2025 Africa Cup of Nations outright predictions, betting odds and tips: Atlas Lions to bare their claws

Africa Cup of Nations date, start time & TV info 

Dates Sunday, December 21 2025-Sunday, January 18 2026
Starts 7pm Sunday
Location Morocco
TV Live on Channel 4's network, airing on Channel 4, E4, 4Seven, Streaming and Channel 4 Sport YouTube 

Best bets

Morocco to lift the trophy
2pts 11-4 Paddy Power

Senegal to reach the final
1pt 3-1 general

Tunisia to win Group C
1pt 7-4 Hills

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 predictions

Morocco raised the bar for African football with their run to the World Cup semi-finals three years ago and they look solid 11-4 favourites to end a 50-year-wait for continental glory over the coming weeks.

Ivory Coast's triumph at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was the first by a host nation since Egypt in 2006. However, it should be a major advantage for Morocco to play every game in front of fervent home support and fans of the Atlas Lions certainly have a team they can be proud of.

Morocco's run to the last four was arguably the story of the 2022 World Cup. Walid Regragui's side impressed from start to finish, topping a group containing European heavyweights Croatia and Belgium before beating Spain on penalties and Portugal 1-0 in the knockout rounds.

Morocco took great confidence from their exploits in Qatar and sealed a return to the biggest stage of them all by winning all eight of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Their progress has been expertly overseen by head coach Regragui, who is getting the best from a highly talented squad. And with rising stars such as Real Madrid striker Brahim Diaz, Sunderland's Chemsdine Talbi and Roma midfielder Neil Al Aynaoui joining a core of the class of 2022, Regragui can claim to have an even more talented group than he did in Qatar.

Morocco have immense strength in depth and have a good chance to ease themselves into the tournament having been drawn alongside Mali, Comoros and Zambia, all of whom fell short in the race for World Cup qualification, in Group A.

Regragui's side should win the section and they will be incredibly tough to stop if they get into stride early.

Senegal should put up a bold bid for Afcon gloryCredit: AFP via Getty Images

Lions of Teranga can plot a course to the final

With the hosts fancied to advance into the bottom half of the knockout-stage draw, there is an incentive for other nations to perhaps chart a path through the top half.

The winners of Groups B, D and F are all bound for the top half and, if the favourites in each section do the business as anticipated, that would see Egypt, Senegal and Ivory Coast go through as group winners.

Egypt have Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush in their ranks while Ivory Coast's status as defending champions should give them added belief.

However, Senegal appear to be the strongest of the trio and they look overpriced to reach the final.

The Lions of Teranga have a deep squad featuring Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr and they were predictably strong in World Cup qualifying, winning seven and drawing three of their ten games.

They have appeared in two of the last three Afcon finals, losing to Algeria in 2019 before overcoming Egypt on penalties three years later, and may again make their way to the title-decider.

Take Tunisia in intriguing section

There should be plenty of competitive group games in Morocco and Group C, featuring Tunisia, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania, is especially intriguing.

Eight-times finalist Nigeria are favourites to win the section but the Super Eagles failed to take flight in World Cup qualifying and may have to play second fiddle to Tunisia. 

The Eagles of Carthage advanced to next summer's global gathering in North America in fine style, taking 28 points from ten matches without conceding a goal, and are a decent price at 7-4 to top the third section.

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