Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has tipped Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Morocco as the leading contenders for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, despite Nigeria’s recent disappointment in missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
While the Super Eagles continue to recover from their defeat to DR Congo in the African World Cup play-offs, Gyan believes the Nigerian squad remains a formidable force capable of going deep in the continental tournament. Nigeria were runners-up in the previous AFCON edition held in the Ivory Coast, highlighting their consistency at the top level.
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Speaking on the red carpet at the 2025 CAF Awards, Gyan shared his thoughts on the top favourites for the upcoming tournament.
“I think we’ve got a lot of giants who are going there. Ghana is out which we are very disappointed, but it is okay we have qualified for the World Cup. Nigeria did well; they were close last two years. Ivory Coast did well, so we have a lot of teams… Morocco is also a strong contender, who are also doing well. I will say these three countries that I have mentioned, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Morocco are favourites,” he said.
The 35th edition of Africa’s premier football championship is scheduled to kick off on December 21, 2025, and will run until January 18, 2026. Morocco, who will host the tournament, are expected to be a strong presence on home soil.
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The CAF Awards also crowned Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi as the 2025 Player of the Year during the ceremony held at Mohamed VI Polytechnic University on Wednesday evening, underscoring the rising prominence of Moroccan football on the continental stage.
