The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will be without some of the continent’s brightest stars, including CAF Player of the Year nominee Serhou Guirassy, following the conclusion of the qualifiers.
Guinea, featuring Stuttgart’s goal machine Guirassy, narrowly missed qualification by just one point. Despite scoring six goals in four matches during the qualifiers and netting an impressive 30 goals for Stuttgart last season, Guirassy’s AFCON dreams ended with his country’s third-place group finish.
Ghana’s absence shocked many, ruling out Premier League standouts Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey. Kudus, who dazzles at West Ham United, has attracted interest from top clubs in Europe, while Partey continues to anchor Arsenal’s midfield in fine form.
Namibia’s Peter Shalulile and Malawi’s Gabadinho Mhango, prominent in the South African league, also won’t feature after their nations finished at the bottom of their groups.
As Morocco prepares to host AFCON for the first time since 1988, fans will miss these iconic talents, making this tournament a tale of surprises even before kickoff.
