The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially unveiled on Friday the ideal lineup for the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco in a continental football extravaganza that will run from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. This announcement came to crown the efforts of the most prominent stars who shone during the first rounds of the tournament, amidst fierce competition and a raucous fan atmosphere in the Moroccan stadiums.
The stars of the Saudi Roshan League shone
The selected list clearly demonstrated the dominance of experience and skill, with the Saudi Professional League duo of Algerian star Riyad Mahrez, winger for Al-Ahli, and Senegalese striker Sadio Mane, the Lion of Teranga, for Al-Nassr, standing out. The presence of this pair reflects the high level of technical development the Saudi league has brought to African stars, as both players have continued to deliver world-class performances with their national teams, proving that moving to the Arab region has not diminished their international brilliance but rather enhanced their maturity and impact in major tournaments.
The ideal formation for the group stage
The CAF technical committee's selections were balanced, comprising a mix of experience and youth, and the full lineup is as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt), who continues to prove that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the African continent thanks to his decisive saves.
- Defense line: Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco), Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), and Ali Abdi (Tunisia).
- Midfielders: Carlos Baleba (Cameroon), Brahim Diaz (Morocco), and Ademola Lookman (Nigeria).
- Forwards: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Sadio Mane (Senegal), and Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast).
Landowners and the impact of hosting
The host nation was not absent from the scene, with the Moroccan national team securing two spots in the lineup through full-back Noussair Mazraoui and the talented playmaker Brahim Diaz. These selections reflect the formidable strength of the Atlas Lions, who are benefiting from home advantage and the support of their fans in a tournament considered a true rehearsal and ideal preparation for Morocco ahead of hosting the 2030 World Cup. The impeccable organization and high technical levels displayed in the tournament so far confirm the significant progress African football is experiencing, both in terms of infrastructure and the development of professional players in the world's top leagues.
This edition of the tournament is exceptional by all standards, given its timing and the presence of a selection of the world’s best players, making being in the ideal lineup for the group stage a great achievement that reflects the high technical quality of the selected players.
