AFCON Winner Odds, Predictions and Best Bets – Can Morocco Win at Home?

• The AFCON tournament kicks off on December 21, 2025, and runs until January 18, 2026.
• AFCON 2025 will be played in nine stadiums in six cities across the country of Morocco.
• Morocco hosts for the second time, and first since 1988.
• The final will be held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
• The Ivory Coast are the defending champions.
• Egypt leads all countries with seven AFCON titles, followed by Cameroon with five, and Ghana with four.

• FIFA Ranking: 11^th
• Best Finish: Champions (1976)
• 2023 Finish: Round of 16
• Manager: Walid Regragui
• Top Players: Youssef En-Nesyri, Brahim Diaz, Achraf Hakimi

Morocco is 11^th in the FIFA rankings, and won the African Nations Championship in 2024. The Atlas Lions also finished in fourth place at the 2022 World Cup, but fell out in the Round of 16 in the last AFCON edition.

📸 Achraf Hakimi x Hamza Igamane

Allah Ychafihom ! 🇲🇦🤲🏻 pic.twitter.com/Imb6J1J488

— FRMF Xtra (@FRMFXtra) December 15, 2025

Manager Walid Regragui has to deal with a few injuries. Achraf Hakimi is one of the best fullbacks in the world, but an ankle injury has Regragui sweating on his fitness. Young forward Hamza Igamane has an adductor injury after a great start to the season for Lille. Winger Hakim Ziyech isn’t in the squad, either.

But Brahim Diaz can be the focal point of the attack, while striker Youseff En-Nesyri is great in the air. Romain Saïss can marshal the defense, and Yassine Bounou might be the best keeper in the tournament.

Still, the injuries to Hakimi and Igamane are worth watching. I’m slightly skeptical of Morocco’s AFCON winner odds until we know if they can play a part in this tournament!

• FIFA Ranking: 19^th
• Best Finish: Champions (2021)
• 2023 Finish: Round of 16
• Manager: Pape Thiaw
• Top Players: Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr, Kalidou Koulibaly

Senegal is poised to take advantage if Morocco slips. The Lions of Teranga are looking to bounce back from a Round of 16 exit here in 2023, and they also lost in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. They did finish third at the African Nations Championship.

La liste pic.twitter.com/okJr3xZV90

— Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) December 13, 2025

Senegal is experienced, led by Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly. They’re loaded up front with Mane, Nicolas Jackson, and Ismaila Sarr. Idrissa Gueye and Pape Matar Sarr are physical in midfield. Koulibaly can still do a job in defense, while keeper Edouard Mendy is solid between the sticks.

Manager Pape Thiaw has this group believing in themselves, and when Senegal plays their best, they can beat anyone in Africa, as shown by their 2021 title run. I’ve got my eye on Senegal’s 2025 AFCON winner odds, as +550 is a tasty return!

• FIFA Ranking: 35^th
• Best Finish: Champions (1990, 2019)
• 2023 Finish: Group Stage
• Manager: Vladimir Petkovic
• Top Players: Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed Amoura, Rayan Alt-Nouri

Algeria is still talented, even with their best player getting up there in age. They’ve failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, although the Greens will be there in 2026. The two-time AFCON winners most recently won in 2019, but have gone out in the past two group stages.

Here’s the Algeria 🇩🇿 squad for #AFCON!

Some surprises perhaps… Adil Boulbina (Al-Duhail 🇶🇦)
and Redouane Berkane (Al-Wakrah 🇶🇦) carry over from the Arab Cup squad.

Anthony Mandréa (Caen 🇫🇷) and Youcef Atal (Al-Sadd 🇶🇦) return to the selection.

Bentaleb, Abdelli not… pic.twitter.com/xRs0Vqu3km

— The International Window (@windowintlpod) December 13, 2025

Riyad Mahrez is 34 years old, but he can still shine at AFCON. He and Mohamed Amoura have struck up a great connection up front. Rayan Alt-Nouri isn’t getting much time at Manchester City, but he’s still a classy player at fullback.

I do have questions about Algeria in central midfield. Ismael Bennacer and Houssem Aouar are good, but they need to find another level. I’m also not sure about the center of defense, and goalkeeper Anthony Mandrea.

I believe Algeria’s AFCON winner odds are slightly overpriced. Despite being one spot ahead of Egypt in the FIFA rankings, I think Egypt has the higher ceiling.

• FIFA Ranking: 34^th
• Best Finish: Champions (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)
• 2023 Finish: Round of 16
• Manager: Hossam Hassan
• Top Players: Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, Mohamed El Shenawy

Egypt’s seven AFCON titles lead all countries, although their last title came in 2010. The Pharaohs lost in the Round of 16 in 2023, but they did qualify for the World Cup after missing out in 2022.

We’re waiting for you, @MoSalah 😌👑🇪🇬#egyptnt pic.twitter.com/HBaavQdOm2

— Egypt National Team (@EgyptNT_EN) December 13, 2025

All eyes will be on Mohamed Salah after being relegated to the bench at Liverpool, but manager Hossam Hassan knows that Salah is key to Egypt’s AFCON betting odds. Salah has a solid running mate in Omar Marmoush, who has cooled off after a hot start at Manchester City.

Like Algeria, the questions come in midfield and defense. Who steps up to protect the back line? Mohamed Elneny has been left out of the squad.

The defense isn’t encouraging, which means keeper Mohamed El Shenawy might be in for a busy tournament. If the defense can hold up, with Salah and Marmoush up front, Egypt can go far. After his recent club struggles, Salah will be ready to go for his country!

The Ivory Coast are the defending champions, winning AFCON for the third time in 2023! They’re also back at the World Cup after missing out in 2018 and 2022.

The Elephants have their next budding star in Amad Diallo, who should thrive playing a more advanced position than he does for Manchester United. Diallo will carry much of the attack, although he could get help from Wilfried Zaha. Franck Kessie is still the main man in midfield.

Like many teams in the tournament, there are questions at the back and in goal. Center-back Evan Ndicka is a certain starter, but who knows who’ll start beside him? Yahia Fofana will likely have the gloves in goal, but that’s not encouraging.

Manager Emerse Fae has to work on the defense, but they’ll go as far as Diallo takes them, as he could have a massive tournament for the defending champs!

• FIFA Ranking: 57^th
• Best Finish: Champions (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)
• 2023 Finish: Group Stage
• Manager: David Pagou
• Top Players: Bryan Mbeumo, Carlos Baleba

The five-time champions are heading into this AFCON edition in a transition period. Two major players were left out of the squad after Cameroon crashed out in the group stage in 2023, and they failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana and forward Vincent Aboubakar were left home by manager David Pagou. However, the Indomitable Lions still have a few options. Bryan Mbeumo is now the main man up front after a good start at Manchester United. Carlos Baleba is thought of as one of the top up-and-coming midfielders in the world at 21 years old.

Of course, there are concerns about the defensive end, particularly in goal. Onana was thought to be the #1, but he struggled at Manchester United and now plays in Turkey. The gloves will probably go with Devis Epassy, who doesn’t have much international experience. But Cameroon is coming with younger players and energy. That makes their Africa Cup of Nations betting odds worth a consideration!