The CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) begins on Sunday, with hosts Morocco taking on Comoros in Group A at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The four-week continental show will see some of the biggest names in the game take center stage.
Introducing the top 10 players who will heat up the competition.
⚽ Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Mohamed Salah, perhaps the biggest African soccer star of his generation, heads into the tournament hoping to lead Egypt to a record-extending eighth title. However, the 33-year-old is not up to his usual standards. He has scored just five goals in 20 games in all competitions this season and has fallen down the standings under new Liverpool manager Arne Slott.
But Salah’s importance to Egypt was never in doubt. The two-time African Player of the Year remains their talisman and his nine goals in the CAF World Cup qualifying stages were crucial in securing qualification for next summer’s World Cup.
At AFCON, Salah will be seeking both redemption and a return to the frenetic form that earned him the nickname ‘The King of Egypt’.
⚽ Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Achraf Hakimi, who was recently crowned African Footballer of the Year, will headline his home country’s stars who will take to the field in Morocco.
Widely regarded as one of the best right-backs in the world, the 27-year-old helped PSG win the treble, which ended with the long-awaited UEFA Champions League title in May.
As Morocco’s captain, Hakimi carries the hopes of millions of people in this soccer-mad country. Morocco’s Atlas Lions will be looking not only for their defensive stability but also for their playmaking brilliance as they aim to win their second AFCON title, 50 years after their first crown.
⚽ Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen, still recovering from the heartbreak of missing out on the 2026 World Cup, will seek solace and redemption at the continental championships.
The Galatasaray forward, known for his trademark face mask, has been in excellent form this season, scoring 12 goals in 16 games in all competitions, including six in the Champions League.
Despite sitting second on Nigeria’s all-time scorers list, Osimhen has struggled to transfer that dominance to major tournaments. He found the back of the net only once, in 2023, when the Super Eagles reached the finals of the AFCON. This edition gives him a chance to change that narrative.
⚽ Brian Mbeumo (Cameroon)
Star forward Brian Mbeumo, who has rediscovered his scoring ability, could play a key role in Cameroon’s campaign as they begin a new chapter under a new manager after failing to qualify for the World Cup.
With seven goals in all competitions, Mbeumo was Manchester United’s standout in what has been a confusing and chaotic season for the Red Devils.
Mbeumo missed the last AFCON due to injury, but this time the 26-year-old has a great chance to win his first trophy for Cameroon.
However, the task is not easy. With veteran striker Vincent Abubakar surprisingly left out of the squad, Mbeumo will take over the dual responsibility of leading the line and captaining the team.
⚽ Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast)
Wilfried Zaha’s impressive loan spell with Charlotte in Major League Soccer (MLS) has earned him a surprise call-up to the national team for the second time in two years.
The 33-year-old winger was not included in the AFCON 2023 winning team, but his return to form has proved too convincing to ignore, with 10 goals and 10 assists this season.
Zaha’s years of experience, ability to take on defenders and current sharpness should provide a timely boost to the reigning champions’ ambitions to defend their AFCON title in Morocco.
⚽Sadio Mane (Senegal)
Sadio Mane once dominated the headlines for his exploits in Europe with clubs such as Liverpool and Bayern Munich, but much of the media attention has shifted away from him following his move to Al Nasr in the Saudi Professional League.
However, the 33-year-old, widely regarded as one of Africa’s best players, remains a crucial figure for Senegal, with his five goals in CAF World Cup qualifiers the most ever by a Senegalese player.
In Morocco, Mane will aim to repeat the form that saw him named Player of the Tournament as a winger who led Teranga Lions to their first continental title at AFCON 2021.
⚽Iliman Ndiay (Senegal)
Iliman Ndiaye, who has been involved in six goals in the Premier League, has been one of Everton’s most reliable players in the Premier League this season and the 25-year-old will be hoping to bring that positive influence to Senegal’s attack.
The midfielder, known for his dribbling and finishing, has developed rapidly in recent years, becoming a key player for the Toffees as they move from England’s second tier to nearing the top six in the top flight in 2023.
On the international stage, Ndiaye has been an integral part of Senegal’s setup for the past three years and will look to make his mark in his third AFCON appearance.
⚽ Carlos Baleva (Cameroon)
Unlike many of the tournament’s heavyweights, Carlos Baleva comes into AFCON without any major tournament experience, but the 21-year-old is already putting in performances that belie his age.
The versatile youngster was the driving force behind Brighton’s defensive midfield in the Premier League and helped Cameroon secure a perfect place at AFCON 2025.
Known for his stamina, dribbling and passing range, Baleva is once again attracting interest from major European clubs ahead of a potential big-money move in the January transfer window.
⚽ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
Former Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal hero Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang now plies his trade at Marseille, but this year’s AFCON could be his last chance for glory in Gabon.
The forward, 36 and in the twilight of his career, continues to carry the hopes of a small Central African nation that has never advanced beyond the quarter-finals.
French-born Aubameyang, who won the African Player of the Year award 10 years ago, has been at the heart of Gabon’s attack since making his debut in 2009.
⚽ Mohamed Amoula (Algeria)
Mohamed Amoula will be a key figure in Algeria’s AFCON 2025 campaign.
Amoura was Africa’s top scorer in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, surpassing even Egyptian legend Salah with a chart-topping 10 goals.
The 25-year-old striker carried his clinical form into club football with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, scoring six goals and providing two assists in 15 appearances.
After lifting the Africa trophy in 2019, the Desert Foxes endured painful first-round exits in their next two tournaments, making this tournament an opportunity to rewrite recent history. At AFCON 2025, Algeria will do everything possible for Amoura to aim for a third crown.
