Will the 2025 African Cup of Nations be that of the transfer of power? From Mohamed Salah to Sadio Mané (33 years old), via Riyad Mahrez (34 years old) or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (36 years old), a large part of the stars of the tournament are happily over thirty. If Achraf Hakimi (27 years old), Victor Osimhen, Bryan Mbeumo or even Omar Marmoush (26 years old) are approaching the peak of their careers, a new generation of footballers can emerge during this CAN 2025 which begins this Sunday with the opening match, Morocco-Comoros (at 8 p.m. in Rabat).
Moroccan nuggets
The favorites of the competition already have referenced talents. Three years after its semi-final at the World Cup in Qatar, the Moroccan host country is exploiting a nice reservoir. Respectively transferred to Sunderland for 20 million euros and to Bayer Leverkusen for 32 million this summer, Chemsdine Talbi and Eliesse Ben Seghir, 20 years old each, are not yet established but offer great offensive options to Walid Regragui. They could benefit from the attraction of opposing defenders around Lille Hamza Igamane (23), nicknamed Ronaldo or Adriano among the young Atlas Lions, who is however only a reserve for the start of the competition due to an injury to the right adductor.
Elephant wings
At the title holder, Ivory Coast, it will be a question of scrutinizing the prowess of Yan Diomande (19 years old). The left winger has already scored four goals and provided three assists since arriving at Leipzig during the summer transfer window. The dribbler scored in his first two caps last October. He could form a striking duo with the Mancunian Amad Diallo (23 years old), more inclined on the right side, like the Strasbourg resident Guéla Doué (23 years old), who chose the Elephants unlike his brother Désiré.
Algeria not left out
Former CAN winners also benefit from a certain regeneration. Younger than Mohamed Amoura (25 years old), Anis Hadj Moussa (23 years old) and Ibrahim Maza (20 years old) are at the start of their adventure with the Fennecs. Not selected by RC Lens in 2022, Hadj Moussa revealed himself at Feyenoord in the Netherlands and in the Champions League. The Paris native multiplies his dribbles on the right wing, Maza stands out more in the heart of the game. Trained at Hertha Berlin, the Algerian arrived in Leverkusen this summer. The Berliner could have represented Germany, but he chose to liven up the Algerian game.
In Cameroon, place for young people
African champion in 2017, Cameroon has experienced eventful recent weeks: stars Vincent Aboubakar, Éric-Maxim Choupo-Moting and André Onana have been dismissed. Place for young people. Arousing the desire of major clubs, including Manchester United, Carlos Baleba (21 years old) remains a rare alloy of power and technique. Placed in front of the defense, the left-hander from Brighton (England) will be responsible for serving good balls to Karl Etta Eyong (22), author of 6 goals and 3 assists in La Liga this season with Villarreal then Levante. Another Cameroonian striker is making a name for himself: for his first season in a “Big 5” D1, Christian Kofane (19 years old) is already decisive every 83.5 minutes with Bayer Leverkusen (Germany).
Seven
Titled in 2022, Senegal is also armed in the 23 and under category. In the middle, the Monegasque Lamine Camara and the ex-Messin Pape Matar Sarr were already starters in Ivory Coast in 2024. This was obviously not the case for Ibrahim Mbaye, 17 years old. Barely had he revealed his preference for the Lions of Teranga when the Parisian Titi was selected and scored in his second cap.
Selections less subscribed to the summits are also correctly equipped. Semi-finalist in 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo displays a promising midfielder. Belgian champion with Union Saint-Gilloise last year, the tireless Noah Sadiki (20 years old) joined Sunderland for around twenty million euros this summer. Like him, Lille’s Ngal’ayel Mukau (21) could have chosen Belgium, but the Antwerp native brings his defensive knowledge to the Leopards.
Finally, Mali will still be fed by the bridges between its training and the Red Bull football sector. One of the revelations of Ligue 1, Lensois Mamadou Sangaré (23 years old) will patrol the midfield while the daring Dorgeles Nene (22 years old) will try to export his great dynamic with Fenerbahçe on the left wing of the Eagles, still in search of their first continental title.
