On December 21st, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will get underway in Morocco as the hosts face off against Comoros in the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The Atlas Lions haven’t hosted the tournament since 1988, a year in which they made it all the way to the semifinals. The Moroccans have only once made it that far since finishing as runners-up in 2004.
A whole host of the planet’s very best will embark upon the North African nation this winter, with Liverpool’s Egyptian King Mohamed Salah, Galatasaray’s Super Eagle Victor Osimhen, and arguably the best right back in the game, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, all set to feature. But which of them are considered the favorites to leave Rabat with the trophy on January 18th, 2026? Let’s take a look.
Morocco shocked the world back in 2022 when they became the first African team in history to reach the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup. Back then, the aforementioned Hakimi, as well as the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Yassine Bonou, and Youssef En-Nesyri, were the stars of the show as the Atlas Lions stunned Belgium, reigning European Champions Spain, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal en route to the final four. However, since then, the Moroccans have failed to kick on.
After being pegged as favorites for AFCON back in 2023 in Nigeria, Morocco were stunned in the round of 16 by South Africa, marking yet another early exit. The Atlas Lions haven’t made it past the quarterfinals in over two decades, but with raucous home backing roaring them on, online sports betting sites think that the time for Moroccan glory could finally be nigh.
One can bet on sports at Bovada, and the American betting giant has installed Hakimi and company as the short-priced 11/4 favorites to end their 50-year wait to be crowned champions of Africa. With a stacked squad and almost 40 million fans at their back, it would take a brave punter to bet against them.
While the hosts may have only ever experienced disappointment on the continental stage, it’s a different story for their North African rivals, Egypt. The Pharaohs are Africa’s most successful team, romping to glory on no fewer than seven occasions, including a famous three-peat between 2006 and 2010. However, since that most recent triumph in Angola 15 years ago, even the dominant kings have to navigate treacherous waters.
The Egyptians haven’t added to their haul of AFCON titles since completing the three-peat, twice reaching the final only to suffer heartbreaking defeats. In 2017, they were beaten 2-1 by Cameroon in Gabon, while four years later, Sadio Mane scored the decisive spot kick as Senegal claimed the title for the first time ever. Now, with their iconic leader aged 33, they know their golden window could well be closing.
The bookies consider Egypt as a huge contender, pricing them as the 6/1 second favorites. But the advancing years and declining club form of the talismanic Mohamed Salah mean that the supporting cast, such as Nantes’ Mostafa Mohamed and former Premier League winger Mahmoud Trezeguet, must step up and shoulder some of the responsibility. If they don’t, a second straight early exit could be on the cards.
Algeria enjoyed their crowning moment in 2019 when captain Riyad Mahrez and Sofiane Feghouli led them to the title for the first time since 1990. Fast forward six years from that famous night in Egypt, and the Desert Warriors haven’t made it out of the group stage since. In fact, they haven’t even won a single game.
Three years ago in Cameroon, the Algerians finished rock bottom of their group after a goalless draw with lowly Sierra Leone and defeats to Equatorial Guinea and the Ivory Coast. In 2023, they propped up the group once more, despite being the highest-ranked team in their quartet. Now, the neighboring land of Morocco, the Desert Warriors are on the hunt for redemption.
They, too, are priced at 6/1, and having been drawn in a group with Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Sudan, they are huge favorites to progress. The pressure is now on stars Mahrez, Amine Gouiri, and Mohamed Amoura to finally deliver.
Senegal famously claimed the trophy for the first time ever in 2021, with their superstar Sadio Mane facing off with then Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah and his Egyptians in the final. In the end, it was Mane who came out on top, with his clubmate blazing his penalty kick high into the Cameroonian night sky to hand The Lions of Teranga the trophy. Now, they’re an 8/1 shot to repeat those heroics in Morocco.
Admittedly, the Senegalese are aging somewhat. Talisman Mane is now 33, while captain and stalwart at center back, Kalidou Koulibaly, is 34. However, those two superstars have been aided by the emergence of some younger talent. Bayern Munich loanee Nicholas Jackson will lead the line, and he will be supported by in-form Everton attacker Iliman Ndiaye. But whether those two are enough to take the fight to the tournament frontrunners remains to be seen.
