The AFCON 2025 dark horses nobody saw coming

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) is billed to kick off in Morocco in December, with 24 teams vying to become the number one football nation on the continent.

Going into the competition, there are a few teams who look really good enough to win the competition. Hosts, Morocco, are the main favourites, as they have the home advantage, they have the most expensive squad in Africa, and they have the momentum.

There are also countries like Egypt, Ghana, defending champions Ivory Coast, and of course, Nigeria.

However, while these countries are the favourites to lift the trophy, there are some teams that could sneak in and shock the teams, just like Zambia did in 2012.

In this piece, Soccernet.ng highlights four countries you don't expect to win the AFCON 2025, but could shock the entire continent.

1. South Africa

The Bafana Bafana is one team that could shock the rest of Africa this year. Their first and only AFCON title came in 1996, a competition which they hosted. However, they have not achieved a lot since then.

But in the last five years, things have become better, their football has grown. They just qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 15 years.

In the last edition of the AFCON, they finished third, after defeating losing to Nigeria in the semis.

In that edition, they even defeated Morocco, who were competition favourites after reaching the semis of the 2022 World Cup.

The core of their team plays in their domestic league, and they have a good number of exciting young stars. The coach Hugo Broos, is also a brilliant tactician. They could just win the AFCON 2025.

2. DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo is also another country that could challenge Nigeria, Morocco, and the other big boys, for the AFCON title.

QUALIFIED. ✅

Gabon have sealed their spot and are officially back in #AFCON2025! pic.twitter.com/0sSTiy3BGR

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) November 15, 2024

They have two titles to their name, but they were not even named DR Congo as at when they won both. They won their first in 1968 as Congo-Kinshasha and their second in 1974 as Zaire.

Unfortunately for them, they have struggled to pull their weight on the continent.

But now, they have a decent squad, with players like Samuel Essende, Theo Bongonda, Cedric Bakambu, Noah Sadiki, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, and many others.

They also have a very experienced coach like Sébastien Desabre, who has been working on the continent since 2010. DR Congo would definitely give anyone they face in AFCON 2025 a big run for their money.

3. Gabon

The Panthers of Gabon are also one team to watch out for in the upcoming AFCON 2025.

They missed out on World Cup qualification by just a point, as they pushed Ivory Coast until the final game. Gabon don't have the most talented squad, but they operate as a unit.

There is also a sense of unity now in the squad, led by their enigmatic striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has been in blistering form this year.

Gabon have never gone past the quarterfinals, but they could definitely produce a shocker.

4. Burkina Faso

The Stallions of Burkina Faso are growing, but silently. They are perennial underachievers on the African scene. But they could change that.

Burkina Faso have some really talented players. They have players like Bertrand Traore, Dango Ouattara, and Edmond Tapsoba.

Their best-ever finish was in 2013, when they were defeated by Nigeria in the final. At the last AFCON, they also looked really good, but they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Mali.

Any team that faces Burkina Faso should definitely expect a fight.