2025 AFCON provisional table: Who can expect to reach the final?
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Morocco - Clear favourites to win AFCON 2025
On paper, Morocco should at least reach the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Atlas Lions have home advantage for the tournament and are the highest-ranked team in the CAF region according to the latest FIFA World Rankings.
Indeed, they have not won the continental title since 1976, but they have been in sensational form over the last few years. They became the first team from Africa to reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2022 and have only gotten better since. Check out our AFCON 2025 predictions.
Walid Regragui’s side drips with talent across the park, led by the African Footballer of the Year, Achraf Hakimi. Striker Ayoub El Kaabi has been in stunning form for Olympiakos this season, and he will have the services of the ultra-creative Brahim Diaz in midfield.
The Atlas Lions also enter the tournament carrying a world record run of 18 consecutive wins, a streak that began in June 2024 when they beat Zambia 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. During this incredible run, Morocco have scored a whopping 55 goals and conceded just four, while keeping 14 clean sheets.
Senegal - One of the front-runners for AFCON 2025 title
Senegal won their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 2021, and after an underwhelming title defence in the Ivory Coast, Pape Thiaw has gotten his side back into the conversation as potential title winners in Morocco this year.
Since taking charge, Thiaw’s influence on the team has been remarkable. The Lions of Teranga put together an incredible 33-match unbeaten streak, which was eventually brought to an end last month when they lost to Brazil 2-0 in an international friendly.
As far as their squad composition goes, Senegal possesses world-class talent across the pitch. Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly control their defence, Pape Matar Sarr and Lamine Camara operate the engine room, while Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr provide the firepower in attack.
The Lions of Teranaga have also cracked a fairly favourable draw in Group D alongside DR Congo, Benin and Botswana. They kick off their campaign against the Zebras at the Grand Stade de Tanger on December 23.
Egypt - The most successful football nation in Africa
While Egypt have not won the Africa Cup of Nations since 2010, no nation can match their historical dominance of seven AFCON titles. They have also been runners-up on three occasions, won three bronze medals, and recorded three fourth-place finishes.
The Pharaohs have slipped to 34th in the FIFA World Rankings and third among CAF representatives in 2025, but they are back on an upward trajectory after an excellent World Cup qualifying campaign, where they went unbeaten in 10 games (W8 D2), scoring 20 goals while conceding just two.
Since their ‘Golden Generation’ between 1998 and 2010, the widespread consensus is that this is the Pharaohs' best chance of winning back the AFCON title, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush tipped to deliver in Morocco this year.
South Africa - The dark horse at AFCON 2025
While the nations above are currently among the front-runners for the AFCON title, according to the best online betting sites, the team that has been going under the radar in the lead-up to the competition is the 1996 champions, South Africa.
Bafana Bafana have been trending upward over the past couple of years. They finished third at AFCON 2023 and broke into the top-10-ranked nations in CAF after putting together a remarkable 24-match unbeaten run, before being sanctioned by FIFA for fielding an ineligible player against Lesotho during World Cup qualifying.
Hugo Broos has relied heavily on local talent from Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns for the upcoming tournament, and while the team may not look as attractive as some others on paper, it is worth noting that the Bucs and Masandawana made the final four in the CAF Champions League last season.
