Skip to main content

AFCON 2025 Favorites: Who Will Rise to the Challenge Against Ivory Coast?

AFCON 2025 in Morocco shapes up as a wide‑open tournament where holders Ivory Coast arrive with a target on their backs and a cluster of heavyweights – Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria and Cameroon – all capable of dethroning them. The quality of squads, the depth of tactical ideas and the tournament’s expanded 24‑team format mean the question is no longer “Can anyone stop Ivory Coast?” but “Who will be brave enough to seize the moment when it comes?”​ Setting the stage in Morocco AFCON 2025 runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, with 24 teams competing across six Moroccan cities and nine stadiums. The tournament keeps the now‑familiar structure of six groups of four, with the top two and the four best third‑placed teams reaching the round of 16, which often produces chaotic, upset‑filled knockout brackets.​ The hosts Morocco headline Group A with Mali, Zambia and Comoros, while Ivory Coast are drawn into a star‑studded Group F with Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique, ensu...

Here are 5 things to look out for in Wednesday's Champions League action πŸ’«.

The Champions League began with a bang on Tuesday. Check out our five takeaways from Tuesday's action here.

Here are the top five things to watch out for as the action continues on Wednesday.

⚔️ Match of the day

Matchday one is definitely spoiling us, with the UEFA supercomputer throwing up a mouthwatering replay of Manchester City's 2023 final against Inter.

Both are once again national champions heading into this game, with retribution on the Nerazzurri's mind after that heartbreaking tight loss in Istanbul.

City have won all four league games this season, while Simone Inzaghi's side has already dropped points twice, most recently against Monza.

Furthermore, Pep Guardiola's side has gone unbeaten in their past 23 games in the competition and would set an all-time European Cup/Champions League record (eclipsing Manchester United from September 2007 to May 2009) if they avoid defeat in their first three league games this season.

πŸ”Ž Team to watch.

Girona is not just one of two teams making their tournament debuts (going back to the European Cup era), but they are also competing in continental competition for the first time in their history.

Their great LaLiga season last year has earned them an exciting first taste of Champions League action, and what better way to begin than with a romantic journey to Paris to face PSG.

MΓ‘laga was the last Spanish team to debut in the competition 12 years ago, and they, together with Villarreal and Sevilla, ensured that each of the previous three LaLiga teams to debut reached the knockout stage in their first year.

However, the trek to the Parc des Princes will not be easy. Only one of the last 28 first-time Champions League visitors to Paris has won, and that was Manchester United's remarkable comeback in March 2019.

πŸ”₯ Player to watch.

Celtic broke their transfer record last month, signing Augsburg's dynamic midfielder Arne Engels.

Within a week, the 21-year-old has earned his first Belgium cap - hardly an easy feat considering the strength of their choices in that area, but it demonstrates how highly he is regarded.

Engels shook off any qualms about his price tag with an outstanding performance and first goal last Saturday, but he was brought in for these big European nights.

Can he rise to the occasion and demonstrate his promise when the Bhoys host Slovan Bratislava?

Potential upset.

The oddsmakers have Shakhtar Donetsk as significant underdogs for their trip to Bologna on Wednesday, but should this be the case?

They have been regulars in this competition for the past two decades (only six sides have appeared more since 2000), whilst the Felsinei are only competing in it for the second time, having previously done so in the European Cup in 1964, when they were eliminated in the preliminary stage.

This marks the greatest gap between appearances for any club in tournament history.

Danylo Sikan is a dangerous player, as evidenced by his four goals in six group stage games last season, and Shakhtar has done admirably to retain much-coveted important player Heorhiy Sudakov, who led his team in chances created and completed passes last year.

Bologna, on the other hand, has lost several key players who helped them reach the top four last season, including coach Thiago Motta, Joshua Zirkzee, and Riccardo Calafiori, while captain Lewis Ferguson is still injured, and they have yet to win a game this season, putting them in position for a surprise slip-up on their big night.

πŸ“Š A fascinating statistic

Borussia Dortmund have faced Club Brugge four times in the Champions League and have yet to allow a goal. No team has ever preserved a clean sheet in five consecutive games against the same opponent in the competition.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Comparative Strengths Of South American Nations: Which Team Will Dominate In The 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Argentina and Brazil will enter the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the powerhouses of South America, but Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay, and Bolivia also offer compelling narratives and strengths. Recent qualifiers and squad evolution signal a continental resurgence, with each team showcasing unique qualities and championship aspirations.​ South America's Qualified Teams Argentina Brazil Uruguay Ecuador Colombia Paraguay Bolivia (intercontinental playoff entry)​ Argentina: The Champions' Shield Reigning world champions Argentina have blended experienced superstars and hungry youth under the direction of Lionel Scaloni. The squad sits atop South American qualifiers, having clinched their spot comfortably ahead of others. Key names include Emiliano Martinez (GK), Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nahuel Molina (defense), Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez (midfield), and attacking talents like Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, and of course, Lionel Messi.​ Streng...

Real Madrid's Bold Move: Xabi Alonso Targets Alvaro Carreras After Release Clause Agreement.

Real Madrid’s Left-Back Revolution Real Madrid is causing a stir in the summer transfer market under Xabi Alonso's new management. After securing Kylian MbappΓ© and Endrick, the club has now set its sights on Manchester United’s Álvaro Carreras, triggering his €25 million release clause. 1. Who Is Álvaro Carreras? – Rising Star Profile Background & Career Trajectory Age: 21 (Born: April 22, 2003) Nationality: Spanish Position: Left-Back / Left Wing-Back Current Club: SL Benfica Key Strengths: Pace, crossing, defensive awareness A graduate of Manchester United's academy, Carreras played on loan at Granada the previous season and made an impression with his defensive tenacity and attacking contributions. 2024/25 Season Stats (SL Benfica – Liga Portugal) Metric                     Per 90           Liga Portugal (LBs)

London City Lionesses: How New Signings Will Boost Their WSL Campaign.

The roar from Hayes Lane is getting louder. After a historic 2024/2025 season culminating in their triumphant promotion as Women's Championship winners, London City Lionesses are not just content with making up the numbers in the Women's Super League (WSL). Under the astute ownership of Michele Kang and guided by their ambitious management team, the Lionesses have been exceptionally busy in the summer transfer window, making a series of astute signings that signal a serious intent to not just survive, but to truly compete in England's top tier. The move from Championship to WSL is always challenging. The pace, physicality, and technical demands intensify significantly. Clubs often struggle to adapt, leading to a quick return to the second tier. However, London City Lionesses are approaching this challenge with a strategic, calculated aggression in the transfer market, aiming to defy the odds and establish themselves as a formidable WSL presence. To understand the profound i...