Group A of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 promises early fireworks as hosts Morocco headline a competitive quartet alongside Mali, Zambia, and Comoros.
With final squads submitted, each nation’s tactical intent is clear, which is a star power and expectation for the hosts, a European-hardened core for Mali, pace-led ambition from Zambia, and battle-tested resilience from Comoros.
All squads are in.
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 16, 2025
Anticipation is off the charts. How hyped are you for the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/yFVVuyek5t
Morocco 2025 AFCON Squad
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal / Saudi Arabia), Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane), El Mehdi Al Harrar (Raja CA)
Defenders : Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids FC / Egypt), Jawad El Yamiq (Al-Najma SC / Saudi Arabia), Roman Saïss (Al-Sadd SC / Qatar), Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal (Amiens SC / Ligue 2), Nayef Aguerd (Olympique de Marseille), Adam Masina (Torino FC / Italy), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United / England), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven / Netherlands)
Midfielders: Oussama Targhalline (Feyenoord Rotterdam/Netherlands), Sofyan Amrabat (Betis Sevilla/Spain), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma/Italy), Bilal El Khannouss (VfB Stuttgart/Germany), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona FC/Spain)
Forwards : Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid / Spain), Ilias Akhomach (Villarreal CF / Spain), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland AFC / England), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahce), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos / Greece), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Ain / United Arab Emirates), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Betis Seville / Spain), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco)
Mali 2025 AFCON full squad
Goalkeepers: Djigui Diarra (Young Africans), Ismael Diawara (IK Sirius), Mamadou Samassa (Laval)
Defenders: Sikou Niakate (SC Braga), Abdoulaye Diaby (Grasshoppers), Woyo Coulibaly (Sassuolo), Fode Doucoure (Red Star), Hamari Traore (Paris FC), Ousmane Camara (Angers SCO), Mamadou Fofana (New England Revolution), Nathan Bassama (Baltika), Amadou Dante (Arouca)
Midfielders: Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Lassana Coulibaly (Lecce), Mohamed Camara (Al-Saad / Qatar), Mamadou Sangaré (RC Lens), Aliou Dieng (Al-Ahly), Yves Bissouma (Tottenham), Mahamadou Doumbia (A Ittihad), Ibrahima Sissoko (VFL Bochum)
Forwards: Nene Dorgeles (Fenerbahce), Gaoussou Diarra (Feyenoord), El-Bilal Toure (Besiktas), Lassine Sinayoko (AJ Auxerre), Kamory Doumbia (Brest), Mamadou Doumbia (Watford), Gaoussou Diakite (Lausanne-Sport), Mamadou Camara (Laval)
Here’s the #AFCON squad for Mali 🇲🇱!
— The International Window (@windowintlpod) December 11, 2025
🔙 Dorgeles, Kamory Doumbia, Bissouma, Sissoko, Niakaté, Diaby
They are in Group A with 🇲🇦 🇿🇲 🇰🇲. pic.twitter.com/QDsVqViJxC
Zambia 2025 full AFCON squad
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos)
Defenders: Mathews Banda (Nkana), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Obino Chisala (Al Merrikh), Kabaso Chongo (Zesco United), David Hamansenya (Leganes), Gift Mphande (Zesco United), Frankie Musonda (Bahrain SC), Benson Sakala (Bohemians 1905), Stoppila Sunzu (Changchun Yatai)
Midfielders: Joseph Sabobo Banda (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Lameck Banda (Lecce), Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco), Given Kalusa (FC Muza), Kings Kangwa (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari), Lubambo Musonda (FC Magdeburg), Pascal Phiri (Zesco United), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha), David Simukonda (Zesco United), Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos)
Forwards: Patson Daka (Leicester City), Jack Lahne Kalichi (Austria Lustenau), Eliya Mandanji (Zanaco), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan).
🇿🇲 Zambia name final AFCON squad! 🚨
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) December 10, 2025
Chipolopolo have announced their final 28-man squad for the 2025 AFCON.
They’ll hold a training camp in Spain from December 11–17 before flying out to Morocco for the tournament.
Zambia are drawn in Group A alongside Morocco, Mali and… pic.twitter.com/XaNbkZ1iiZ
Comoros AFCON 2025 full squad
Goalkeepers: Yannick Pandor (Francs Borains), Salim Ben Boina (Istres), Adel Anzimati (FC Ararat)
Defenders: Said Bakari (Sparta Rotterdam), Kassim M'Dahoma (Aubagne), Kenan Toibibou (Bravo), Ahmed Soilihi (Toulon), Idris Mohamed (Le Puy) Yannis Kari (Frejus Saint Raphael), Akim Abdallah (Guingamp), Bendjaloud Youssouf (FC Sochaux), Remy Vita (CD Tondela), Ismael Boura (Troyes)
Midfielders: Youssouf M'Changama (Al-Batin), Zaydou Youssouf (Al-Fateh / Saudi Arabia), Rayan Lutin (Amiens), Raouf Mroivili (Villefranche), Iyad Mohamed (Casa Pia), Aymeric Ahmed (Chateauroux) Yacine Bourhane (Aris Limassol)
Forwards: Rafiki Said (Standard de Liege), Myziane Maolida (Al Kholood), Faiz Selemani (Qatar SC), Aboubacar Ali Abdallah (Francs Borains), El Fardou Ben Mohamed (Zemun), Zaïd Amir (Istres)
Comoros 🇰🇲 squad for #AFCON has dropped!
— The International Window (@windowintlpod) December 9, 2025
No new faces and no real surprises either. Returning after missing November are Zaydou Youssouf (Al-Fateh 🇸🇦), Benjaloud Youssouf (Sochaux 🇫🇷), Maolida (Al-Kholood 🇸🇦), and Selemani (Qatar SC 🇶🇦).
Warmed Omari (Hamburger SV 🇩🇪) is still… pic.twitter.com/VUvFnDbnys
Group Verdict
Group A sets the tone for AFCON 2025. Morocco carries the weight of expectation, Mali brings balance Zambia threatens with speed, and Comoros embodies the spirit of the underdog.
The opener between Morocco and Comoros on December 21 could define momentum in one of the tournament’s most compelling groups.