The eyes of football fans in the African continent are turning towards the Kingdom of Morocco, which is preparing to host the thirty-fifth edition of the African Cup of Nations finals in 2025. Amid the preparations for this great continental celebration, four teams – Mozambique, Benin, Tanzania, and Botswana – are entering the tournament with ambitions that go beyond mere honorary participation. These teams are seeking to break a “historical complex” that has plagued them for many years, namely, to find their first victory in the history of their participation in the tournament.
Context of the event and the importance of the Morocco 2025 edition
This edition is particularly significant as it is being held in Morocco, a country that has demonstrated tremendous organizational capabilities and world-class infrastructure. This places the participating teams under pressure to deliver their best performances on the world stage. Securing a first victory in such a tournament would be a national achievement, contributing to a higher international ranking for the teams and boosting the development of domestic football in those countries, confirming that the technical gap between the continent's established powerhouses and the rising teams is gradually narrowing.
Mozambique: A quest to break the persistent bad luck
The Mozambican national team, nicknamed the "Mamba Snakes," is preparing for its sixth appearance in the finals. Despite its history dating back to the 1986 edition in Egypt, the statistics are shocking; in the 15 matches the team has played throughout its history, it has never tasted victory, settling for four draws and 11 losses, and scoring only 8 goals.
The journey began in 1986 with three goalless defeats, and Mozambican fans had to wait 10 years to witness their first goal and a point in South Africa 1996, a draw against Tunisia. In the last edition in Ivory Coast, Mozambique put on a courageous performance, securing 2-2 draws against both Egypt and Ghana, but victory remained elusive. The ultimate goal in Morocco is to break this psychological barrier.
Benin... the paradox of achieving 2019 without a victory
The Benin national team, known as the "Leopards," enters the tournament for the fifth time, carrying with them one of the strangest success stories in the competition's history. In the 2019 Egypt edition, the team achieved a historic feat by reaching the quarterfinals, but the irony lies in the fact that this achievement was accomplished without a single victory in regulation time.
Benin qualified for the tournament with three draws in the group stage, then eliminated Morocco on penalties after a 1-1 draw, before exiting the competition against Senegal. Historically, Benin has played 14 matches (draws and losses) without a single outright victory, with their participation in 2004, 2008, and 2010 marked by a series of defeats and draws. This makes the Morocco edition a golden opportunity to rectify this trend and achieve a long-awaited win.
Tanzania and Botswana: The ambitions of stars and zebras
For its part, the Tanzanian national team, nicknamed "The Stars of the Nation," is participating for the fourth time, boasting a record devoid of victories in nine matches (three draws and six losses). Despite improved performances in recent years and the presence of players like captain Mbwana Samatta, results have fallen short of expectations. In the last edition, they managed only two draws against Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo after a heavy defeat to Morocco.
Botswana's "Zebras" are making only their second continental appearance, following their participation in 2012. Their debut saw them suffer three consecutive defeats, despite scoring against Guinea and Mali. A lack of experience ultimately led to their poor results. Botswana hopes their return in 2025 will mark the beginning of a new chapter in Southern African football history.
