AFCON Group A - team by team breakdown

The 2025 AFCON is upon us in Morocco this month, as the 24 best nations from across the continent compete for Africa’s most coveted crown.

As we build up to the tournament, which gets underway on December 21 and concludes on January 18, we break down the teams in Group A. The group features hosts Morocco, alongside Zambia, Mali, and Comoros.

Morocco

CAF Ranking: 1

Coach: Walid Regragui

Player to watch: Achraf Hakimi

Best AFCON performance: Champions – 1976

Tournament prediction: Reaching the final

Having last won the continental crown in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 49 years ago, the Atlas Lions are expected to reign supreme in their backyard this month. Not only will they be buoyed by home crowd advantage, but they are also the highest-ranked nation on the continent.

Captain Achraf Hakimi is on the road to recovery after suffering a nasty injury at club level, and having recently been crowned CAF Footballer of the Year, he’ll be eager to lead his team to the promised land. There is an overall belief that Morocco will succeed at home, as the team also reached the FIFA World Cup semi-final at the last edition.

Zambia

CAF Ranking: 19

Coach: Moses Sichone

Player to watch: Fashion Sakala

Best AFCON performance: Champions – 2012

Tournament prediction: Group-stage exit

Zambia has been on a downward trajectory in recent years. Since winning their maiden AFCON title 13 years ago, they have never progressed past the group stage in three tournaments, while incredibly failing to qualify for three more editions. Heading into Morocco, the team is not in the best shape. Coach and team legend Moses Sichone recently took over the reins after Avram Grant and the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) decided to part ways just before the event. Although most of their players are based abroad, only Fashion Sakala and Patson Daka have truly stood out for both club and country.

Mali

CAF Ranking: 8

Coach: Tom Saintfiet

Player to watch: Yves Bissouma

Best AFCON performance: Runners-up - 1972

Tournament prediction: Reaching the last 16

The Eagles have struggled to soar on the continent recently. After an impressive group-stage outing in the last edition, finishing top with five points, they failed to mount a serious challenge for a top-four finish as they crashed out in the quarter-final. Unfortunately, that run marked the end of coach Eric Chelle’s spell with the team, as he joined Nigeria. Enter Tom Saintfiet. The Belgian has been trying to put his continental experience — which includes a recent stint with The Gambia — to good use. His true character will be tested at AFCON, where the current team is expected to become a formidable force, and follow in the footsteps of some legends such as Frédéric Kanouté and Seydou Keita.

Comoros

CAF Ranking: 24

Coach: Stefano Cusin

Player to watch: Youssouf M'Changama

Best AFCON performance: Last 16 – 2021

Tournament prediction: Group-stage exit

After qualifying for their maiden AFCON finals in 2021, where they crashed out at the last-16 stage, the Coelacanths will be eager to improve on that finish in their second appearance at the competition. However, that is easier said than done. Coach Stefano Cusin has done his best to assemble a strong squad, which includes captain and most-capped player (74 appearances) Youssouf M'Changama, but they are expected to be no match for their Group A counterparts. The islanders should not be disheartened by the permutations; instead, they must play with their hearts on their sleeves and try to emulate the achievements of four years ago.