CAN 2025: apart from DR Congo, Sébastien Desabre reveals his favorites

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·20 December 2025

CAN 2025: apart from DR Congo, Sébastien Desabre reveals his favorites

Interview

CAN 2025: apart from DR Congo, Sébastien Desabre reveals his favorites

OneFootball Videos

As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco draws near, the question of who the favorites are resurfaces time and again. In an interview with TV5 Monde, DR Congo head coach Sébastien Desabre delivered a nuanced answer, staying true to the unpredictable nature of African football.

For the French tactician, Morocco naturally stands out as the most anticipated team, while he also highlights the pressure weighing on the Atlas Lions:

Everyone is expecting Morocco. They're playing at home. It's been a long time since they last won it. But there will be a lot of pressure on them.

Desabre also mentions Senegal, a recent opponent of the Leopards, and places them among the serious contenders. "We recently played Senegal, who are also one of the favorites," he confides. Yet despite these references, the coach refuses to make a definitive call, stressing the complexity of matches on the African continent:

It's honestly difficult to say today who will win the AFCON. Matches in Africa are extremely tough, as we've seen in the World Cup qualifiers. It's complicated for everyone.

Finally, Sébastien Desabre doesn't rule out the outsiders, teams capable of shaking up the established order, just as happened in the previous edition: