No more minnows in African football; 2025 AFCON promises fierce battles – CAF Patrice Motsepe

Confederation of African Football (Caf) president Patrice Motsepe believes the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will be one of the most unpredictable tournaments in recent memory, insisting that there are no “small countries” left in African football.

Motsepe said the rise in competitiveness across the continent has made it nearly impossible to identify clear favourites for the continental showpiece, which will run from December to January.

Defending champions Ivory Coast will be seeking to retain their title after defeating Nigeria in the last final, but the Caf boss expects stiff competition from every corner of Africa.

“There are probably 10 to 12 nations in Africa who can win the tournament, if not all the countries that have qualified. That is beautiful because there is no small nation anymore,” Motsepe said during the announcement of SuperSport’s broadcast rights for the competition.

The South African football chief credited the growing strength of national teams to sustained investment and long-term planning.

“When you see Morocco and various other countries do so well, it is because of consistent investment. There is a huge amount of excitement, also in the diaspora,” he noted.

At the last Afcon in Ivory Coast, traditional powerhouses including Ghana, Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon, Algeria, and Morocco struggled to reach the final stages, while surprise packages South Africa and DR Congo finished third and fourth respectively. Motsepe said that trend reflects Africa’s deepening pool of quality players and stronger domestic leagues.

Ivory Coast legend Salomon Kalou echoed the Caf president’s remarks, highlighting how lesser-known sides have significantly narrowed the gap. “Football has changed a lot because you find a country like Lesotho, who have improved their quality so well,” he said.

Kalou believes the tournament will produce surprises once again. “You will always have the bigger countries like Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Morocco, but South Africa can be the surprise element,” he added.

With the Afcon countdown underway, the message from the continent’s football leaders is clear: every nation is a contender.