AFCON 2025: Supercomputer Predicts Tournament Winner Ahead of Morocco Kick-Off
- Opta has revealed its prediction for the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, set to be staged in Morocco from December 21 to January 18
- The hosts, who have not lifted the trophy since 1976, will be hoping home advantage can inspire a long-awaited triumph, much like Ivory Coast achieved last time
- With 24 nations in contention, we assess the leading favourites battling to be crowned champions of Africa on January 18 next year
Opta’s supercomputer has released its projections for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ahead of the tournament’s opening match on Sunday.
Host nation Morocco will kick off the competition against Comoros at the Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah Complex in Rabat
Source: Getty Images
The 2025 AFCON is tipped to be the most spectacular yet, with CAF and Morocco leaving no stone unturned to ensure a successful tournament.
The 24 participating nations will compete across nine state-of-the-art stadiums spread over six Moroccan cities, with action running through to January 18.
Pre-tournament favourites include hosts Morocco, record champions Egypt, Sadio Mané’s Senegal, Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria, and defending champions Ivory Coast.
Opta supercomputer predicts AFCON 2025 winner
Opta’s supercomputer has tipped Morocco to claim their first Africa Cup of Nations title since 1976.
The 2022 World Cup semi-finalists have been assigned a 19.1% chance of lifting the trophy and will face Comoros, Zambia, and Mali in Group A as they aim for the knockout stages.
Walid Regragui’s squad boasts reigning African Player of the Year Achraf Hakimi, though the Paris Saint-Germain fullback must overcome an ankle injury.
Egypt are ranked second with a 12.4% chance, led by talisman Mohamed Salah, who enters the tournament after a turbulent period with Liverpool.
Despite being Africa’s most decorated team, the Pharaohs have not won the AFCON since 2010. Under coach Hossam Hassan, they will take on South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Angola in Group B.
Senegal are third favourites with a 12.3% chance as they look to reclaim the title they won in 2021.
The Teranga Lions boast one of Africa’s most star-studded squads and will compete in Group D alongside Botswana, DR Congo, and Benin.
Fourth on the list are 2019 champions Algeria, who must navigate a group featuring Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Sudan.
They are followed by Nigeria and Tunisia, while defending champions Ivory Coast have just a 6.7% chance of retaining their crown. South Africa, semi-finalists in the last edition, sit 10th with a 2.2% chance.
East African sides Uganda and Tanzania face long odds, each with less than a 1% chance, and are grouped with Nigeria and Tunisia.
Source: YEN.com.gh
