No nation can match Egypt’s historical dominance in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which kicks off on 21 December in Morocco. With seven AFCON titles, the Pharaohs arrive with unmatched experience and the opportunity to win number eight.
Egypt have their captain Mohamed Salah — one of the greatest African players of all time — who has never won the AFCON after finishing as a runner-up at the 2017 and 2021 editions.
The change of scenery might be good for Salah following the last couple of weeks at Anfield where his remarks about Liverpool “throwing me under the bus” created seismic shocks.
With the Liverpool forward and Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush, plus Mahmoud Trezeguet up front, Egypt possess the attacking threat and big-tournament mentality needed to chase an eighth crown. They have not won AFCON since 2010. They had won three straight, an African record.
Coach Hossam Hassan, appointed in February 2024, has led Egypt to 12 wins, two losses and four draws.
Following Egypt’s 2-0 loss to Uzbekistan in the Al Ain tournament in the UAE in November, there were rumours over Hassan’s future.
But the Egyptian Football Association quelled the talk, with its President Hani Abu Rida saying Hassan will remain in his position regardless of the team’s results at the AFCON.
“Hossam Hassan will continue after the Africa Cup of Nations regardless of the team’s results in the tournament,” Abu Rida said during a broadcast on EFA channels.
Egypt face 1996 winners South Africa in Group B, along with Angola and Zimbabwe. Egypt start with Zimbabwe on 22 December, followed by South Africa on 26 December and Angola on 29 December.
While Egypt are perennial favourites and are buoyed by a World Cup berth next year, the pressure is on Morocco’s Atlas Lions, who are Africa’s highest-ranked nation at 11th in the world and are the hosts but have not won AFCON since 1976.
Morocco enter AFCON with towering expectations. A historic World Cup semi-finalist in 2022, the team arrives with the dream of lifting a first continental crown exactly 50 years on.
They have won 20, drawn two and just four losses in their last 26 official matches. It is not only the best record in Africa, but one of the strongest runs in international football today.
Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire travel to the Maghreb with a clear objective: to prove their 2023 triumph was no fluke.
The three-time African champions secured a World Cup 2026 berth with an unbeaten record of six wins and two draws in the Africa qualifiers.
Senegal, the Lions of Teranga, remain one of the most complete and powerful squads in Africa. The 2021 AFCON champions had a disappointing 2023 campaign and hope to reclaim their place at the summit of African football.
The tournament kicks off when the hosts take on Comoros at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Egypt’s AFCON squad
Goalkeepers:
Mohamed Al-Shennawi (Ahly), Ahmed Al-Shennawi (Pyramids FC), Mustafa Shobeir (Ahly), Mohamed Sobhi (Zamalek).
Defenders:
Mohamed Hani (Ahly), Ahmed Eid (Masri), Rami Rabia (Al Ain), Khaled Sobhi (Masri), Yasser Ibrahim (Ahly), Mohamed Ismail (Zamalek), Hossam Abdel-Maguid (Zamalek), Mohamed Hamdi (Pyramids), Ahmed Fatouh (Zamalek).
Midfielders:
Marwan Attia (Ahly), Hamdi Fathi (Al Wakrah), Mohanad Lasheen (Pyramids), Mahmoud Saber (ZED FC), Mohamed Shehata (Zamalek), Imam Ashour (Ahly), Ahmed Sayed “Zizo” (Ahly), Mahmoud, Hassan “Trezeguet” (Ahly), Ibrahim Adel (Al Jazira), Mustafa Fathi (Pyramids), Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
Forwards:
Mustafa Mohamed (Nantes), Salah Mohsen (Masri), Osama Faisal (National Bank of Egypt SC).
* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 December, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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