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AFCON Favourites: The Top Teams Likely to Win the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco

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AFCON Favourites

The Africa Cup of Nations will take center stage in Morocco at the tail end of the year, and this 35th edition is looking to be a huge affair for the continent. As such, football fans and pundits have been speculating on what country will lift the AFCON 2025 trophy.

We’re not clairvoyants to tell you what team will emerge as winners. This article will shed light on possible champions. We’ll also deliver betting tips to help you cash in on this revered tournament. Let’s get going!

When Is AFCON 2025 Holding?

From the announced schedule, the 2025 AFCON is billed for a 21st of December kickoff, with proceedings expected to come to an end on the 18th of January, 2026. During this timeline, a total of 52 matches will be played.

Morocco will be the host nation. For context, the last time they hosted this event was in 1988, where Cameroon emerged as AFCON winners after a valiant battle with Nigeria.

Here are stadiums that’ll feature in the hotly-contested tournament:

  • Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan, Rabat
  • Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat
  • Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca
  • Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes
  • Stade El Barid, Rabat
  • Stade Annexe Olympique Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat
  • Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech
  • Grand Stage de Tanger, Tangier
  • Grand Stade d’Agadir, Agadir

Top Four Favourites to Win the Africa Cup of Nations Title in 2025

In football, everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team.”

Going by this quote by Jean-Paul Sartre, it’s almost impossible to tell what team will emerge as winners in football tournaments like the Africa Nations Cup.

Nonetheless, here’s an overview of four nations that could win AFCON 2025 in Morocco:

Nigeria

It’s no surprise as to why this nation ranks as a top contender for the 2025 AFCON triumph. After a frustrating second-place finish in AFCON 2023, the Super Eagles will fancy their chances of going all the way this time around.

Nigeria’s squad is strong, with the likes of striker Victor Osimhen leading the charge. They’re in Group C, alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania; this draw will give the Super Eagles a solid foundation to gel before the knockout rounds.

Morocco

AFCON Trophy

Having automatically qualified in this year’s AFCON due to its position as hosts, Morocco has a lot going for it. This includes home soil support, climate familiarity, and less travel distance. They’ll open the tournament in a match against Comoros, and will be looking to cement their dominance from the get-go.

This nation’s football squad has an excellent head coach (Walid Regragui) and some of the world’s best players on its roster. Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech are some of the names leading the charge for the home nation. The Moroccan national team had a Cinderella run in the 2022 FIFA World Cup where it finished fourth. If the Atlas Lions can replicate that form or something similar, they could go all the way and lift the AFCON title.

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast are AFCON reigning champions, after defeating the Super Eagles in the 2023 edition. The team will feature in Group F alongside Gabon, Cameroon, and Mozambique.

As one of Africa’s strongest football teams, they’ve got a smooth path to the knockout rounds; however, Cameroon (AKA Indomitable Lions or Lions of Teranga) could prove a tough nut to crack with hungry and technical forwards like Vincent Aboubakar and Bryan Mbuemo.

As mentioned, Ivory Coast are no slouch themselves. Lethal strikers (Nicolas Pepe and Simon Adingra) and sturdy midfield players (Franck Kessie and Seko Fofana) offer the technical flexibility required to defeat opponents with relative ease.

Senegal

Senegal isn’t at the summit of African football. However, its reputation has risen in recent years. In the 2022 World Cup, they bowed out in the quarterfinals. Before that, Senegal won the 2021 AFCON. These facts make them a front-runner in this year’s Africa Nations Cup.

Senegal will play against DR Congo, Botswana, and Benin Republic in the group stage. With players such as Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gueye, and Cheikhou Kouyate, Senegal should advance into the knockout stages comfortably.

With a resilient spirit, Senegal is well-equipped for knockout games where high-pitched pressure is the norm. As such, they’re serious contenders to be Morocco 2025 AFCON champions.

2025 AFCON Betting Tips: How to Make the Best of the Tournament as a Punter

AFCON Betting Tips

Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”

This quote by Confucius, a Chinese philosopher, applies to all walks of life, betting inclusive.

You can increase your chances of winning bets made during AFCON by adopting these tips:

1. Bet on the Front Runners

Consider betting on top nations such as Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. However, don’t ignore Egypt, Ghana, and Algeria; these are dark horses that could spring up surprises during the tournament.

2. Compare Betting Sites

If you intend betting on AFCON for real money, you must be ready to put in the work by searching for the best bookmakers. According to tipster, Kate Richardson, a good way to start is to visit trusted review sites so that you can compare online sportsbooks in your country.

That way, you can see what sites have the best odds, bonuses, and customer support. When you settle for one that ticks all these boxes, you’ll have a fun-filled wagering adventure.

3. Bet on Individual Awards

One of the safest bets to make during tournaments like the AFCON are on individual awards. For example, you can bet on Mohamed Salah to win the Golden Boot award. Since 2024 & 2025 statistics place him as a prolific league goal scorer, the chances of this bet being successful are high.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be upon us shortly. With 24 teams in the mix, we’ve highlighted the nations that are poised to lift the trophy. If you intend betting on events tied to this tournament, consider placing wagers on the top sides and star-studded individuals. For your bets to be profitable (if it wins), ensure your chosen sportsbook offers competitive odds.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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The Role of Tech and Interface Stability in High-Pressure Live Sports Betting Moments

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Betway

Live sports betting puts platforms under a different kind of pressure. Unlike pre-match betting, nothing waits. Goals arrive out of nowhere, momentum flips, injuries interrupt the flow, and a match can change direction in seconds. When that happens, the quality of the technology underneath starts to matter just as much as the numbers on the screen.

What separates reliable live betting platforms from frustrating ones is not speed alone. It is stability. The ability to keep screens calm, information readable, and interactions predictable while activity spikes is a technical challenge that few systems handle well.

Why High-Pressure Moments Test Platforms

High-pressure moments look different across sports. In football, it might be a late penalty or a VAR decision. In basketball, it is a final possession. In tennis, a break point. In boxing, a sudden knockdown. Each creates a surge of user activity at the exact same time.

From a technical perspective, this is where systems are most vulnerable. Too many updates at once can cause flickering layouts, delayed inputs, or confusing state changes. Strong platforms like Betway live sports betting anticipate these spikes and manage them deliberately, across live football, basketball, tennis, boxing, and other fast-moving sports where pressure builds quickly and timing matters most.

Stability Over Raw Speed

One of the most important design choices in live betting is update prioritisation. Not every piece of data needs to refresh instantly. Critical events come first. Supporting information follows. This prevents the interface from jumping around when users are trying to make decisions.

You see this approach across modern live environments, especially in live sports betting sections where the match timeline quietly shapes what appears on screen and when it appears. The idea is not to throw everything at the user at once. It is to keep people oriented even when things move fast.

Interface Discipline Across Sports

Live betting platforms that cover multiple sports face an added challenge. Each sport has a different rhythm. Football unfolds steadily. Basketball moves in bursts. Tennis swings between quiet rallies and sudden points. The interface has to adapt without changing its basic behaviour.

Good systems reuse interaction patterns across sports. Buttons appear in familiar places. Timers behave consistently. Feedback looks and feels the same whether someone is following football, basketball, or tennis. That consistency reduces hesitation when pressure is high.

Sports betting platforms, such as Betway, are often referenced in this context because their live environments apply the same structural logic across various sports. That does not draw attention to itself, which is exactly the point. When technology works properly, it fades into the background.

Where Casino Design Influences Live Betting

Interestingly, some of the best ideas behind live betting stability come from casino game design. Casino games rely on repetition, clear state changes, and predictable feedback. Those same principles now shape live sports interfaces.

By borrowing techniques like controlled state transitions and locked interaction phases, live betting platforms avoid accidental inputs and reduce confusion. The result is an experience that feels deliberate rather than reactive.

Calm Interfaces Build Confidence

In high-pressure moments, users do not want excitement from the interface. They already get that from the match. What they need is clarity. Screens that stay still. Information that appears where expected. Actions that behave the same way every time.

When platforms deliver that calm under pressure, trust follows naturally, not because of branding or features, but because the technology proves itself when it matters most.

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AFCON 2025: Beat Morocco, Get $500k—Abdul Samad Rabiu Tells Super Eagles

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rabiu Abdul Samad BUA Group

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigerian billionaire industrialist and philanthropist, Mr Abdul Samad Rabiu, has announced a generous financial reward for the Super Eagles following their impressive 2–0 victory over Algeria, which secured Nigeria a spot in the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The win has reignited national enthusiasm, with the team widely praised for their composure, teamwork, and determination on the continental stage.

In a statement celebrating the victory, Mr Rabiu congratulated the players for lifting the spirit of the nation and reaffirmed his confidence in their ability to go further in the competition.

To motivate the squad ahead of the semi-finals, he pledged $500,000 to the players upon winning the semi-final match against Morocco, with an additional $50,000 for every goal scored.

If the Super Eagles advances to the final and clinch the AFCON title, Mr Rabiu has pledged a further $1 million, plus $100,000 for each goal scored in the final.

As the Nigerian team prepare for the semi-finals, the backing from Mr Rabiu adds to the growing sense of belief that the team can go all the way and restore AFCON glory to Nigeria, carrying the hopes of millions of fans across the country and the diaspora.

Nigeria produced a statement win against the Desert Foxes of Algeria on Saturday to power their way to the last four. The team faces the host nation, Morocco, next Wednesday.

Nigeria produced a stellar first half performance but failed to convert plenty of chances including Algerian defender forced  a goal-line clearance in the 29th minute to deny Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey.

Nigerian attacker Akor Adams blasted another clear chance over  the bar in the 37th minute of play.

However, Nigeria started the second half on a stronger foot with top striker Victor Osimhen producing a trademark leap in the to head the first goal past goalkeeper Lucas Zidane following a cross from Bruno Onyemaechi in the 47th minute.

The Nigerian gunman laid off the second goal for his counterpart Akor Adams to round the Algeria goalkeeper and slot home the second 10 minutes later, following a fine pass from Alex Iwobi.

Nigeria could have scored more, with Adams missing a late chance, but until the final whistle, it was a dominant performance from the Super Eagles.

Senegal defeated Mali by a lone goal on Friday and awaits the winner of the match between Egypt and Ivory Coast currently ongoing at the time of filing this report. Morocco put two past Cameroon yesterday.

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SuperSport Serves up Key FA Cup and Serie A Battles This Weekend

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FA Cup fixtures supersport

Club football continues across Europe this weekend with the FA Cup third round bringing Premier League sides into action, alongside a pivotal round of fixtures in Serie A. Fans can follow every key moment live on SuperSport across DStv and GOtv.

FA Cup: Premier League Sides Enter the Competition

The FA Cup third round marks the entry point for Premier League clubs, with several top-flight sides facing lower-league opposition and a handful of all-Premier League encounters also on the schedule.

Manchester City open their campaign at home to Exeter City on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. City were held to a draw by Brighton in their last league outing and will look to secure a place in the fourth round against League One opposition.

Later on Saturday, Tottenham Hotspur host Aston Villa at 6:45 p.m. Spurs arrive after a defeat at Bournemouth, while Villa were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace. Both sides will be aiming for a positive start to their FA Cup runs.

Chelsea travel to face Charlton Athletic at 9:00 p.m. The match marks the beginning of a new managerial era for Chelsea, who were recently beaten by Fulham and will be looking to regain momentum against Championship opposition.

On Sunday, Arsenal travel to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth at 3:00 p.m. The Premier League leaders played out a draw with Liverpool in their most recent match and are expected to rotate their squad as they begin their FA Cup campaign.

Manchester United host Brighton at Old Trafford at 5:30 p.m. United drew away at Burnley last time out, while Brighton also come into the tie following a league draw against Manchester City.

The round concludes on Monday night as Liverpool welcome Barnsley to Anfield at 8:45 p.m. Liverpool remain winless in 2026 following a draw with Arsenal and will look to progress against League One opposition.

All FA Cup fixtures air live on SS Premier League (GOtv Ch. 65, DStv Ch. 203).

Serie A: Inter vs Napoli Headlines Crucial Round

Serie A returns with a full slate of fixtures, headlined by a major top-of-the-table clash at the San Siro as Inter Milan host Napoli.

Roma begin the weekend at home to Sassuolo on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Roma secured a win away at Lecce in their last match and will look to build consistency as they push toward the top four. Sassuolo arrive after a heavy defeat to Juventus.

Atalanta host Torino later on Saturday at 8:45 p.m. Atalanta were convincing winners away at Bologna last time out, while Torino suffered a home defeat to Udinese.

On Sunday at 3:00 p.m., AC Milan travel to face Fiorentina. Milan were held to a draw by Genoa in their previous fixture, while Fiorentina earned a point away at Lazio.

The weekend’s standout Serie A fixture takes place on Sunday night at 8:45 p.m. as leaders Inter Milan face Napoli. Inter come into the match following a win at Parma, while Napoli were held to a draw by Verona in midweek.

Juventus round off the Serie A action on Monday at 8:45 p.m. when they host Cremonese. Juventus recorded a comfortable away win against Sassuolo last time out, while Cremonese drew with Cagliari.

All Serie A matches will be broadcast live on SS Africa 2 (GOtv Ch. 64, DStv Ch. 208).

Weekend Highlights

FA Cup

  • Manchester City vs Exeter City — Sat, 4:00 p.m.

  • Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa — Sat, 6:45 p.m.

  • Charlton Athletic vs Chelsea — Sat, 9:00 p.m.

  • Portsmouth vs Arsenal — Sun, 3:00 p.m.

  • Manchester United vs Brighton — Sun, 5:30 p.m.

  • Liverpool vs Barnsley — Mon, 8:45 p.m.

Serie A

  • Roma vs Sassuolo — Sat, 6:00 p.m.

  • Atalanta vs Torino — Sat, 8:45 p.m.

  • Fiorentina vs AC Milan — Sun, 3:00 p.m.

  • Inter Milan vs Napoli — Sun, 8:45 p.m.

  • Juventus vs Cremonese — Mon, 8:45 p.m.

Where to Watch

All FA Cup matches air live on SS Premier League (DStv Channel 203, GOtv Channel 65). Serie A fixtures are broadcast on SS Africa 2 (DStv Channel 208, GOtv Channel 64). Fans can also stream every match live via the DStv Stream and GOtv Stream apps

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