SOCCER: Profiles of the Group A teams at Africa Cup of Nations

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off this Sunday in Morocco, and Group A promises to deliver thrilling football action. Here’s a closer look at the teams, fixtures, and key players in this exciting group.

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Dec 21 (19:00) - Rabat – Morocco vs. Comoros

Dec 22 (14:30) - Casablanca – Mali vs. Zambia

Dec 26 (12:00) - Rabat – Morocco vs. Mali

Dec 26 (14:30) - Casablanca – Comoros vs. Zambia

Dec 29 (17:30) - Rabat – Morocco vs. Zambia

Dec 29 (17:30) - Casablanca – Comoros vs. Mali

Comoros

Previous AFCON Appearances: 1 (2021)

Best Performance: Round of 16 (2021)

FIFA World Ranking (Nov 2025): 108

Coach: Stefano Cusin (Italy)

How They Qualified: Top of Group A in the qualifiers, ahead of Tunisia, Gambia, and Madagascar.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Adel Anzimati (Ararat Yerevan), Ben Salim Boina (Istres), Yannick Pandor (Royal Franc Borains)

Defenders: Akim Abdallah (Guingamp), Said Bakari (Sparta Rotterdam), Ismael Boura (Troyes), Kassim Mdahoma (Aubagne), Idriss Mohamed (Le Puy), Ahmed Soilihi (Toulon), Kenan Toibibou (NK Bravo), Kari Yannis (Frejus Saint-Raphael)

Midfielders: Youssouf Bendjaloud (Sochaux), Yacine Bourhane (Aris Limassol), Rayan Lutin (Amiens), Youssouf Mchangama (Al Batin), Iyad Mohamed (Casa Pia), Rayan Mroivili (Villefranche), Remy Vita (Tondela), Youssef Zaydou (Al Fateh)

Forwards: Ali Aboubacar (Royal Franc Borains), Ahmed Aymeric (Chateauroux), El Fardou Ben Nabouhane (FK Zemun), Myziane Maolida (Al Kholood), Rafiki Saïd (Standard Liege), Faiz Selemani (Qatar SC), Amir Zaid (Istres)

Mali

Previous AFCON Appearances: 13 (1972, 1994, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Best Performance: Runners-up (1972)

FIFA World Ranking (Nov 2025): 54

Coach: Tom Saintfiet (Belgium)

How They Qualified: First in Group I, ahead of Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, and Eswatini.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Djigui Diarra (Young Africans), Ismael Diawara (Sirius), Mamadou Sawassa (Laval)

Defenders: Ousmane Camara (Angers), Woyo Coulibaly (Sassuolo), Amadou Dante (Arouca), Abdoulaye Diaby (Grasshoppers), Fode Doucoure (Le Havre), Mamadou Fofana (New England Revolution), Nathan Gassama (Baltika), Sikou Niakate (Sporting Braga), Hamari Traore (Paris FC)

Midfielders: Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur), Mohamed Camara (Al Sadd), Lassana Coulibaly (Lecce), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly), Mahamadou Doumbia (Al Ittihad), Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Mamadou Sangare (Racing Lens), Ibrahima Sissoko (VfL Bochum)

Forwards: Mamadou Camara (Laval), Gaoussou Diakite (Lausanne Sports), Gaoussou Diarra (Feyenoord), Nene Dorgeles (Fenerbahce), Kamory Doumbia (Stade Brestois), Mamadou Doumbia (Watford), Lassine Sinayoko (Auxerre), Moussa El Bilal Toure (Besiktas)

Morocco

Previous AFCON Appearances: 19 (1972, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Best Performance: Winners (1976)

FIFA World Ranking (Nov 2025): 11

Coach: Walid Regragui

How They Qualified: Hosts, automatically qualifying, and finished first in Group B in the qualifiers, ahead of Gabon, Lesotho, and the Central African Republic.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (Renaissance Berkane), El Mehdi Al Harrar (Raja Casablanca)

Defenders: Nayef Aguerd (Olympique de Marseille), Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal (Stade Rennais), Mohamed Chibi (Pyramids), Jawad El Yamiq (Al Najma), Achraf Hakimi (Paris St Germain), Adam Masina (Torino), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Romain Saiss (Al Sadd), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven)

Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma), Bilal El Khannous (VfB Stuttgart), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona), Oussama Targhaline (Feyenoord)

Forwards: Ilias Akhomach (Villareal), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahce), Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland)

Zambia

Previous AFCON Appearances: 18 (1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2023)

Best Performance: Winners (2012)

FIFA World Ranking (Nov 2025): 90

Coach: Moses Sichone

How They Qualified: Top of Group G, ahead of Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Chad.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Francis Mwansa (Zanaco), Willard Mwanza (Power Dynamos)

Defenders: Mathews Banda (Nkana), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Obino Chisala (Al Merrikh), Kabaso Chongo (Zesco United), David Hamansenya (Leganes), Gift Mphande (Zesco United), Frankie Musonda (Bahrain SC), Benson Sakala (Bohemians), Stoppila Sunzu (Changchun Yatai)

Midfielders: Joseph Sabobo Banda (Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Lameck Banda (Lecce), Miguel Chaiwa (Hibernian), Wilson Chisala (Zanaco), Given Kalusa (FC Muza), Kings Kangwa (Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Joseph Liteta (Cagliari), Lubambo Musonda (FC Magdeburg), Pascal Phiri (Zesco United), Fashion Sakala (Al Fayha), David Simukonda (Zesco United), Owen Tembo (Power Dynamos)

Strikers: Patson Daka (Leicester City), Jack Lahne Kalichi (Austria Lustenau), Eliya Mandanji (Zanaco), Kennedy Musonda (Hapoel Ramat Gan)

-Compiled by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters