Retired Senegal international Ferdinand Coly has identified ten countries he believes have realistic chances of winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), including Nigeria.

His remarks underscore the competitive depth expected at the tournament.

When discussing the most prominent candidate, Coly, as quoted by Filgoal, said: "It is very difficult to determine the winner in advance. Morocco has the home advantage and the first African team in the FIFA rankings, so it is the first candidate according to logic, but there are several other nominated teams such as Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia."

Coly then expanded on the other teams he considers serious contenders, noting:

"These are among the candidates, along with the Democratic Republic of Congo, which qualified for the World Cup, Ivory Coast, the defending champion, Nigeria, and Cameroon, and there may be surprises such as Cape Verde."

Addressing the overall strength of the tournament, he concluded: "There are many competitors. This tournament has eight or ten teams capable of winning, which raises the level of competition and the expectations of the fans for this important edition."

According to Coly, Morocco stands out due to its dual advantage as host nation and as the highest-ranked African team in the FIFA standings.

Yet, he emphasized that the tournament field is packed with historically strong and emerging sides. Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia are among the teams expected to challenge for the trophy, while the Democratic Republic of Congo enters with the experience of World Cup qualification.

Defending champions Ivory Coast, alongside Nigeria and Cameroon, also feature prominently in Coly’s list of potential winners.

He further mentioned Cape Verde as a team that could deliver unexpected results.

Coly’s assessment frames the tournament as highly competitive, with multiple nations realistically capable of lifting the trophy.

His full list of ten potential winners—Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Cape Verde—provides a clear guide for fans and analysts alike as anticipation builds ahead of the continental showdown.

With expectations high and several strong contenders, AFCON 2025 promises to be a fiercely contested championship where preparation, talent, and determination will determine the ultimate victor; the competition will get underway this Sunday with hosts Morocco taking on Comoros in the opening game of the campaign.

Wale Adejumo