Nigeria one of the teams to beat in Morocco – Cote d’Ivoire boss warns ahead of AFCON 2025

Côte d’Ivoire’s AFCON-winning coach Emerse Faé has named Nigeria’s Super Eagles among the favourites to lift the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports. 

Faé, who made history last year by guiding Ivory Coast to a stunning triumph on home soil at AFCON 2023, believes the Nigerians have the ambition and firepower to mount a serious challenge.

The reigning CAF African Coach of the Year was asked to name the nations he sees as potential winners. Without hesitation, he listed Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, and Egypt as his top four.

Nigeria one of the teams to beat in Morocco – Cote d’Ivoire boss warns ahead of AFCON 2025

“Morocco of course, Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt,” Faé said as per New National Star.

“As title holders we’ll also have this status that we’ll have to assume. Also, watch out for Democratic Republic of Congo or South Africa. There will also be serious outsiders who are not the most expected, but who will have a card to play with necessarily less pressure.”

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Now 41, Faé rose to prominence during AFCON 2023 when he replaced Jean-Louis Gasset midway through the tournament. In a dramatic turnaround, he inspired the Elephants to their third continental crown with a 2-1 comeback victory over Nigeria in the final.

Despite that heartbreak in the final, the Super Eagles impressed many. They went unbeaten throughout the tournament until the final, where they took the lead before eventually falling short. The loss added to Nigeria’s recent AFCON disappointments, having last won the title in 2013.

Since then, Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 and 2017 editions, finished third in 2019, and suffered a Round of 16 exit in 2021 under Augustine Eguavoen.

But there’s renewed hope. The Super Eagles have already secured qualification for AFCON 2025, to be hosted in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. Seeded in Group C, they will face Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania in the group stage.

Other African heavyweights such as Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, and Mali have also qualified, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive tournament.