10 Players Awaiting Their Shine in the Africa Cup 2025

SadaNews - The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations has kicked off in Morocco, filled with excitement, and will run from December 21 to January 18, with the participation of 24 teams competing for the continent's title.

Morocco aspires to win for the second time in its history after claiming the title in 1976; while Egyptian star Mohamed Salah seeks to lead the "Pharaohs" to reclaim the cup for the first time since 2010.

With a selection of Africa's top stars, the tournament will be an opportunity to follow the performance of the most prominent players who could make a difference in this exciting edition.

1 - Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Mohamed Salah arrives at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as one of Africa's leading players. The Liverpool striker has a career full of achievements with his club and remains a key figure in the Egyptian national team.

Despite his individual accomplishments, the title of the Africa Cup of Nations remains elusive. As the Pharaohs aim to compete for a record eighth title, Salah's experience and leadership will be crucial in realizing their ambitions.

The 33-year-old player has participated in two previous Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2017 and 2022, losing both, and hopes to achieve the title in Morocco.

2 - Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)

Victor Osimhen is one of Africa's top strikers and a cornerstone of Nigeria's attack. The Galatasaray striker is at the peak of his form and continues to score regularly with his club.

Nigeria will rely on Osimhen to find the back of the net as they aim to achieve a greater feat than in the previous edition, where they lost in the finals.

On a personal level, Osimhen hopes to deliver an exceptional performance in this tournament. The 26-year-old is just 6 goals away from matching the historic record of Nigeria's leading scorers, held by the legend Rashidi Yekini. With 31 goals in 45 international matches, Osimhen is close to breaking Yekini's record of 37 goals in 62 matches.

3 - Sadio Mane (Senegal)

Sadio Mane remains one of the top stars of African football. As the champion of the Africa Cup of Nations 2021 (held in 2022), the Al-Nassr forward brings experience and calmness to the Senegal national team's lineup.

His role will be extremely important both on and off the pitch as the Senegalese team aims to reclaim the title they won three years ago.

The Senegal team scored 22 goals in 10 matches during the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with Mane being the top scorer of the tournament with 5 goals.

The Teranga Lions will once again rely on their veteran star, aged 33, to lead them to victory in Morocco.

4 - Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)

Lookman has developed into an important attacking option for Nigeria, known for his speed, movements, and ability to finish attacks. He has consistently performed strongly at the club level in recent seasons.

He scored 3 goals for the Super Eagles in their run to the final in the previous edition. Later, he became the first African player to score a hat-trick in a European final, before winning the 2024 African Player of the Year award.

After a tough start to the season with Atalanta, the 28-year-old player has regained his usual level, and Nigeria hopes he continues his brilliance in the Africa Cup of Nations.

5 - Brahim Diaz (Morocco)

Brahim Diaz will be one of the standout players for the host Moroccan team. The Real Madrid midfielder brings creativity and high technical skill to the attack of the Atlas Lions.

Playing on home soil, Diaz is expected to contribute significantly to the team's pursuit of a major achievement in the tournament.

Morocco has built a strong team in recent years, making history in 2022 by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. Diaz missed that tournament, having recently changed his nationality from Spain to Morocco in 2024.

The Atlas Lions have not won the Africa Cup of Nations since 1976, and if they want to end this drought, Diaz will be a key player, especially with the captain Achraf Hakimi seeking to recover from injury.

6 - Franck Kessie (Ivory Coast)

Kessie brings a wealth of experience to the defending champions. The 28-year-old midfielder played a crucial role in guiding Ivory Coast to win the Africa Cup of Nations in early 2024, scoring the equalizer in the dying moments of the Round of 16, and another vital goal in the final, in addition to many key moments that tipped the balance in favor of his national team.

Kessie, a midfielder for Al-Ahli, is a key asset in his team's quest to retain the title in Morocco.

7 - Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)

Mbeumo has established himself as a key and standout player at the club level since his transfer from Brentford to Manchester United in the Premier League.

Mbeumo is expected to be a key attacking player for the Cameroon national team in Morocco.

This will be Mbeumo's first African tournament with Cameroon, having been sidelined by injury from participating in the previous edition. This edition provides him with an excellent opportunity to make a strong mark on the African scene.

8 - Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)

Ismaila Sarr, a forward for Crystal Palace, continues to play an important role with the Senegal national team and has proven himself as one of the top players among the "Teranga Lions" recently.

The former Watford winger scored 3 goals for Senegal on their journey to the 2026 World Cup, and he poses a constant threat thanks to his speed and effectiveness on the flanks, complementing the team's attack that also includes Bayern Munich's Nicholas Jackson.

As Mane approaches the end of his football career, Sarr is one of the players counted on to carry the torch to the next phase, and the Africa Cup of Nations provides an ideal platform for the 27-year-old to prove his worth.

9 - Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)

There is no doubt that Amad Diallo's absence from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which the Ivory Coast team won at home, was painful. An injury kept him from the pitch just days before the tournament's kickoff, forcing him to watch his teammates lift the trophy in Abidjan from a distance.

The current tournament represents an opportunity for Diallo to turn that frustration into a strong motivation.

Diallo primarily plays as an attacking winger for Manchester United, and his precise ball control, creativity, and capacity for one-on-one confrontations enable him to play effectively in deeper positions or on the flanks when needed.

Though still young, Diallo possesses massive potential, and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations could be the perfect stage for him to establish himself strongly on the continental scene.

10 - Mohamed Amoura (Algeria)

Amoura was the top scorer in Africa during the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, netting 10 goals.

The 25-year-old forward continued to shine with his club VfL Wolfsburg in Germany, scoring 6 goals and assisting 2 in 15 matches in the Bundesliga.

Algeria last won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019. After early exits in the subsequent two tournaments, the current edition represents a chance to return to the final stages.

Amoura is expected to play a significant role in the national team's pursuit of their third continental title.

Source: Agencies