Name: Host now favorite for Africa Cup of Nations
Uploaded: 2025-12-21T00:22:03.786Z
Duration: 2 min 22 s
Description: As the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 kicks off, Morocco enters as the host nation and top favorite, but Senegal is also tipped as a strong contender. African football specialist Gary Al-Smith highlights Morocco’s talent, Senegal’s solid squad, and identifies dark horses such as South Africa and DRC.

As the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 kicks off, Morocco enters as the host nation and top favorite, but Senegal is also tipped as a strong contender. African football specialist Gary Al-Smith highlights Morocco’s talent, Senegal’s solid squad, and identifies dark horses such as South Africa and DRC.

Tangier

Bookmakers have identified Morocco, the host nation, as the leading favorite to win the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, citing their strong squad and home advantage. Senegal is also seen as a major contender, with analysts noting their completeness and potential to surpass Morocco, despite their previous early exit.

In addition to the favorites, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are highlighted as potential surprise teams, largely due to their disciplined coaching and recent performances. The tournament is also expected to showcase several emerging talents, including Morocco's Oguniz, Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande, and South Africa's Tylan Smith.

Host now favorite for Africa Cup of Nations

The bookies, almost all of them, have Morocco the host nation and with good reason. However, I like to do them one and say Senegal. I know they got out of the last 16 the last time, failing to defend their title, but I think Senegal are solid and one of the most complete sides in this tournament. Plus, I think that their road to the title makes them slightly more favorites to win the trophy ahead of Morocco. So Gary, you've talked about the big teams that could do really well at this AFCON. Who are the surprise packages, perhaps the dark horses that could surprise us at the competition? I'm looking at South Africa as my first pick. They have been threatening for a while to punch above their weight. A big factor in all the dark horses I would name are the coaches. So in South Africa's case, Hugo Bruce. Disciplinarian. One of the very few sides going to the AFCON that named a squad and almost nobody or very few people complained to would be DRC. Everybody has seen their run to the World Cup playoff. Sebastian de Sabre knows the African continent like the back of his hand. He's got his hand on the team. They are talented and they've got the hunger and I'm thinking that DRC are the one. African football has so many superstars. You got Mohamed Salah, Victor Osman, but who are the players you reckon we should be keeping our eye on? There are a bunch of them and this is in no particular order. There are Oguniz from Morocco. Exciting young talent. VFB Stuttgart. On loan from Leicester City. He's shown himself approved to the fundamentals of the game and he's extremely exciting to watch. Also in the same league is Yan Diomande, a 19-year-old Ivorian. He's probably, if he's given minutes and I have a suspicion that he would be one of the revelations of the tournament. Who else, Gary? Tylan Smith, South Africa. No relation to me. However, I wish I were as talented as he was. In the under-20 World Cup, he was phenomenal, right? For South Africa, his composure, his panache means that his talent belies his years and I think we should look out for him greatly for the South African team.

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