AFCON 2025: El Haddaoui Names Eight Favourites to Lift the Trophy

Former Morocco midfielder Mustapha El Haddaoui has identified eight countries he believes have what it takes to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as the tournament heads into the Round of 16.

Speaking to CAF’s official website ahead of the knockout stage, the former OGC Nice star tipped Senegal, Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and DR Congo as the leading contenders for the prestigious continental title.

El Haddaoui stressed that experience, squad depth and tactical maturity will play a decisive role in determining the eventual champion.

“I believe the champion will be one of the big teams, led by an experienced coach who knows how to manage situations and has top-quality players at his disposal,” he said.

According to him, all eight nations possess the blend of pedigree, talent and tournament know-how required to go deep and potentially lift the trophy.

Opinion: El Haddaoui’s shortlist reflects the traditional powerhouses of African football, reinforcing the idea that AFCON often rewards experience and composure under pressure. While the tournament is known for surprises, history suggests that teams with strong structures, elite players and calm leadership usually prevail in the latter stages. However, knockout football leaves little room for complacency, and one moment can rewrite expectations. As AFCON 2025 unfolds, these favourites will need to match reputation with consistency—or risk being overtaken by a fearless underdog.