Morocco top favourites to lift Afcon title but Bafana not far off

MOROCCO are topping all the charts as firm favourites to end their 50-year Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draught with all the stars seemingly aligned in their favour, but the likes of Senegal and Algeria hold the line as title contenders with South Africa not legging far behind from the top four finishers.

Below are some predictions from the Independent Newspapers football journalists, ahead of the tournament kick-off on Sunday with Morocco hosting Comoros at 9pm.

Matshelane Mamabolo

Champions: Morocco

Runners-up: Senegal

Semi-finalists: South Africa and Mali

Where will Bafana finish: Fourth

Surprise Package: Mali - The Eagles have flattered to deceive in many tournaments in the past, but this time around they have a squad that will shine brightly and take home a medal.

Best Player: Sadio Mane

Coach of the Tournament: Walid Regragui

Best Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou (Morocco) The continent’s foremost goalkeeper is going to show just why he is with some stellar performances that will see the Atlas Lions winning only their second title.

Top Scorer: Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – The Liverpool striker was disturbed by injury last time around and this time around – in what should be his last participation at the continental showpiece – will show his goal scoring prowess.

Flops of the Tournament: Nigeria – If you thought the Super Eagles’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup was a low for Arica’s most populous country, wait for the AFCON. Nigeria are going to be a huge disappointment and will exit at the first knockout stage.

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Herman Gibbs

Champions: Morocco

Runners-up: South Africa

Semi-finalists: Senegal, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa

Where will Bafana finish: finals

Surprise package: Uganda

Uganda has strong potential to perform well at AFCON, thanks to a cohesive team. Under the guidance of experienced coach Paul Put, the Ugandans employ a resilient defensive strategy and a blend of seasoned players and emerging talent.

They qualified with two games to spare, showcasing determination and form. Team captain and midfield general Khalid Aucho provides leadership and technical prowess in the heart of the team. The Ugandans were the first team to arrive in Morocco and held a 10-day camp there to acclimate.

Flops: Nigeria

Nigeria may underperform at the AFCON 2025 due to ongoing issues with inconsistency, a lack of team unity, and administrative problems within the Nigerian Football Federation. The team has struggled with inconsistent performances and results, as evidenced by their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The team has had four coaches during the recent qualifying campaign, providing little continuity or time for a coach to implement a long-term plan.

Best player: Mohamed Salah

It will be the 33-year-old Salah's fifth AFCON appearance. Having been a runner-up twice (in the 2017 and 2021 finals), he is highly motivated to finally win the trophy with Egypt, which is the only major medal missing from his illustrious career. This personal drive, combined with his status as Egypt's captain and focal point, could inspire a standout performance in Morocco.

Coach of the tournament: Hugo Broos

Coach Hugo Broos brings a proven pedigree to the task, having guided Cameroon to AFCON glory in 2017. His past success has raised hopes that he can inspire South Africa to another unforgettable title run. He has created a team with a clear playing style and identity, capable of competing with top African sides without fear.

Best goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou (Morocco)

Yassine Bounou can be relied upon to deliver exceptional performances in major tournaments. He enjoys a current status as the CAF Goalkeeper of the Year, and the home-nation advantage is a significant boost for him. He was also ranked in third place for The Best FIFA Goalkeeper in 2022 and 2023.

Top scorer: Mohamed Salah

Salah is Liverpool's all-time leading goal-scorer in the Premier League despite a recent dip in club form. However, Salah was Africa's second-highest scorer during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with nine goals, demonstrating his exceptional finishing ability for the national team. He is the focal point of Egypt's attack, and a teammate like Omar Marmoush will provide key support.

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Obakeng Meletse

Champions: Morocco

Runners-up: Algeria

Semi-finalists: South Africa and Nigeria

Where will Bafana finish: Third

Surprise Package: Nigeria - A side brimming with individual quality but one that has, in recent times, struggled to function cohesively as a unit to deliver consistent results. Finalists in the previous campaign, their recent form has been poor, but they can only be written off at your own peril.

Best player: Achraf Hakimi

Coach of the tournament: Walid Regragui

Best goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams

The South African shot-stopper has been one of the standout goalkeepers on the continent over the past few years and brings a wealth of experience to the tournament. He will be key to Bafana Bafana achieving a strong campaign.

Top scorer: Victor Osimhen

The Nigerian striker has been one of the standout forwards on the continent and brings strong form with him from Galatasaray. The 26-year-old is expected to be the focal point of the West African side’s attack and could be the key to helping them regain the momentum they desperately need.

Flops of the tournament: Tunisia

A side with immense quality and potential but one that has consistently failed to live up to expectations, having not reached the final since their title-winning campaign in 2004. This tournament could follow a similar pattern as they arrive flying under the radar.