The eyes of the African continent are turning towards Morocco, which is preparing to host the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, scheduled between December 21, 2025, and January 18, 2026, in a version expected to carry an exceptional character on various levels.

The Atlas Lions enter the competition as the leading candidates to claim the title, thanks to the advantage of home ground and fans, in addition to the momentum provided by their historic achievement in the Qatar 2022 World Cup by reaching the semifinals. However, the unexpected elimination in the Round of 16 of the 2023 edition against South Africa remains a lesson fresh in the team's memory.

Senegal is expected to be Morocco's main rival, given its status as the champion of the 2021 edition, supported by a generation that combines experience and youth led by star Sadio Mané. Algeria is also seeking to regain its brilliance under coach Vladimir Petkovic, while Egypt is banking on its continental experience and the presence of its captain Mohamed Salah.

South Africa has confirmed its status as a tough opponent after the surprise it created in the 2023 edition by eliminating Morocco and reaching the semifinals, while teams like Ivory Coast and Nigeria remain a real threat due to their strong human resources. It is also possible that teams like Cameroon, Mali, and the Democratic Republic of Congo will continue to create surprises, making the race for the title a challenging task for all competitors.