This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress-Rabat-Caf
Gabon, Benin, Uganda, Botswana and Zimbabwe return to the Totalnergies African Caf of Nations after having at least missed the last edition disputed last year in Côte d’Ivoire. Zoom on the chances of these training courses that are not lacking in ambitions.
Gabon team
Gabon: immense challenges against Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire
Gabon qualified for the African CAF Totalnergies Morocco 2025 Nations Cup, finishing second in group B with 10 points, behind Morocco (18 points). Gabon reconnects with CAN after missing the last edition in Côte d’Ivoire. His last participation dates back to the 2021 edition in Cameroon where the team then led by the French Patrice Neveu had been eliminated in the round of 16 by Burkina Faso.
Housed in group F, the team led by Thierry Mouyouma was not spoiled by the draw since it is found in the company of Cameroon, 5 times winner of the competition, of Côte d’Ivoire, three times winner and title and mozambique. The panthers who participate in their ninth Totalnergies African Caf of Nations CAF, however, have more than one tour in their bag and will be able to count not only on their solid block under construction but also on individualities such as Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Denis Bouanga, Jim Alvinah, Delor Kanga… to get out of this difficult group.
Benin: To draw inspiration from the 2019 feat
Benin returns to the total CAN CAF after missing the two previous editions in Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon. The last participation of the West African country dates back to 2019 in Egypt where the team had succeeded in reaching the quarter -finals. A first for training that will know its fifth participation in Morocco.
Benin has accounted for the CAN 2025 by finishing second in group D of the playoffs with 8 points, tied with Rwanda (3rd) but with a better difference in goals, and behind Nigeria (11 points).
The task promises to be difficult for the cheetahs, housed in the pool D in the company of Senegal, winner of the 2021 edition, of the Democratic Republic of Congo, semi-finalist of the last edition and Botswana. But the team will be able to count on the experience of their coach, Gernot Rohr which had allowed the Nigeria Super Eagles to obtain the bronze medal during the 2019 edition in Egypt. Captain Steve Mounié and his teammates will also draw inspiration from their 2019 career who saw them thwarting several forecasts.
Zimbabwe team
Zimbabwe: large calibers on the menu
The last participation of Zimbabwe in the CAN CAF Totalenergies dates back to the 2021 edition in Cameroon. The team that had finished fourth in Pool B with 3 points, behind the Malawi (4 points), Guinea (4 points) and Senegal (5 pointes) had been eliminated in the first round.
Zimbabwe qualified for the Totalnergies Morocco 2025 CAN CAF finishing 2nd in Pool J with 9 points, behind Cameroon (14 points). The Warriors managed the feat of upgrading Kenya (6 points) and especially Namibia which had reached the knockout stages last year in Côte d’Ivoire.
Housed in group B, coach Michael Nees and his foals will have much to face Egypt, the most titled nation of the competition with 7 trophies, South Africa, third during the last edition and Angola , quarter finalist last year. But they can rely on their compact block and their united collective to create surprise in this difficult pool.
Uganda: playoffs as a reference
The last participation of Uganda in the African Cup of Nations dates back to 2019 in Egypt. That year, the skulls had finished their journey in the round of 16 after having finished second in group A with 4 points, behind the host country Egypt (9 points) and in front of the DRC, third with 3 points. Beaten 1-0 by Senegal in eighth, the country could not hang a ticket for the next two editions played in Cameroon (2021) and in Côte d’Ivoire (2023).
Uganda achieved an excellent performance in the playoffs finishing second in Pool K with 13 points, behind South Africa (14 points). The skulls have taken stock of four victories, a draw and a defeat. Sufficient to ensure some confidence in the perspective of the final phase scheduled from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 in Morocco.
Housed in group C, Uganda finds two African football monsters of Nigeria (three CAN trophies) and Tunisia, winner in 2004 but also Tanzania, its neighbor in East Africa and its partner in the organization of the total CAN CAF 2027.
The task therefore promises to be difficult for Paul Put and his players who will nevertheless be able to draw inspiration from the remarkable course of the team which had led him to the final in 1978. Uganda was also semi-finalist of the CAN in 1962.
Botswana: little thumb, potential to fear
In Morocco, Botswana will only know its second final phase of the Totalnergies African Caf of Nations. The country’s only participation dates back to 2012, edition co -organized by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The country had been eliminated in the first round, ending last in group D with 0 point behind Guinea (4 points), Mali (6points) and Ghana (7 points).
13 years later, the zebras come back with much more ambitions after a feat during the qualifiers where they had to outclass Cape Verde and Mauritania, two teams present in the last edition, to occupy second place in group C with 8 points behind Egypt (14 points). Their crucial double success against Cap-Vert, a quarter finalist of the last CAN during these qualifiers is proof that Thabang Vicent Sesinyi and his teammates have something to inspire the distrust of their opponents of group D, which are Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo and Benin.
