AFCON SCAN Group A: Hosts and top contenders face eternal losers, ex-champs, and minnows

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is fast approaching, and as is the norm, Mozzart Sport Kenya will bring you a preview of all the groups and introduce all the participating nations, focusing on their records, crucial assets, key players, and odds of achieving a notable result.

We will naturally start with Group A, in which Morocco, Mali, Zambia, and the Comoros will lock horns, fighting for a spot in the knockout phase. Even though the favourites are clear, no team should be written off, as the history of AFCON has taught us that upsets are not only possible, but also not rare.

MOROCCO

Area: 446,550 km2

Population: 37,493,183

Nickname: The Atlas Lions

AFCON appearance: 20th

Best result: Champions (1976)

FIFA ranking: 12

Head coach: Walid Regragui (Morocco)

Captain: Achraf Hakimi

What can be said about the hosts and arguably the main favourites to win the trophy that was not said before?

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has apparently been doing an outstanding job in the past couple of years, establishing an organised and fruitful system that has been delivering results in youth categories, as well as in the senior squad.

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Morocco are the first African national team to have reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals (three years ago), and a single look at their squad, led by the young (for a coach), but extremely talented Walid Regragui, strikes fear in the rivals' spines.

Even though they will probably be without their captain Achraf Hakimi, who suffered a severe injury in the Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in a collision with Luis Diaz, they are still as powerful as it gets. In the right-back's potential absence, the super-experienced centre-back Romain Saiss is expected to wear the armband and be the crew's leader.

All eyes will be on Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz, Youssef En-Nesyri of Fenerbahce, Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui, and Al Hilal custodian Yassine Bounou as the main stars of the team. At the same time, the youngsters, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Bilal El Khannouss, Ilias Akhomach, Abde Ezzalzouli, and Hamza Igamane will bring significant depth and energy to the squad.

Given that they are favourites to win the whole tournament, anything but the top of the group would be a surprise. In the last eight AFCONs Morocco have participated in, they have not advanced past the quarter-finals, so some debts are to be settled.

MALI

Area: 1,240,192 km2

Population: 21,990,607

Nickname: The Eagles

AFCON appearance: 14th

Best result: Runners-up (1972)

FIFA ranking: 53

Head coach: Tom Saintfiet (Belgium)

Captain: Aliou Dieng

In the previous 13 appearances at the Africa Cups of Nations, Mali reached the semi-finals as many as six times, but never won the trophy. Moreover, the defeat to Congo in the grand final 53 years ago remains their best result in the continental tournament.

To make matters worse, that was the only time they played a trophy match, as they were third twice (2012, 2013) and fourth three times (1994, 2002, 2004).

At first glance, Mali's prime seems to be over, as the days of legendary players like Seydou Keita, Mahamadou Diarra, and Frederic Kanoute are long gone, but still, the Eagles have a lot to offer and are favourites to advance from the group stage alongside Morocco.

Mali had a relatively easy qualifying group with Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and Eswatini, which they topped with four wins and two draws.

The manager, Tom Saintfiet, will mainly rely on the tandem of world-class midfielders, Tottenham's Yves Bissouma and Amadou Haidara of RB Leipzig, and Fenerbahce's Dorgeles Nene and Lassine Sinayoko of Auxerre will be in charge of goals.

In the last AFCON, Mali reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to the Ivory Coast 2-1, conceding a leveller in the last minute and a winner in added time of extra time.

Progression to the knockout phase is a realistic outcome for the Eagles at the moment, while reaching the final stages of the tournament would be a genuine surprise, as they are no longer considered the elite of African football, as harsh as it sounds.

ZAMBIA

Area: 752,617 km2

Population: 20,216,029

Nickname: The Copper Bullets

AFCON appearance: 19th

Best result: Champions (2012)

FIFA ranking: 87

Head coach: Moses Sichone (Zambia)

Captain: Lubambo Musonda

Zambia are far from being top contenders in this edition of the tournament, but they were not in 2012 either, but went on to win their maiden trophy. Hence, they should never be written off. Nevertheless, those glorious days of Christopher Katongo and Emmanuel Mayuka's prime are far behind the Copper Bullets.

Victory celebration in Zambia following the Copper Bullets' triumph at the 2012 AFCON (©AFP)

Since that extraordinary and shocking triumph, they participated in three (out of possible six) AFCONs and ended the tournament in the group stage every time. Yet, they had a fantastic qualifying campaign, topping the group with the Ivory Coast, and that merits respect.

Zambia's biggest strength lies in their offence, led by Leicester City's Patson Daka, Fashion Sakala, and the man who killed the Elephants in the qualifiers mentioned above, Kennedy Musonda.

However, their situation in the back line is completely opposite, as most of their defenders play in their domestic league. Not a problem a priori, but the lack of experience could take its toll.

Zambia's crucial duel will be against Comoros, as the two teams will directly fight for a spot in the knockout phase, while any points won against Morocco and Mali will be a bonus. Either way, Zambia is a mystery, as their true capabilities will be revealed only when the tournament starts.

COMOROS

Area: 2,035 km2

Population: 883,075

Nickname: The Coelacanths

AFCON appearance: 2nd

Best result: Round of 16 (2021)

FIFA ranking: 112

Head coach: Stefano Cusin (Canada)

Captain: Mohamed Youssouf

How can you take seriously the continental minnows who have participated only once at the AFCON, and how can you not take them seriously when they advanced from the group with Morocco, Gabon, and Ghana, reaching the Round of 16 in their only appearance?

Four years ago, Comoros were the dark horses of the tournament held in Cameroon, as they eliminated the mighty Black Stars in the group, but their dream run was stopped by the hosts, who beat them 2-1.

Comoros XI posing for a team photo prior to the Round of 16 clash against Cameroon at the 2021 AFCON (©AFP)

They failed to qualify for the previous AFCON - interestingly, they played their first qualifiers in 2010?! - but now they are back. The group is challenging, but nowhere near as demanding as the one they faced in 2021.

In the qualifiers, they finished first in Group A above Tunisia, Gambia, and Madagascar, showing they are capable of big things again.

Most of the Comoros squad plays in France, while their top star is their most-capped player, the 35-year-old midfielder Youssouf M'Changama, who represents the Saudi second-tier team Al-Batin at the club level.

Additionally, the Coelacanths' all-time leading scorer, El Fardou Ben Nabouhane, adds to the squad's experience with his 36 years of age.

Just like in Zambia's case, Comoros are most likely to battle out for the third spot in the group, from which they could advance as one of the best third-placed teams if they're lucky enough.

MOZZART SPORT KENYA'S PREDICTION: Morocco top the group, Mali advance as the second-placed team, Zambia progress as well, and Comoros are eliminated.