Morocco legend Mustapha El Haddaoui has hailed the “remarkable” organisation of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, praising both CAF and host nation Morocco for delivering a tournament that reflects the continent’s growth on and off the pitch.
Speaking in an interview with CAF’s official website, he underlined how much the competition has evolved in recent years.
“I expect the champion to come from the big teams, those with top coaches who know how to get the best out of their players, like Algeria, Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, DR Congo and Cameroon,” El Haddaoui said, making clear he does not foresee a fairytale winner from a smaller side despite acknowledging that African football has progressed significantly.
Asked which teams have impressed him most so far, he listed “Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Senegal and Nigeria”, highlighting their consistency and depth.
El Haddaoui also reserved special praise for the Atlas Lions, insisting their performances against Comoros and Zambia were particularly strong. He expressed hope that the passionate home support will push Morocco “in a positive way” and help Walid Regragui’s men finally lift the continental title on home soil.
