Saibari, Mbaye & Co. - A player to follow for each of the 24 teams of AFCON 2025

The world of football is not taking a break this winter: the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will kick off on December 21. As host of the competition, Morocco will play the opening game in Group A, against Comoros. Twenty-four nations are in contention, hoping to lift the AFCON trophy at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on January 18, 2026. Transfermarkt wanted to shine a spotlight on this exciting competition by presenting one player from each of the participating teams.

The aim is not to praise obvious choices such as Victor Osimhen, Mohamed Salah or Omar Marmoush, but rather to identify footballers who could blossom on this continental stage, whether they are promising young talents or more experienced players who have been overlooked by the international radars so far. We've asked a diverse panel of experts for their opinions: players, managers, journalists, TM employees and some of our beloved data scouts, all of whom have a keen eye on their home countries or the players who play there.

Group A:

Morocco – Ismael Saibari – PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie)

'Fouad', Data Scout for Moroccan football: "If I had to compare Ismael Saibari to a car, he would be a Lamborghini Urus: powerful, strong, compact, and devastatingly fast when needed. His explosiveness and awareness is unmatched in the Moroccan midfield. His presence on the pitch is clear, and his intelligence is razor-sharp. He has shown why he now holds the highest market value in the Eredivisie. While Saibari speaks five languages, it is his feet that truly communicate his hard work and talent. He has become a must-play footballer, whether in the Champions League, the Eredivisie, or wearing the red or white of the Atlas Lions. It translates well with 14 goals and four assists in 29 games this season for PSV and Morocco combined. After being used mostly as a substitute at the previous AFCON, Walid Regragui can no longer afford to ignore him."

Mali – Kamory Doumbia – Stade Brestois 29 (Ligue 1)

Martial Goarnisson, creator of Marée Rouge website: "It's a paradox: Kamory Doumbia has been less prominent in the game than in previous seasons, but has been much more decisive with four goals and two assists so far. The fact that Brest didn't win any matches in his absence could have been dismissed as a coincidence until now, but with five wins this season, including three since his return, it can no longer be seen that way. He can still be wasteful and loses the ball too often, but he knows how to appear at the right moment to make an impact. Against Monaco, he was more present behind the striker, which is where he needs to be. His international manager gives him free rein in a similar 4-2-3-1, which explains his better stats with Mali. The quality of defensive systems in Ligue 1 is still a tricky aspect for him, but he is only 22 years old and needs to develop in these situations and be a little more aggressive in duels. Similarly, with Mali, he is clearly more relaxed in a more open game where his teammates expect him to be the one who lights up the play."

Zambia – Kings Kangwa – Hapoel Beer Sheva (Ligat ha’Al)

'Alexshw', Data Scout for Israeli football: "Kings Kangwa ticks all boxes of a modern box-to-box midfielder. He’s a very physical player yet has good technique, such qualities give him the possibility to control the tempo of his team. In the Israeli League, he often outplays rival midfields and does well with the ball under pressure. For a midfielder, he’s always playing forward, and is also a great goalscorer with important goals in big games. Maybe Kangwa will head for a similar story to Emmanuel Mayuka, developed in an other Israeli club and who won AFCON with Zambia in 2012, scoring three goals."

Comoros – Rafiki Saïd – Standard Liège (Pro League)

Bart Tamsyn, Area Manager Transfermarkt Belgium: "Rafiki Saïd is usually the player Standard looks to make things happen. You could say that it took some time for both the player and the club to find their way at the beginning, but in the last nine league matches he played in, he scored three goals and provided one assist. Knowing that Standard only managed to score seven times in those nine matches, you immediately realise his impact on this team. He is particularly dangerous when he can develop speed with the ball at his feet on the left-flank. He can then choose to go outside and deliver a cross or come inside and take a shot at goal. He is a temperamental player, so if things are not going well and he gets frustrated, you will see that on the pitch. While I can't say much about the impact he will have on the Comoros team, I can say that Standard will probably feel his absence."

Group B:

Egypt – Marwan Ateya – Al Ahly SC (Egypt Prem. League)

Osama Rakha, Data Scout for Egyptian football: "Marwan Ateya could be considered one of the few consistent players in the Egyptian Premier League. Despite managerial changes in both the National team and his club, he still secures his position as a starting XI player. Ateya is the sort of 'Destroyer' midfielder: he can return back to his position easily, win ground duels and make vital interceptions. Though, that's not his only threats despite mainly performing defensive roles. He can still provide some creative output with his accurate long through-balls, managing to provide a couple of assists during the qualifiers of both AFCON and the World Cup."

South Africa – Mohau Nkota – Al-Ettifaq FC (Saudi Pro League)

Sahil Ebrahim, Area Manager Transfermarkt South Africa: "As Bafana Bafana gear up for the AFCON 2025, all eyes are on the emerging talents poised to make their mark on the continental stage. One such standout is 21-year-old winger Mohau Nkota, whose rapid rise embodies the resilience and flair rejuvenating South African football. Born in Kimberley, Nkota honed his skills in the Orlando Pirates academy before breaking into the first team, where his explosive debut season introduced local fans to his pace, technical prowess and keen eye for goal. His move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in 2025 has only accelerated his development where he has hit the ground running with four goal contributions in ten games."

Angola – Milson – Red Star Belgrade (Super liga Srbije)

'Zvezda_98', Data Scout for Serbian football: "Milson was one of Red Star Belgrade’s most expensive signings last season and arrived as a highly promising player. He demonstrated his qualities in the Champions League, scoring against Benfica and Barcelona, as well as in the Serbian league. He is a quick winger with strong technical ability. Although his statistics this season are not bad, he has been in a prolonged dip in form. His performances have been disappointing, and he no longer lived up to his market value, which just got downgraded. Over the past few months, his playing time has been significantly reduced because he has missed several clear chances, and his defensive work has been lacking. According to internal sources, he is on the verge of an exit and a potential transfer, most likely to the MLS, and the AFCON could offer him the scene to show what he can do."

Zimbabwe – Tawanda Maswanhise – Motherwell FC (Scottish Premiership)

Euan Robertson, Content Manager Transfermarkt UK: "Tawanda Maswanhise has been a revelation this season and is currently the joint-top scorer in the Scottish Premiership with eight goals. His improvement has been remarkable and he’s benefitted from being part of an excellent Motherwell side that arguably plays the most attractive brand of football in Scotland. Maswanhise Is incredibly fast & agile, with his finishing catching the eye this season. He received an upgrade of €250k in the latest Scottish Premiership market value update and his valuation will rise again - if he can maintain his form."

Group C:

Nigeria – Ebenezer Akinsanmiro – Pisa SC (Serie A)

'Iyam95', Data Scout for Nigerian football: "Ebenezer Akinsanmiro is for sure a gifted player which has been quite evident for a while now. His best attributes are his football IQ and composure on and off the ball. He's very strong in keeping possession and recycling it when needed. There aren't too many Nigerian players with these specific qualities in our talent pool, where most are ether pure destroyer defensive-midfielders or more box-to-box midfielders. I think for coach Eric Chelle, the elephant in the room has been our inability to dominate games specifically when in possession. He usually opts for a two man midfield of Ndidi and Iwobi which is reliable for the most part, but leaves them tired out by the second half. And while Onyedika and Onyeka are fine replacements for those two coming off the bench, we don't have a midfielder with Ebenezer's qualities in our current squad, and we haven't had one arguably since John Obi Mikel retired."

Tunisia – Hannibal – Burnley FC (Premier League)

'Yazjel', Data Scout for Tunisian football: "Hannibal appears stronger with Tunisia because he gets greater confidence shown in him and clear responsibilities from the staff. In the national team, his role is better defined and more flexible than with his club, allowing him to express his intensity, creativity and natural leadership, reinforced by a special motivation when wearing the national jersey. Hannibal can help Tunisia reach new heights thanks to these previously mentioned qualities, as well as his ability to set the pace in knockout-matches. However, he cannot do it alone. For Tunisia to get past the quarter-finals, he needs a united team alongside him."

Uganda – Rogers Mato – Vardar Skopje (Prva Liga)

'Zoran18', Data Scout for North-Macedonian football: "Rogers Mato started his Macedonian journey for Brera Strumica, back when its president was legend Goran Pandev - a man who praised Mato’s talent after the signing. The first year in the country was more as a period of adaptation, but he still got a transfer to Vardar Skopje, the most famous club in the country. There he found his feet and became a star of the team and the league. He can play on both wings, where he shows his speed and shooting ability. This summer, offers worth €300k were rejected, and since then, his TM value rose to €700k, which could continue to increase by the end of the season if he continues on this path. So far he has 15 goals and two assists in 17 games, only stopped by an injury in mid-November, but he has now made it to the Ugandan training camp so he should be fit to play at AFCON, and put his great form to the service of his nation.

Tanzania – Novatus Miroshi – Göztepe (Süper Lig)

Cemal Utku Ağkaya, Content Manager Transfermarkt Türkiye: "Novatus Miroshi is a versatile footballer. He had attracted the attention of European clubs at a young age, standing out for his physical attributes. Being left-footed and tall allows him to play in almost every area of the defence, making him a valuable profile in modern football. Miroshi is an ideal defensive midfielder for teams playing with high tempo and “gegenpress” principles, catching the eye defensively with his aggression, pace and tackling skills. Although his passing quality and offensive contribution still appear open to development, his defensive qualities potentially make him a top-level interceptor/stopper. If you watch Tanzania at AFCON, you can expect to see Miroshi's on-field energy, dynamism, and defensive effectiveness on show."

Group D:

Senegal – Ibrahim Mbaye – Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1)

Chérif Sadio, Development and partnerships director at Diambars FC: "What sets Ibrahim Mbaye apart from many other precocious talents is not only his technique or his ability to play in several positions, but his understanding of the game as a whole. Capable of starting on the wing, moving into the centre or dropping back to speed up the ball distribution, he belongs to that generation of ‘structural’ players whose impact goes beyond statistics. He has been selected by Pape Thiaw to bring immediate value through his technical ability, his nouse to make the game flow, and his intelligence in key areas. In a Senegalese team built on intensity, defensive rigour and efficiency in decisive moments, his profile offers a valuable, almost complementary variation."

DR Congo – Noah Sadiki – AFC Sunderland (Premier League)

Ben Littlemore, Content Manager Transfermarkt UK: "Noah Sadiki had a fantastic start to his career at Sunderland, also heavily aided by the injury to Habib Diarra which has allowed him more game-time. He has flourished alongside Granit Xhaka in midfield, with his energy and industrious work-rate perfectly complimenting the Swiss international's calmness and leadership. He has adapted to the Premier League very quickly, and seems to have the physicality to thrive here. He is obviously very young still, but will have learnt a lot of leadership qualities from Xhaka that he can hopefully take with him to AFCON. His energy combined with his tactical astuteness will for sure be a huge advantage for DR Congo."

Benin – Yohan Roche – Petrolul Ploiesti (SuperLiga)

Anaane Tidjani, player of Olympic Azzawiya SC (Libya) with 11 caps for Benin: "He may be 28 years old, but Yohan Roche is still improving. He plays regularly for his club and national team, and manages to fill in for Benin at left-back, even though he is right-footed and trained as a centre-back. That doesn't stop him from playing well. He is rigorous, showing desire and consistency in his performances. His club season has been more difficult, so he will be keen to do well in the Africa Cup of Nations. With countries such as Senegal and the DR Congo in the group, these are big games in which to make his mark."

Botswana – Thatayaone Ditlhokwe – Al-Ittihad SC (Libyan Prem. League)

Juan Carlos Garrido, his coach last year at Al-Ittihad SC: "Thatayaone Ditlhokwe is a superb player. He is a left centre-back who can also play full-back. I really like his heading ability, which is useful in both defence and attack, as well as his ball control. In terms of personality, ‘TT’ is a true leader, which is obviously a key aspect of his position, but also outside off the pitch. All these qualities, both in terms of his sporting ability and his attitude, make him a logical captain for Botswana, where he will be an expected leader during this AFCON campaign."

Group E:

Algeria – Ibrahim Maza – Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Bundesliga)

'Adib13' and 'Tsunay', Data Scouts for Algerian football: "Ibrahim Maza is only 20 years old, but he has the physique and build to challenge the larger African players in midfield and make a similar impact to what he has done with Leverkusen, where he plays as a '6' without the ball and an '8' with it, meaning he can contribute a lot. He is consistent with Leverkusen and therefore in better form than Houssem Aouar, his most-likely competitor. Maza has lightning-fast acceleration on counter-attacks with passes that break through the lines, but he also knows how to control the pace of the game. He is expected to bring creativity, which the attack needs, especially as Riyad Mahrez has logically lost some of his brilliance with age. So this type of player is needed to combine with Amoura up front. One can imagine a scenario similar to that of Ismaël Bennacer, who moved into another dimension after winning the Africa Cup of Nations, and was crowned its best player in 2019."

Burkina Faso – Arsène Kouassi – FC Lorient (Ligue 1)

Quentin Burban, Journalist for Ouest-France: "There's no doubt about it, Arsène Kouassi is the big surprise and revelation of the season at Lorient so far. Possibly even the best player on the team. He arrived to compete with Darlin Yongwa, but quickly surpassed him, thanks in particular to his above-average athletic abilities. He is very strong in defensive duels, very provocative and excellent when it comes to creating numerical superiority in the opposition's defence. This role suits him perfectly. He already has one goal and four assists to his name. Whether on or off the pitch, he never gives up. He has a lot to offer Burkina Faso. Not everything will depend on him, but his excellent form will give Burkina Faso a reliable asset on the left wing, and his understanding with Dango Ouattara could cause a lot of damage. Their group is complicated, with Algeria, Sudan and Guinea, but Kouassi could be one of the revelations of this AFCON."

Equatorial Guinea – Saúl Coco – Torino FC (Serie A)

Aniello Luciano, Content Manager for Transfermarkt Italy: "Saúl Coco's first matches in Serie A had given hope to the Torino fans, who had lost important central defenders at that time (Schurrs’ injuries, Buongiorno’s transfer). Since then, his form took a turn for the worse with some errors, and losing a bit of direction. And not only due to the tactical change of the team. Today he’s a central defender who alternates solid performances with more subdued matches. He hasn't fully made the leap in quality that Torino hoped for when purchasing from Las Palmas. Yet, his presence can only be a good thing for Equatorial Guinea. He will offer his national team experience, knowledge and greater confidence, especially for a country ‘only’ in 97th position in the FIFA rankings and with a short football history."

Sudan – Mo Eisa – Uthai Thani FC (Thai League)

Ronan Caroff, Area Manager for Transfermarkt France: "In a team dominated by homegrown players of the two local giants Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh, Mo Eisa is a breath of fresh air. He's been navigating for a long time between the English League One and League Two, and is a striker with "fantastic movement in and around the box," according to his former coach at Exeter, Gary Caldwell. Now in Thailand with Uthai Thani FC, where he can face his younger brother and fellow 'Falcon of Jediane' Abo (Chonburi FC), he's been really good form. Nine goals and three assists in 16 games this season, and most of this statistical impact since the start of November when the team totally really improved. This recent boost in confidence will be beneficial to Sudan, who will need this type of dynamic player to boost a team with others that don't play as regularly due to the tense situation locally."

Group F:

Côte d’Ivoire – Christ Inao Oulaï – Trabzonspor (Süper Lig)

Mert Kücükoglu, Data Administrator for Transfermarkt Türkiye: "Christ Inao Oulaï has good acceleration and uses it effectively when dribbling from a standstill. Coach Fatih Tekke has integrated him very well into Ivory Coast's passing game. On the pitch, he seems very motivated and is always ready to provide a surprise. One of his strengths is set pieces, both corners and free kicks, where he delivers precise and fast balls with spin. He plays very tirelessly, but he still needs to work on his timing when tackling, as he picks up the occasional yellow card too easily. The midfield of Côte d'Ivoire is stacked and more physical than him, so he will more than likely be used coming from the bench. A super sub could be a perfect role to gain the experience he is still lacking, and hope in a few months for another call-up - this time for the World Cup."

Cameroon – Christian Kofane – Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Bundesliga)

Alexander Binder, Chief Editor for Transfermarkt Germany: "Bayer Leverkusen had so much faith in 19-year-old Christian Kofane in the summer that they let Victor Boniface go to make room for him - and that faith was rewarded. After just 20 games in the Spanish second division with eight goals, Kofane was ready for the Bundesliga and the Champions League. In his first 22 appearances for Bayer, the 1.89-metre centre forward was involved in ten goals - one goal contribution every 100 minutes. You can almost see him getting better from game-to-game. He combines power with speed of up to 35 km/h and a dangerous finish. He can unleash his scoring threat as a starting player and as a substitute, and he could surprise many for Cameroon, just as he has done for Bayer as a reliable backup behind Patrick Schick. After the next Bundesliga update, the €5.25m transfer fee that Leverkusen paid Albacete will look like one of the biggest bargains of the summer."

Gabon – Teddy Averlant – Amiens SC (Ligue 2)

Victor Lobry, his teammate and captain at Amiens SC: "Teddy Averlant is a player I heard about from friends a few years ago when he was playing for Saint-Quentin. We're from the same region. We have similar backgrounds in that we both discovered Ligue 2 at the age of 25 after playing in the amateur leagues, so I was delighted that he joined us this year after a great season in the thirrd tier! Since then, he's made a big leap forward, quickly becoming part of the Gabonese national team after his debut at Amiens. He's always smiling and brings 'joie de vivre' and freshness to the group. He's a very fast player, which is his main weapon for making a difference on the pitch. I find his career path very inspiring and I hope he continues to develop so that he can go even higher in the future."

Mozambique – Geny Catamo – Sporting Portugal (Liga Portugal)

Gianluca Lorenzoni, player of Boavista Praia (CV) with six caps for Mozambique: "Mozambique has experienced players, but it is the young winger Geny Catamo (24) who attracts the most attention, not only because he plays for Sporting, but also because he was selected for the senior national team at a very early age (18 years, 7 months and 15 days), when he was still only playing for the U19s at club level. He has developed steadily, playing an increasingly important role in the national team as he has progressed. His quality of play, particularly in one-on-one situations, and the experience he has gained in major competitions will be very useful to the Mambas. He has scored three goals and provided three assists since mid-October."