The big favorite is there. Organizing country of this 2025 African Cup of Nations, Morocco does not intend to leave any crumb to its opponents. Building on their historic semi-final during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Walid Regragui’s men seem more determined than ever to win the second CAN in the country’s history, 50 years after the first. Eliminated to everyone’s surprise in the round of 16 during the last edition in 2023, the Atlas Lions have revenge to take on Africa.
The Moroccan calendar
The list of selected players
Guardians: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal/KSA), Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane/MAR), El Mehdi Al Harrar (Raja CA/MAR).
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (PSG/FRA), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids/EGY), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Najma/KSA), Romain Saïss (Al-Sadd/QAT), Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal (Rennes/FRA), Nayef Aguerd (Marseille/FRA), Adam Masina (Torino/ITA), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester). United/ANG), Anas Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven/NED).
Midfields: Oussama Targhalline (Feyenoord/NED), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis/ESP), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Rome/ITA), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart/ALL), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona/ESP).
Attackers: Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid/ESP), Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal/ESP), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland/ANG), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahçe/TUR), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Aïn/UAE), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis/ESP), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen/ALL).
The player to watch: Achraf Hakimi
Just elected best African player of the year 2025, Achraf Hakimi is the key player of this team. Captain of the selection, the Moroccan right-back intends to add to his already well-stocked list of achievements, an African Cup of Nations. Omnipresent both offensively and defensively, he has established himself as one of the major elements of Luis Enrique’s European champion squad at Paris Saint-Germain.
His serious injury contracted against Bayern Munich in the Champions League at the beginning of November having resolved, Achraf Hakimi can turn to his new objective: lifting the CAN in front of his supporters.
