Victor Wanyama Identifies Senegal, Nigeria, and Morocco as His Key Contenders for AFCON 2025
Former Harambee Stars skipper and ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama has offered his early impressions of the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), naming the three national teams he believes are poised to make a significant impact when the continental showpiece kicks off in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The 35th edition of AFCON will feature a formidable line-up of Africa’s elite footballing nations, all of whom progressed through a demanding qualification phase. Traditional giants such as Egypt, the competition’s most successful nation with seven titles, defending champions Ivory Coast, 2021 winners Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, Tunisia, host nation Morocco, and a resurgent South Africa headline the participating teams.
They will be joined by two-time champions DR Congo, former winners Zambia, and consistently competitive sides such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon, whose recent AFCON appearances have made them familiar faces at the finals. Emerging football nations including Botswana, Uganda, Benin, Comoros, Mozambique, Tanzania, Sudan, and Zimbabwe have also secured their places, underscoring the tournament’s growing competitive depth.
Wanyama Names the Teams He Will Be Backing
In a statement shared through the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Wanyama expressed enthusiasm for the tournament and revealed that he intends to travel to Morocco for the event. The retired Harambee Stars captain disclosed that he will be supporting Senegal, Nigeria, and Morocco, largely due to personal friendships with several players in those squads.
“I’m feeling good and looking forward to the AFCON in Morocco. I’ll be there. I have a few friends playing for Senegal, Nigeria, and Morocco, so I’ll be backing those teams,” he said.
Players Who Excite Him Ahead of the Tournament
Wanyama further elaborated on the players he is most eager to watch, especially in the absence of Kenya, who narrowly missed out on qualification. He pointed to high-profile talents such as Alex Iwobi, Sadio Mané, Riyad Mahrez, and Achraf Hakimi as some of the standout performers expected to illuminate the tournament.
According to him, their experience at the highest levels of European football makes AFCON 2025 particularly compelling for spectators across the globe.
African Football Has Evolved
The former Celtic and Spurs midfielder also reflected on the rapid evolution of African football over the last decade. He emphasized that smaller footballing nations—traditionally dismissed as underdogs—have significantly improved both tactically and technically. He highlighted sides such as Comoros and Madagascar, whose recent displays in major competitions have demonstrated that the days of predictable outcomes are long gone.
He concluded by reaffirming that despite the evenly balanced field, Senegal, Nigeria, and Morocco remain the nations that “bring the most excitement, energy, and vibe” to the continental tournament.
With the qualification stages complete and the group draw finalized, all attention now turns to the pitch as Africa prepares for one of its most anticipated football events in recent memory.
