They will probably be missed by their respective clubs, but will undoubtedly attract attention at the African Cup of Nations. From this Sunday, December 21, many stars will set foot on the Moroccan lawns to defend the colors of their national teams. From Sébastien Haller, title holder with Ivory Coast, to Parisian Achraf Hakimi via Mohamed Salah, Riyad Mahrez and Marseillais Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, zoom on the eight stars to follow.
Achraf Hakimi, the African Golden Ball
The recent past proves it, the Moroccan is the best player on the continent. Preferred over Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen in the continental Ballon d’Or ballot, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back has been hitting the screen for more than a year. Elusive and unstoppable in the Parisian defense, he concluded his 2024-2025 season with a Champions League title and a Club World Cup final.
With the Atlas Lions, the man with 88 caps is just as valuable, as he proved during the superb performance of the Moroccans during the last World Cup, concluded in the semi-finals against France, or during the Olympic Games which offered him a bronze medal. Heavily injured in the left ankle during the PSG-Bayern Munich match, he nevertheless arrives at this CAN 2025 with many questions.
Mohamed Salah, eternal in Liverpool
The Moroccan’s runner-up is a regular in this election: Mohamed Salah. Elected African player of the year in 2017 and 2018, the Egyptian is still as active as ever for Liverpool, where the leaders have lined up the tickets to offer him a team capable of fighting for big titles. However, he had a timid start to the season, with only five goals in 17 games.
However, his impact on the national team cannot be overlooked. With 107 caps and involvement in 95 goals, the Reds winger was an important element during the Pharaons’ journey to the 2017 and 2022 CAN finals. However, he is chasing a first title, and will no longer have dozens of chances.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is reborn at OM
He is already 36 years old, but seems immortal. Returning to Olympique de Marseille this summer after a one-year getaway to Saudi Arabia, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not lost his sense of goal. Since the start of the season, he has even been involved in 16 goals in as many matches, proof of his impressive performance. His double in the Champions League against Newcastle to offer a second European victory to the Phocaeans remains in the memories.
But the Gabonese is above all a leader born for his country. With 81 caps and 39 goals, he participated in the Panthers’ recent successes, including a quarter-final of the 2012 CAN. However, he was unable to help his team qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Gabon having been beaten by Nigeria in the semi-finals of the African play-offs.
Victor Osimhen, unstoppable in the Champions League
It’s difficult to present a better line of statistics. In three matches and 226 minutes of play in the Champions League this season with Galatasaray, Victor Osimhen scored six goals. A record which corresponds to that of last season, during which he scored 37 goals and provided 8 assists in 41 matches. Simply exceptional.
With Nigeria, the goals/match ratio is no less impressive. Although he failed to take Nigeria to the intercontinental play-offs for the 2026 World Cup after losing in the African play-off final against the Democratic Republic of Congo, the former Naples striker was involved in 43 goals during his 46 caps. This CAN 2025 must still prove its importance.
Haller losing momentum, Mané and Mahrez exiled to Saudi Arabia
Although they are no longer at their best, Sébastien Haller remains a star on the African continent. Now in Utrecht, where he was sold permanently this summer, the Ivorian does not rediscover the sense of purpose that he had with Ajax Amsterdam. However, he always meets the meeting with the Elephants.
Having left for the Saudi Pro League in 2023, Sadio Mané and Riyad Mahrez are also further from European gaze. However, they have not thrown in the towel and continue to make opposing defenses wobble. The first scored 42 goals in 113 matches with Al-Nassr, while the second scored 33 in 96 matches with Al-Ahli. They therefore still have the legs to help Senegal and Algeria.
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