Former Senegal coach and Teranga Lions icon Aliou Cissé has placed Nigeria’s Super Eagles firmly among the favourites to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Speaking after Libya’s elimination in the Arab Cup playoffs, Cissé was asked whether Senegal could reclaim the continental title. He backed his country but did not shy away from acknowledging the strength of the competition.

“I hope it will be Senegal, because I come from Senegal and my heart is with Senegal,” he said.

Cissé went on to list four other nations he believes stand a strong chance of lifting the trophy: host nation Morocco, Algeria, seven-time champions Egypt, and Nigeria, who finished as runners-up at the previous edition.

“Apart from Senegal, there are many teams capable of winning this AFCON. Morocco is also a contender, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria,” he stated.

He emphasised the unpredictability that makes AFCON unique, noting that forecasting the winner is far more difficult than predicting outcomes at the FIFA World Cup.

“In the Africa Cup of Nations, you can’t predict exactly who will win. In the World Cup, you can make predictions. But the Africa Cup of Nations is very complicated. There will always be surprises,” Cissé added.

AFCON 2025 will run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, with 24 nations competing for Africa’s biggest prize.