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The group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 has underlined a familiar truth about African football: experience still matters, but a new generation is rapidly closing the gap.
Across six groups and 24 matches, a blend of decorated winners and emerging stars has driven performances, influenced results and ignited debate over who could claim the continent’s top individual honour next.
With 87 goals scored before the knockout rounds, several African Footballer of the Year winners have once again stepped forward when their teams needed them most. At the same time, younger talents have delivered defining moments that suggest the balance of power may soon shift.
Proven winners still delivering
For Senegal, Sadio Mané, African Footballer of the Year in 2019 and 2022, combined leadership with efficiency.
His goal in the group stage, alongside two from Nicolas Jackson, helped the Lions of Teranga finish top of Group D, reinforcing Mané’s enduring influence in major tournaments.
Algeria’s campaign has been driven by Riyad Mahrez, the 2016 African Footballer of the Year.
Mahrez emerged as one of the group stage’s standout performers, scoring three goals — including a brace against Sudan and a crucial strike versus Burkina Faso — as the Desert Foxes topped Group E with authority.
Egypt, meanwhile, leaned heavily on Mohamed Salah, winner of the award in 2017 and 2018.
Salah struck twice, delivering a dramatic last-gasp winner against Zimbabwe before netting the decisive goal against South Africa to keep the Pharaohs top of Group B.
Despite Gabon’s early exit, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, African Footballer of the Year in 2015, showed his instincts remain intact, scoring during the group stage and reinforcing his reputation as one of Africa’s most reliable finishers.\
Recent winners set to sparkle
For hosts Morocco, Achraf Hakimi, the 2025 African Footballer of the Year, returned from injury to feature on matchday three, offering defensive stability and attacking thrust as the Atlas Lions navigated a demanding group.
Alongside the established names, several players used the group stage to strengthen their case as future African Footballer of the Year contenders. Nigeria’s campaign has been shaped by Ademola Lookman, the 2024 winner, who contributed two goals and two assists, including a match-winning performance against Tunisia that earned him the Man of the Match award.
Nigeria also benefited from the physical presence of Victor Osimhen, African Footballer of the Year in 2023, whose goal against Tunisia underlined his continued importance in big matches.
Rising stars stake their claim
Côte d’Ivoire’s attacking spark came from Amad Diallo, who scored twice in the group stage, including a decisive winner against Mozambique, combining pace, vision and composure.
Elsewhere, Bryan Mbeumo provided creativity and goals for Cameroon, while Raphaël Onyedika quietly controlled midfield proceedings for Nigeria, dictating tempo and enabling attacking transitions.
Experience meets ambition
As AFCON 2025 moves into the knockout rounds, the group stage has set a clear tone. Former African Footballers of the Year — Mané, Mahrez, Salah, Aubameyang and Hakimi — continue to shape matches with authority and composure.
At the same time, rising stars such as Diallo, Mbeumo and Onyedika have signalled their readiness to inherit the spotlight.
The next phase of the tournament will test whether experience or youthful momentum ultimately prevails — and may well determine who emerges as Africa’s next Footballer of the Year.
