From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
A sports analyst in Cross River State, Isoni Isoni, has said the much-anticipated 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will kick off today in Rabat, Morocco, amid a mix of excitement and apprehension across the continent.
Isoni noted that the tournament, which will run for three weeks, will feature 24 African nations competing across six Moroccan cities for the continent’s most coveted football trophy, first introduced in 1957.
He said the opening match will see host nation Morocco face Comoros in Rabat, marking the official start of the competition.
According to him, Group A comprises Morocco, Mali, Zambia and Comoros, while Group B features Egypt, South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe. Group C includes Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.
Group D has Senegal, DR Congo, Benin Republic and Botswana, while Group E consists of Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan and Burkina Faso. Group F includes Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique.
Isoni explained that although over 70 countries initially competed during the qualifiers, the preliminary rounds reduced the number to 24 teams.
“The teams will play a total of 52 matches in a round-robin and knockout format, leading to the final clash between the last two surviving sides,” he said.
The analyst said the biennial tournament is expected to be fiercely contested, noting that this year’s edition promises surprises due to the quality and balance of the teams involved.
He added that the competition would attract more than 2,000 journalists and thousands of fans, tourists and football enthusiasts from across Africa and beyond.
According to him, the Moroccan government has strengthened security nationwide to prevent any security breaches, deploying military and paramilitary personnel at borders, airports, seaports, match venues, hotels and tourist centres.
Isoni said the desire to lift the prestigious trophy has intensified preparations among participating teams, with some countries investing heavily in training and logistics, while others are relying on resilience and luck.
“Football always produces surprises. New stars will emerge, while some established names may fade. That is the beauty of the Africa Cup of Nations,” he said.
