Morocco, Brazil’s rival, is the favorite for the African Cup; see details

The 35th edition of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) will begin this Sunday (12/21) and will bring together 24 teams in the main football tournament on the African continent. The opening match will pit Morocco against the Comoros, at 4 p.m. (Brasilia time), with the Moroccans playing at home.

The competition will be played between December 21, 2025 and January 18, 2026 and marks the return of the tournament to Morocco after 37 years.

The local team arrives as favorites for the competition. Rivals of Brazil, the Moroccan team was champion of the Arab Cup, which ended this Thursday (12/19). Additionally, Hakimi’s team arrives accredited by its performance at the 2022 World Cup, where it reached the semi-finals, and by a strong campaign in the qualifiers.

With internationally renowned players like Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech and Bono, the team aims to win the tournament cup for the second time, the first being in 1976. The team wants to confirm its status as an emerging power in African football. The team will compete against Brazil in the 2026 World Cup.

On the other hand, the Comoros are participating in the competition for the second time in their history. The debut took place during the 2021 edition, played in Cameroon, and the opening duel represents another important chapter in the growth of football in the country.

Current champion of the competition, Ivory Coast also appears to be one of the favorites. The Orange team has already lifted the cup in 1992, 2015 and 2024, and arrives with tradition, a competitive squad and the responsibility to defend the continental title.

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Salah #10 of the Egyptian national team

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Aboubacar Meite from Ivory Coast

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Achraf Hakimi #2 of the Moroccan national team

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Other traditional teams promise to intensify competition for the trophy. Egypt, Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria remain strong candidates, supported by their history, talent and recent leading role.

The biggest winner in the history of the CAN, Egypt has seven titles and is the only consecutive champion (2006, 2008 and 2010). Led by Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian team is looking to regain continental prominence after 15 years.

Senegal, champion in 2021, is under the leadership of Sadio Mané and arrives strengthened after securing a direct place in the World Cup. Nigeria, excluded from the last World Cup, is banking on the talent of Victor Osimhen to get back up and seek the fourth title in its history.

Algeria, champion in 2019, appears with a renewed team, led by Riyad Mahrez, and once again appears as a serious candidate for the title. Tunisia, for its part, has maintained consistency in recent editions and is trying to win only its second continental title, supported by the experience of Youssef Msakni and Wahbi Khazri, as well as a solid defense.