped down the pecking order below Liverpool’s new supervisor, Arne Slot.
But Salah’s significance to Egypt has by no means been unsure. The 2-time African Footballer of the Yr stays their talisman, and his 9 objectives within the CAF World Cup qualifying part have been essential in securing a spot at subsequent summer season’s World Cup.
At AFCON, Salah can be chasing each redemption and a return to the red-hot type that earned him the nickname “the Egyptian King”.
⚽ Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Contemporary off the excessive of being crowned African footballer of the yr, Achraf Hakimi headlines the solid of star house nation gamers set to take the sphere in Morocco.
The 27-year-old, broadly thought to be among the finest right-backs on this planet, was instrumental in PSG’s treble-winning marketing campaign, capped off by their long-awaited UEFA Champions League triumph in Could.
As Morocco’s captain, Hakimi carries the hopes of thousands and thousands within the football-mad nation. Morocco’s Atlas Lions will look to him not just for his defensive stability but in addition for his playmaking spark as they chase solely the second AFCON title of their historical past – 50 years after their maiden crown.
⚽ Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
Nonetheless recovering from the heartbreak of missing out on the 2026 World Cup, Victor Osimhen will search for solace and vindication on the continental championship.
The Galatasaray ahead, identified for his trademark face masks, has been in prolific type this season with 12 objectives in 16 matches throughout all competitions, together with six within the Champions League.
Regardless of sitting second on Nigeria’s all-time scorers record, Osimhen has struggled to translate that dominance to main tournaments: he has discovered the web solely as soon as, on the earlier AFCON in 2023 when the Tremendous Eagles reached the ultimate. This version affords him an opportunity to vary that narrative.
⚽ Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
Rediscovering his scoring contact, star ahead Bryan Mbeumo may play an important function in Cameroon’s marketing campaign as they start a brand new chapter below a brand new coach following their failure to qualify for the World Cup.
With seven objectives throughout all competitions, Mbeumo has been Manchester United’s standout performer in an in any other case combined and chaotic season for the Purple Devils.
An harm saved Mbeumo out of the earlier AFCON, however this time, the 26-year-old has a golden alternative to clinch his first trophy with Cameroon.
The duty, nevertheless, won’t be easy. With veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar surprisingly not noted of the squad, Mbeumo inherits the twin duty of main the road and captaining the workforce.
⚽ Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast)
A powerful mortgage spell with Charlotte in Main League Soccer (MLS) has earned Wilfried Zaha a shock recall to the nationwide workforce for the primary time in two years.
The 33-year-old winger was omitted from the squad that received AFCON 2023, however his return to type, marked by 10 objectives and 10 assists this season, proved too compelling to disregard.
Zaha’s years of expertise, capability to tackle defenders and present sharpness ought to present a well timed enhance to the reigning champions’ aspirations of defending their AFCON title in Morocco.
⚽ Sadio Mane (Senegal)
Sadio Mane as soon as dominated headlines together with his exploits in Europe for golf equipment similar to Liverpool and Bayern Munich, however his transfer to Al Nassr within the Saudi Professional League has shifted a lot of the media highlight away from him.
But the 33-year-old, broadly thought to be one in all Africa’s best gamers, stays a decisive determine for Senegal: his 5 objectives in CAF World Cup qualifying have been essentially the most by any Senegalese participant.
In Morocco, Mane will goal to copy the shape that earned him participant of the match honours at AFCON 2021 when the winger guided the Teranga Lions to their first continental title.
⚽ Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal)
With six purpose involvements within the Premier League, Iliman Ndiaye has been one in all Everton’s most dependable gamers within the Premier League this season, and the 25-year-old will hope to convey that constructive affect to Senegal’s assault.
The midfielder, identified for his dribbling and ending, has loved a fast ascent in recent times, shifting from England’s second-tier league in 2023 to being a key contributor for the Toffees as they shut in on a top-six spot within the top-flight.
On the worldwide stage, Ndiaye has been an integral a part of Senegal’s setup for the previous three years, and he’ll look to make his mark at his third AFCON look.
⚽ Carlos Baleba (Cameroon)
In contrast to lots of the match’s massive names, Carlos Baleba arrives at AFCON with none major-tournament expertise, but the 21-year-old has already produced performances that belie his age.
The versatile teen has change into a driving pressure in Premier League facet Brighton’s defensive midfield and was instrumental in Cameroon’s flawless qualification for AFCON 2025.
Famend for his stamina, dribbling and passing vary, Baleba is as soon as once more attracting curiosity from main European golf equipment earlier than a possible big-money transfer in January’s switch window.
⚽ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
As soon as a hero for Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang now plies his commerce at Marseille – and this yr’s AFCON could characterize his ultimate shot at glory with Gabon.
At 36 and within the twilight of his profession, the ahead continues to shoulder the hopes of the small central African nation that has by no means superior past the quarterfinals.
French-born Aubameyang, who received African Footballer of the Yr a decade in the past, has been the point of interest of Gabon’s assault ever since his debut in 2009.
⚽ Mohamed Amoura (Algeria)
Mohamed Amoura is ready to be a central determine in Algeria’s AFCON 2025 marketing campaign.
Amoura was Africa’s main scorer in World Cup 2026 qualification, outpacing even Egyptian legend Salah with a chart-topping 10 objectives.
The 25-year-old striker has carried that medical type into membership soccer with Bundesliga facet Wolfsburg, registering six objectives and two assists in 15 appearances.
After lifting the African trophy in 2019, the Desert Foxes endured painful first-round exits within the two editions that adopted, making this match a possibility to rewrite their latest historical past. At AFCON 2025, Algeria will go so far as Amoura can take them as they try to win a 3rd crown.
