Football legends Mustapha Hadji, Serge Aurier, Aliou Cisse, and Joseph Yobo will play key roles as assistants during the highly-anticipated TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 Final Draw.
The event is set to take place today Monday, January 27, at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco.
The Final Draw, scheduled to begin at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT | 20:00 Cairo), will determine the group stage paths for the 24 qualified teams competing in the prestigious tournament, which runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
These African football icons will not only assist in drawing the teams but also provide expert insights into the group matchups. Each legend brings a wealth of experience and a storied history in African football:
Mustapha Hadji (Morocco)
Hadji, one of Morocco’s greatest players, was named African Footballer of the Year in 1998. The former midfielder earned 63 caps and scored 12 goals for Morocco, featuring in two FIFA World Cups and two AFCON tournaments (1998 and 2000).
A versatile player with a successful career in France, Portugal, Spain, and England, Hadji was honored with the CAF Legends Award in 2011 for his contributions to football.
Serge Aurier (Côte d’Ivoire)
Aurier, a two-time AFCON champion (2015 and 2023), has been a cornerstone of the Ivorian national team since 2013, amassing 93 caps and four goals. Known for his reliability as a right-back, he has represented top clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur.
Aurier has been named in the CAF Team of the Year four times (2015–2019), highlighting his consistent excellence.
Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
Cisse, a former midfielder, captained Senegal to a historic quarter-final run at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. While he narrowly missed lifting the AFCON as a player in 2002, he later guided Senegal to AFCON glory as head coach in 2021.
Cisse has been Senegal’s head coach since 2015, leading the team to multiple successes, including back-to-back FIFA World Cup qualifications (2018 and 2022). He was named CAF Coach of the Year in 2022.
Joseph Yobo (Nigeria)
Yobo, a legendary defender, earned 101 caps for Nigeria and captained the Super Eagles to their 2013 AFCON victory. A veteran of six AFCON tournaments and three FIFA World Cups, Yobo is celebrated for his leadership and defensive prowess.
He spent most of his club career at Everton in England and also played in Belgium, France, Spain, and Turkey.
Qualified Teams for AFCON 2025
The 24 nations competing for African football’s top prize include:
Pot 1: Algeria, Morocco (hosts), Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire (defending champions), Egypt
Pot 2: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Mali, South Africa, Tunisia
Pot 3: Angola, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Uganda, Zambia
Pot 4: Botswana, Comoros, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
The draw will divide the teams into six groups of four, with the top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stages.
The Mohammed V National Theatre, a symbol of Morocco’s cultural heritage, will host the star-studded event. Musical performances by global artists like RedOne and Gims will add to the evening’s excitement, celebrating the unity of African football and culture.
Broadcast live across over 90 countries, the AFCON 2025 Final Draw sets the stage for a thrilling tournament that promises drama, passion, and a showcase of Africa’s finest talents.
