With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fast approaching, former Ghanaian captain Asamoah Gyan has identified three nations he believes are best positioned to claim the title when the competition kicks off in December.
Speaking during the CAF Awards ceremony in Morocco on Wednesday night, the ex-Black Stars striker highlighted Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and hosts Morocco as the standout contenders for the continental crown.
Gyan admitted to lingering frustration over Ghana’s failure to secure a place at the tournament but expressed optimism about their qualification for the next FIFA World Cup.
“We have a lot of giants who are going there. Ghana is out which we are very disappointed but it is okay, we qualify to the World Cup,” he said.
Reflecting on teams that impressed in recent years, the former Sunderland and Udinese forward specifically praised Nigeria’s resurgence, referencing their strong display at the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.
“Nigeria did well, they were close the last two years. Ivory Coast did well, we have a lot of teams,” he said.
Gyan also acknowledged Morocco’s impressive rise and consistency on the African stage, noting that the Atlas Lions possess the quality to challenge for the trophy on home soil.
“Morocco is also a strong contender, who are also doing well. I will say these three countries that I have mentioned, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Morocco,” he added.
Nigeria will head into the tournament seeking redemption after narrowly losing the previous AFCON final to Ivory Coast in a dramatic 2-1 defeat.
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