Morocco are the favourites to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, according to Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet, who has tipped the tournament hosts as the team to beat in Group A and across the competition.
Speaking exclusively to ABC News GH TV, Saintfiet said Morocco’s squad quality, home advantage and recent performances at the global level put them in pole position ahead of the tournament, which kicks off on December 21.
“The big favourites in our group is Morocco. They are also big favourites to win the Cup,” Saintfiet said.
Morocco are drawn in Group A alongside Mali, Zambia and Comoros, with Saintfiet admitting that the Atlas Lions stand out due to the calibre of their players and their strong presence in Europe’s top leagues.
“They have a fantastic team. We saw that at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The development of their U-20 team is also amazing,” he added.
“Even their players are playing in Europe at a top level.”
The Mali coach also pointed to the advantage of hosting the tournament, noting that Morocco’s familiarity with conditions and home support could play a decisive role in their campaign.
“Playing at home in front of the home crowd is always an advantage. I’m sure the Moroccan team and Hakimi will reach far in the tournament,” he said.
However, Saintfiet cautioned that individual brilliance alone does not guarantee success at AFCON, stressing that teams must progress deep into the competition for players to truly make an impact.
“Sometimes you need a little bit of luck to stay longer in the tournament. You can be a very good player, but if your team is out in the first or second round, no one will remember you,” he said.
“If you stay longer possibly semi-final or final that’s when players really shine.”
Morocco will be chasing a second Africa Cup of Nations title, having last won the tournament in 1976. At the previous AFCON, they were eliminated at the Round of 16 stage.
The hosts open their AFCON 2025 campaign against Comoros on Sunday, December 21, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat
