Almost 30% of the players competing at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco were born outside the continent, reflecting the growing reliance many African countries have on players from the diaspora in Europe.

Tiny Comoros, who kick off the tournament against Morocco in Rabat on Sunday, have all but one of their 26-man squad born in Europe while the home nation are one of five countries with the majority of their squad born outside the continent.

Algeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea are the others with a heavy reliance on players born and raised in Europe to migrant families. Half of the Senegal squad, too, were born in Europe.

In total, of the 664 players across the 24 teams at the tournament, 191 were born in Europe, representing 28.8%.

Morocco have players born in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Spain, indicative of diverse communities across Europe, while Algeria’s 16 foreign-born players come mainly from France but they also have a player born in Belgium as well as in Germany and Netherlands.

Both countries have a strong scouting system across Europe, actively seeking players to add to their senior side plus their junior teams.

Equatorial Guinea’s 28-man squad have 19 players all born in the former colonial power Spain.

The footballing fortunes of the small central African nation have improved drastically since they began to look for players in Spain with a connection to the country. This is their fifth Cup of Nations finals appearance in the last eight editions.

Comoros are competing in their second tournament, dipping heavily into the large community based in Marseille, while the Congolese have filled the vast majority of their squad with players from their migrant population in Belgium and France.

AFRICA BENEFITTED FROM RULE CHANGE

Players born in Britain, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and Sweden are also competing at the tournament, while Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was born in Canada and the Sudan striker Amar Taifour in the U.S.

African countries have benefitted from a change in the FIFA rules on international eligibility some 20 years ago that allowed players who had represented one country at junior level to switch allegiance if they had dual nationality.

A later change to the eligibility rules allowed players with senior caps in non-competitive internationals to change, like Wilfried Zaha, who won two caps for England but is competing for the Ivory Coast at the Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Botswana, Egypt and South Africa are the only countries whose players at the tournament are all home-born.

-Reuters

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By Kunle Solaja.

Group F of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Morocco on Sunday, promises fireworks from the outset as three former African champions — Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Gabon — are drawn together with ambitious Mozambique in one of the tournament’s most demanding groups.

Matches in Group F will be staged across Marrakech and Agadir, with several fixtures carrying knockout-round intensity despite being played at the group stage.

Fixtures (Kick-off times GMT)

• Dec 24 (17:00) – Marrakech: Côte d’Ivoire v Mozambique
• Dec 24 (19:30) – Agadir: Cameroon v Gabon
• Dec 28 (17:00) – Marrakech: Cameroon v Côte d’Ivoire
• Dec 28 (19:30) – Agadir: Gabon v Mozambique
• Dec 31 (19:30) – Marrakech: Gabon v Côte d’Ivoire
• Dec 31 (19:30) – Agadir: Cameroon v Mozambique

Côte d’Ivoire: Champions with Depth and Belief

Côte d’Ivoire arrive in Morocco as the most recent winners of the Africa Cup of Nations, having lifted the trophy in 2023 to add to earlier triumphs in 1992 and 2015. Ranked 42nd in the world, the Elephants are making their 25th appearance at the finals.

Under coach Emerse Faé, the Ivorians boast one of the most balanced squads in the competition. The midfield is powered by proven performers such as Franck Kessié, Seko Fofana and Ibrahim Sangaré, while the defence features European-based stalwarts including Evan Ndicka, Odilon Kossounou and Willy Boly.

Up front, the blend of experience and flair is evident in the presence of Sébastien Haller, Wilfried Zaha and Manchester United winger Amad Diallo. Côte d’Ivoire will be expected to set the pace in Group F.

Cameroon: Indomitable Lions Seeking a Return to the Summit

Five-time African champions Cameroon remain one of the continent’s most feared names despite recent inconsistency. Ranked 57th globally, the Indomitable Lions qualified by topping their group ahead of Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia.

Coach David Pagou has assembled a squad that mixes emerging talent with seasoned internationals. Midfield dynamo Carlos Baleba and versatile attacker Bryan Mbeumo provide energy and creativity, while defenders such as Nouhou Tolo and Christopher Wooh offer physical presence.

Cameroon’s clash with Côte d’Ivoire in Marrakech is likely to be one of the defining matches of the group.

Gabon: Experience, Firepower and a Familiar Star

Gabon return to the AFCON finals for the ninth time, aiming to better their previous quarter-final finishes in 1996 and 2012. Ranked 78th in the world, the Panthers qualified behind hosts Morocco in their group.

Much of Gabon’s attacking hope rests on the shoulders of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, supported by fellow forwards Denis Bouanga and Jim Allevinah. The midfield features experience in Mario Lemina and Didier Ndong, while the defence is anchored by long-serving internationals Bruno Ecuele Manga and Aaron Appindangoye.

Gabon’s opening match against Cameroon could determine their prospects of advancing.

Mozambique: Underdogs with Momentum

Mozambique completes Group F as underdogs but arrives with growing confidence. Making their sixth AFCON appearance, the Mambas are ranked 102nd in the world and qualified behind Mali in their group.

Coached by Chiquinho Conde, Mozambique relies on cohesion and pace, with Sporting Lisbon winger Geny Catamo among their most dangerous attacking threats. Defenders such as Reinildo and veteran Mexer bring top-level experience, while the team’s compact style could make them awkward opponents.

Mozambique will be aiming to secure a first-ever knockout-stage appearance.

Group F Outlook

Group F stands out as one of AFCON 2025’s toughest sections. With three former champions and an improving outsider, every match carries significance.

Côte d’Ivoire’s championship pedigree, Cameroon’s physicality and tradition, Gabon’s attacking firepower, and Mozambique’s resilience ensure a fiercely contested group where margins will be slim and reputations tested.

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By Kunle Solaja.

The curtain rises today on the 35th Africa Cup of Nations as hosts Morocco take on Comoros in the opening match of Africa’s biggest football spectacle.

The tournament, holding in Morocco for the second time, begins amid continental excitement and global attention, with the hosts aiming to convert years of heavy investment and recent global success into a long-awaited AFCON title on home soil.

A Nation Ready for the Moment

Kick-off at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat marks more than the start of a competition — it signals Morocco’s return to centre stage as a major football nation.

Becoming the first African and Arab country to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Atlas Lions arrive as one of the tournament favourites, carrying the hopes of a passionate home crowd.

Under coach Walid Regragui, Morocco boast a balanced squad blending European-honed stars with homegrown talent shaped by long-term structural planning. For the hosts, today’s opener is about setting the tone — asserting authority early while managing the pressure that comes with expectation.

Morocco’s Atlas Lions enter the contest as Africa’s top-ranked side, sitting 11th in the FIFA world rankings, the highest-placed nation on the continent. The Comoros, by contrast, are ranked 108th, but their recent AFCON appearances have shown they are no longer mere spectators on the big stage.

Standing in Morocco’s path are Comoros, a team that has rapidly grown in confidence and continental relevance.

Once considered minnows, the island nation has become known for discipline, resilience and the ability to frustrate bigger opponents. Their very presence in the opening match underscores AFCON’s expanding competitiveness.

For Comoros, the clash represents an opportunity to shock Africa, silence a packed stadium and announce themselves once again as fearless disruptors.

The two nations have met four times previously, with Morocco holding the clear edge — three wins and one draw. Their first encounters came during the 2019 AFCON qualifying campaign, when they were drawn together in Group C.

In the first meeting, played in Morocco on 13 October 2018, the Atlas Lions edged a tight contest 1–0. The return fixture just three days later, on 16 October 2018 in Comoros, ended in a 2–2 draw, a result that underlined the islanders’ growing competitiveness. Morocco eventually topped the group, qualifying for Egypt 2019 alongside Cameroon.

The sides also crossed paths at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, meeting in the group stage in Yaoundé on 14 January 2022. On that occasion, Morocco recorded a 2–0 victory, with Selim Amallah opening the scoring in the 16th minute before Zakaria Aboukhlal sealed the result late on.

Beyond the Opening Match

The opening ceremony and match launch a month-long football festival spanning multiple Moroccan cities, with millions of fans expected to follow the action across Africa and beyond. From upgraded stadiums and airports to a carnival-like atmosphere already visible across the country, Morocco has rolled out the red carpet for the continent.

As the first whistle blows tonight, the message will be clear: Africa Cup of Nations 2025 has begun — and the road to continental glory starts now, under the lights of Rabat.

Today’s opener offers Morocco a chance to extend that dominance and make a strong statement as tournament hosts, buoyed by home support and expectations shaped by their recent global success. For Comoros, it is another opportunity to challenge the hierarchy, frustrate a heavyweight opponent and remind Africa that rankings do not always tell the full story.

As the opening ceremony gives way to kick-off at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the 35th AFCON begins with a familiar pairing — and the promise of new chapters in a rivalry that has already delivered drama, resilience and moments of surprise.

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