Latest news with #TotalEnergiesCAFAfricaCupofNationsMorocco2025
CAF
18-03-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Cusin positive ahead of Mali clash despite star-studded Eagles side
Recently appointed Comoros head coach, Stefano Cusin is wary of the danger posed by a quality Mali side ahead of their FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Eagles on Friday. Comoros, who impressively booked their place in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will be hoping to do the same for the global showpiece as they prepare for Match Day 5 and 6 of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The islanders face Mali on Thursday before taking on Central African Republic on Monday, 24 March. Despite being drawn against some of the best African football nations including Ghana and Mali, Comoros top the Group I with three wins and one loss from four matches so far and will be looking at possibly adding to their tally of points against their more fancied opponents on Thursday. Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter against Mali, Cusin said they are facing one of the most talented and experienced teams on the continent, but maintains his belief that anything is possible in football. 'Mali is a team I know very well because I've already faced them when I coached South Sudan. It's a very experienced team. It's a nation that has a lot of players playing in the Bundesliga, La Liga, and the Premier League so it's a very competitive team. In fact, in the last AFCON, they reached the quarterfinals against Cote d'Ivoire. I think if Mali had beaten them, they would have been a candidate for the final' said Cusin. 'It's a team full of quality with an experienced coach, a team that is very confident. 50th in the FIFA rankings—the FIFA ranking is still important because it serves as a benchmark. It's as if Mali were to face Argentina or France—the difference is there. But, you know, in football, what matters is motivation. So, we need to study the opponent well, understand their qualities, understand what they want to do to score goals, and understand how to put them in danger. It won't be easy, but in any case, I have confidence in our players, and I know they will give everything. So, we always need to stay positive. We must always believe that everything is possible', concluded the coach. Heading up the Comoros national team marks Cusin's return to African football, having coached the U-20 Cameroonian national team. He is also the former Technical Director of the Congolese Football Federation.
CAF
30-01-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Tanzania head coach, Hemed Suleiman Ali - 'There is no other way'
Head coach of the Taffia Stars, Hemed Suleiman Ali says every group of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 presents its own challenges, and that their Group C pool is no different to any of the other five groups. The Tanzania head coach was reacting to Monday evening's TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 draw in Rabat which saw the East Africans drawn in an interesting group that pairs them with neighbours Uganda, as well as two former African champions Nigeria and Tunisia. Tanzania, a fast-growing African football nation is headed to its 4th TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with their third in Cote d'Ivoire. The East Africans are yet to make it out the group stages in their three previous attempts and will be hoping to rewrite history in Morocco this year in what looks to be a steep mountain to climb for them. Speaking to CAFOnline on Monday evening in Rabat, Suleiman Ali reflected on the draw, saying that there is no other way to go beyond the group stages but to overcome the tough opponents presented to them in the form of the two former champions, and East African neighbours, Uganda. 'We are ready. We saw who we are going to play with. I think it's a tough group but it's tough for all of them. There is no easy group. If you have qualified for this stage of the competition, you have to prepare. We know who we are facing, and we know how we will prepare for them. There is no other way, we have to prepare well and represent our people well at this tournament' said the 54-year-old coach. The Morocco finals mark the coach's second consecutive appearance as head coach of the Taffia Stars. Suleiman Ali took over the reins from as Interim Coach at the Cote d'Ivoire finals after the dismissal of Adel Amrouche in the group stages. Under his guidance, Tanzania qualified for the finals through back-to-back victories against Guinea and Ethiopia, including a crucial 1-0 win over Guinea, sealed by Saimon Happygod Msuva's decisive goal. Tanzania will also be hoping to secure their first win of the competition, having played 9 matches, drawn three and lost six.
CAF
28-01-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Aliou Cissé confident in Senegal's chances despite tough draw
Senegal's former coach, Aliou Cissé, has sounded a warning to the opponents of the Lions of Teranga in Group D of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025. Drawn alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Benin, and Botswana, Senegal is determined to prove their dominance and erase the disappointment of their early exit in 2023. 'A difficult group, since two of these teams, we know them. For a long time, we have been playing against them,' said Cissé, who led Senegal to their first AFCON title in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2021. 'The advantage is that we know them, and the disadvantage is that they know us too. But I have no doubt that Senegal can get through.' The group-stage showdown between Senegal and the DR Congo is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament. The two sides have a rich footballing history and are both eager to establish psychological supremacy before their crucial World Cup qualifier just months later. 'This match will be explosive,' Cissé who was one of the draw assistants remarked. 'The Lions of Teranga have experience and depth, but the Leopards bring youthful energy and technique. This duel promises to be closely contested and could well be decided by very little.' Senegal's formidable defence, anchored by Kalidou Koulibaly and Abdou Diallo, will face off against the DRC's attacking talents, including the dynamic Yoane Wissa. The group also features Benin, a team with World Cup ambitions, and Botswana, making only their second AFCON appearance after debuting in 2012. After their unexpected round-of-16 exit to Côte d'Ivoire in 2023, Senegal enters this tournament with renewed focus under new coach Pape Thiaw. The Lions dominated the group stage in the last edition but faltered when it mattered most, a pattern they are determined to break in Morocco. 'The last tournament was a learning experience,' said Cissé. 'Now it's about building on that and using our experience to regain the trophy.' The draw in Rabat revealed challenges for many of Africa's footballing heavyweights. Reigning champions Côte d'Ivoire face a daunting Group F with Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique, while hosts Morocco will navigate Group A against Mali, Zambia, and Comoros. Group B rekindles the historic rivalry between Egypt and South Africa, alongside Angola and Zimbabwe, while Algeria headlines Group E with Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan. The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, across six Moroccan cities. The 24-team tournament features six groups, with the top two teams and four best third-placed sides advancing to the knockout stage.
CAF
27-01-2025
- Sport
- CAF
André Kana-Biyik: "Winning in Morocco was Exceptional"
Former Cameroonian defensive midfielder, André Kana-Biyik, was one of the key players in the Indomitable Lions team that won the 16th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 1988 in Morocco. As his country prepares to return to the kingdom for the 35th edition of the competition, which will take place from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, the two-time African champion (1984 and 1988) believes they have the potential to replicate the feat, even though he acknowledges significant competition. In an interview with CAFOnline, the elder of the Biyik brothers (André Kana-Biyik and François Omam Biyik) reflects on the atmosphere within their team during that remarkable journey and shares his views on the current version of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations. The draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will take place on Monday in Rabat allowing Cameroon and the other qualified teams to learn their fate. Seeing the Indomitable Lions in Morocco must bring back a lot of memories for you? André Kana-Biyik: Indeed, the fact that Cameroon is qualified for the AFCON in Morocco brings back many memories (laughs). First of all, I must say that it is a necessity for Cameroon to qualify for every Africa Cup of Nations because it is a leading country in African football. It also stirs up a lot of excitement and reminds me of a beautiful final victory against Nigeria, which brought the country its second title. Can you describe the atmosphere following that memorable victory? I can assure you that the atmosphere among the players, the staff, and the Cameroonian people was incredible—it was something extraordinary and a job well done. Apart from playing the semi-final against the host nation, Morocco, which came with a lot of tension (though not as overwhelming as it seemed), everything went perfectly. A journey like that is usually full of surprises. What are some of the stories from that success or from the tournament that you'll never forget? There could be so many stories, we could write an entire book on it. I can simply tell you that the atmosphere within the Lions was really great. We went through the competition with a lot of confidence. We trusted our strength. The stand out story I remember from this competition is the headbutt I gave to a Moroccan player in the semi-final. The next day, when we went to the market—I was with Mbouh Emile—I wore a Nigeria jersey. When the Moroccans asked us if we were Cameroonians, we said no and told them we were Nigerians instead (laughs). That was the kind of atmosphere we had. Do you think Cameroon has a chance to repeat the feat on Moroccan soil? Who are the favourites for this tournament? Yes, absolutely! Cameroon can definitely repeat the 1988 feat in Morocco. But it won't be easy because there are other big teams to contend with. First, Morocco, as the host country and a World Cup semi-finalist, is one of the top favourites. There is also Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria… It's not going to be easy at all. All these countries, like Cameroon, have a good chance to win the Africa Cup of Nations. You were part of the team alongside your younger brother, François Omam Biyik. What was it like playing in the same team as your brother and achieving success together? Playing in the Indomitable Lions team with my younger brother François wasn't really any different from the rest of the group. Yes, he's my brother, but when it was time to work, I treated everyone the same way. It was still a pleasure, and I'd even say a privilege, to play alongside him, and I think it was the same for him. Truly, you have to experience it to understand—it was a magical moment. What does winning the Africa Cup of Nations represent in the career of an African footballer? Winning the Africa Cup of Nations means so much. First and foremost, it's about representing your country and bringing the trophy home—it's a very powerful feeling. When you have an entire country behind you and you return with the trophy, those are unforgettable moments. It's the greatest gift a player can give to their country. Winning, for me, was exceptional.
