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| Afcon Morocco 2025 |
The group phase is done, and now the AFCON Morocco 2025 tournament moves into its most unforgiving territory. One bad half can end a nation’s dream. With the CAF Group Stage Best XI already setting the standard, these players are now expected to carry their countries when pressure is at its highest.
Players Who Could Define the Knockout Stage
Brahim Díaz – Morocco
Three goals in three group games. That is not luck, it is elite form. Morocco are playing at home, the stadiums are behind them, and Brahim has become the face of their attack. If he keeps arriving late in the box and finding space between the lines, Morocco will be very hard to stop.
Ademola Lookman – Nigeria
Nigeria’s most dangerous weapon so far. He is direct, fearless and ruthless in front of goal. In knockout football where chances are few, Lookman’s ability to turn half-chances into goals could decide entire matches.
Amad Diallo – Ivory Coast
The Elephants finally look fluid again, and Amad is the heartbeat of their front line. His pace against tired defences late in games makes him a nightmare in knockout football.
Riyad Mahrez – Algeria
Big tournaments are about calm in chaos. Mahrez brings that. Algeria may not dominate games, but one clever touch, one curled cross, one free-kick… and Mahrez can change everything.
Carlos Baleba – Cameroon
Every great knockout team has a midfielder who wins the war in the middle. Baleba is that player. He breaks up play, carries the ball forward and keeps Cameroon ticking.
🧱 The Defensive Wall
Mazraoui – Tuanzebe – Tapsoba – Abdi
This back four from the Best XI is built for tournament football: pace, strength, positioning and discipline. Expect tight games, low margins and defenders becoming heroes.
Behind them is Mohamed El Shenawy, the kind of goalkeeper who wins penalty shootouts before they even begin.
🧠 The Tactical Edge
Coach Eric Chelle – Nigeria
Chelle’s organisation is Nigeria’s secret weapon. They don’t panic, they don’t overplay. In knockout football, structure beats flair more often than people admit.
The Round of 16 is expected to produce more cagey matches, fewer goals, individual brilliance becoming the difference and penalty shootouts returning centre stage.
This is where reputations are built or destroyed. Group-stage heroes now have to prove they are tournament legends.
AFCON 2025 has entered its most dangerous phase — and the real story is only beginning.
