Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has tipped Nigeria’s Super Eagles as one of the strong favourites to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, set to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Gyan, whose country failed to qualify for the tournament, said the Super Eagles stand out among the top contenders alongside hosts Morocco and defending champions Ivory Coast.
Nigeria heads into the tournament seeking redemption after narrowly missing out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The team, which finished as runners-up at AFCON 2023, will be aiming for a fourth continental crown when the competition kicks off next month.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 2025 CAF Awards in Morocco, Gyan said Nigeria’s recent setbacks should serve as motivation to mount a strong title challenge.
“We’ve got a lot of giants going there. Ghana is out and we are disappointed, but it’s okay because we have qualified for the World Cup,” Gyan said on the red carpet. “Nigeria did well; they were close in the last two years. Ivory Coast did well too. Morocco is also a strong contender. These three countries—Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Morocco are favourites.”
Nigeria will compete in Group C, where they will face Tanzania on December 23, Tunisia on December 27, and Uganda in their final group match on December 30.
The Super Eagles last won the AFCON title in 2013 under the late Stephen Keshi, adding to previous triumphs in 1980 and 1994.