With Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon as Group Favourites, Gabon, Mozambique Can Spring Surprises

The 35th edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be taking place in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. This most prestigious football tournament on the continent will be bringing together the best national teams in a battle for supremacy. Among the participating teams are Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique who make up the Group F. 

For Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon, the goal is clear: reclaim their status as African champions. For Gabon and Mozambique, the tournament represents a chance to defy the odds and make history. Regardless of the outcome, these teams will undoubtedly contribute to the spectacle and passion that make AFCON a celebration of African football. Sportblot now uses the strengths, challenges, history and ambitions of these nations to forecast how far they will go under the North African sun. 

Cote d’Ivoire: The Elephants’ Quest for Redemption

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Cote d’Ivoire, known as "The Elephants," has long been a powerhouse in African football. Ivory Coast, who won the last edition of AFCON on home soil 12 months ago, will begin their title defence against Mozambique on December 24 in Marrakesh, then face five-time champions Cameroon and Gabon.

With a rich history that includes two AFCON titles (1992 and 2015), the Ivorians are no strangers to the pressures and expectations of the tournament. However, recent years have seen a decline in their dominance, with early exits in the 2019 and 2021 editions. AFCON 2025 presents an opportunity for redemption.

Strengths: Cote d’Ivoire boasts a squad brimming with talent, blending experienced players with emerging stars. Players like Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal), Franck Kessié (Al Ahli), and Wilfried Zaha (Galatasaray) bring a wealth of experience and quality to the squad. This is even as Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli), Sébastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund), and Simon Adingra (Brighton & Hove Albion) provide a strong core.  

The combination of experienced players and emerging talents like Amad Diallo (Sunderland) creates a balanced team capable of challenging for the title. The team’s physicality, technical ability, and tactical flexibility make them a formidable opponent.

However, the Elephants will need to address some defensive vulnerabilities that have been evident in recent years. Injuries to key players and a lack of cohesion in critical moments have often derailed their campaigns. Additionally, the pressure to perform at home during AFCON 2023 (which they hosted) may have lingering effects on the team’s confidence. With the rise of other teams like Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire will need to ensure that they are more solid at the back while maintaining their attacking flair. Nevertheless, if they can tighten their defense and harness the attacking prowess of their star players, they have a real chance of lifting the trophy once again.

Prospects: Côte d’Ivoire, fresh from their triumphant 2023 AFCON campaign on home soil, are looking to replicate their success in Morocco. But this will depend on their ability to rebuild and refocus. Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae is confident his team can become the first country since Egypt in 2008 to successfully defend the Africa Cup of Nations title.

"Sorry Morocco, but we are bringing the trophy back to Abidjan," said Fae, who replaced French coach Jean-Louis Gasset after a humiliating four-goal 2024 Afcon group loss to Equatorial Guinea.

Fae, who was assisting Gasset and had never coached a senior team, led a remarkable u-turn that culminated in a 2-1 final victory over Nigeria. The key to success for the Elephants will be great preparations. That is a non-negotiable," he told reporters in the Moroccan capital.

Also, the Côte d’Ivoire captain Serge Aurier expressed confidence that his side can overcome the challenges posed by Group F teams in the 2025 AFCON.

Speaking after the draw in Rabat, Aurier acknowledged the difficulty of Group F but stressed his belief in the Elephants’ ability to progress, saying “We hope to get out of this group. We know our strength once we progress, as we showed at the last AFCON. We are clear on what we need to do to go all the way.”

Cameroon: The Indomitable Lions’ Resolve to be Untamable 

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Cameroon men’s senior national team called the "Indomitable Lions," is one of Africa’s most successful football nations, with five AFCON titles to their name. Being in Morocco this year will mark the side’s 22nd appearance at the AFCON tournament. 

Their journey to football dominance began in 1974, and they are eager to claim their sixth title since their last victory in Gabon in 2017. Following a strong showing in 2021 (finishing third), the Indomitable Lions demonstrate their enduring quality. AFCON 2025 offers another chance for Cameroon to solidify their status as a continental powerhouse.

In the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers, the Indomitable Lions extended their unbeaten run to seven matches across all competitions when they drew 0-0 with Namibia away on 13 November having registered three draws and four victories. They dominated Group J, securing their qualification with an impressive 14 points. They remained undefeated, showcasing a strong defence with only two goals conceded and a potent attack that netted eight goals.

Strengths: Cameroon’s squad is built around a mix of youth and experience. Captain Vincent Aboubakar, who was the top scorer in AFCON 2021, remains a lethal striker, while André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli) provides stability in midfield. The emergence of young talents like Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (Damac FC) and Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes) adds depth to the team.

Challenges: Heading into the 2025 AFCON, the Indomitable Lions will likely still be reeling from the internal conflict and tension between FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o and the Cameroon sports ministry, which led to the controversial appointment of Marc Brys as Coach following the dismissal of Rigobert Song.  Also, Cameroon has faced issues with inconsistency and tactical rigidity. Over-reliance on individual brilliance, particularly from Aboubakar, has sometimes left the team vulnerable. Additionally, the pressure to live up to their storied history can weigh heavily on the players.

Prospects: Cameroon’s chances in AFCON 2025 depend on their ability to balance their attacking prowess with defensive solidity. Cameroon’s Head Coach, Marc Brys has already expressed confidence in his team’s ability to overcome any challenges they may face during the competition in Morocco.

He described his squad as a “good mix” of experienced players and emerging talent, stressing that “I have a team that combines a lot of experience and youth. It is a good mix. We must remain united and motivated.”

If they can address their tactical shortcomings and foster a cohesive team spirit, the Indomitable Lions have the potential to go all the way. Their experience in high-stakes matches could prove decisive in the knockout stages.

Gabon: Ambitious Panthers’ Fight for Relevance

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Gabon, known as "The Panthers," has often been seen as an underdog in African football. Their best performance came in 2012 when they reached the quarterfinals, and they have continued to develop as a competitive side. 

The Panthers were drawn into Group B of the AFCON qualifiers alongside Morocco, Lesotho, and the Central African Republic. Despite facing stiff competition, they finished second in the group with 10 points behind Morocco, who achieved a perfect 18 points. Gabon managed three wins and a draw, scoring 10 goals but conceding nine. Both defeats came against the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists, Morocco, highlighting the challenges they faced in qualifying.

Strengths: Gabon’s squad is anchored by the experience of Aubameyang, who remains a key figure despite his advancing age. The team also benefits from the presence of players like Mario Lemina (Wolverhampton Wanderers) and Guélor Kanga (Red Star Belgrade), who bring skill and leadership to the midfield. Gabon’s counter-attacking style and physicality can pose problems for more fancied opponents.

Challenges: The Panthers’ lack of depth and reliance on a few star players have often been their undoing. Injuries or suspensions to key figures can severely weaken the team. Additionally, their inconsistent performances in qualifying campaigns raise questions about their ability to compete against Africa’s elite. The team will also need to strengthen their defense and find greater synergy between their attacking and midfield units. If they can achieve this, Gabon could become one of the dark horses of AFCON 2025, capable of reaching the semifinals or even beyond.

Prospects: Head Coach Thierry Mouyouma has brought a fresh perspective to Gabonese football since his appointment to manage The Panthers. The former national team stalwart with 82 caps, has had a successful domestic coaching career, winning three league titles with FC 105. His appointment followed the team's failure to qualify for the 2023 AFCON, and he quickly set the tone by leading Gabon to qualification for Morocco 2025. Mouyouma is only the second Gabonese coach to achieve this feat, following in the footsteps of Alain Da Costa Soares.

According to him, “Guiding Gabon to AFCON is both a privilege and a challenge. Our goal is to represent our country with pride and aim for new milestones in Moroccan soil.” As Gabon prepares to make their ninth AFCON 2025 appearance, all eyes will be on how the team captained by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang performs in Morocco. Their chances are contingent on their ability to maximize the impact of their star players while addressing their weaknesses. Will this be the year The Panthers finally roar past the quarter-finals? Football fans across Africa will be watching closely.

Mozambique: Will this be the Improving Mambas Historic AFCON?

This will be the fifth appearance of The Mambas in the AFCON tournament but never has Mozambique succeeded in making it out of the group stages. It is for this reason that many consider the side to be an underdog. The Mambas qualified for the AFCON 2025 tournament alongside Mali in a tough Group I of the qualifiers. The had to dig deep in a very competitive group that saw them secure three wins, two draws and a loss in a group consisting of Mali, Mozambique and Eswatini.

After debuting in 1986, the side have been showing good signs of growth in the subsequent appearances. Mozambique's squad is built around a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, including winger Reinildo Mandava (Atletico Madrid) and midfielder Chiquinho (SL Benfica). At only 23 years old, Geny Catamo is already one of the top scorers for the Mambas, with 10 goals. In his four years with the national team, the Sporting CP winger is already among the all-time top scorers for the national team. Catamo’s scored on debut for the senior national through a penalty kick against Mauritius to seal a 2-0 victory for the Mambas in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.

The Mambas’ key challenge lies in their ability to break into the upper echelons of African football. Their squad depth is not as rich as that of some of the continent's elite teams, and they will have to rely on tactical discipline, teamwork, and perhaps a bit of luck to make an impact in AFCON 2025. Although their chances of winning the tournament may seem slim, Mozambique's improved football infrastructure and growing talent pool could enable them to pull off some surprises. 

Former Mambas striker, Chiquinho Conde is entrusted with making history for his nation as Coach. Following a successful playing career in Portugal and the United States, Conde took up coaching in 2005 and worked his way up the ranks before assuming the head coach role of the Mambas in 2021. Reputed for his strong character and ability to frustrate opponents with resolute defense, Conde leads Mozambique to the continental finals with the aim of rewriting the nation’s AFCON history.