AFCON 2025: New African stars are born in Morocco

Ibrahim Mbaye - Senegal
He made his debut with Senegal only in November 2025. Seven caps later, Ibrahim Mbaye is already a well-known figure in the den of the Teranga Lions. The Parisian Titi, at only 17 years and 344 days, became the youngest goalscorer in the history of Senegal in the African Cup of Nations with his achievement in the eighth final against Sudan (3-0).

But before taking this step, the young striker of PSG impressed with his lightning entries that tonight against Botswana, the DR Congo or even Benin. Impact player, luxury joker and soon an important element, everything is going very fast for Mbaye with Senegal. And if Pape Thiaw needs a player to maintain pressure on the Moroccan defence in the last quarter of an hour of the final, the Parisian titi is one of the first players he will think about.

Neil El Aynaoui - Morocco
For many, he is indisputably the best Moroccan player of this AFCON 2025. Ahead of Brahim Diaz and his 5 goals. Like Mbaye, Neil El Aynaoui also takes part in his first major competition with Morocco, but he exudes an image of a manager and boss who has been evolving for many years in the national team.

Placed in the pivot of Walid Regragui’s 4-1-4-1 (or 4-5-1 depending on the animation), the AS Roma midfielder is the bridge through which the Senegalese defensive transitions pass. El Aynaoui does not undergo the pressure, he sucks it up. In the phases without a ball, the pivot turns into a real hook that bites and tears the ball away from its opponents at an impressive speed.

His intelligence in positioning, his ability to dictate the tempo of the game and his lucidity in speeding up or holding the ball when necessary make him a shield for the Atlas Lions. In the projection, Neil El Aynaoui also did good to Morocco in this African Cup of Nations, with his centers and the overcrowding he creates in the opposing half of the field.

Christ Inao Oulaï – Ivory Coast
We waited for Yan Diomandé to confirm his beautiful form at RB Leipzig, but the Ivorian revelation of the AFCON 2025 is called Christ Inao Oulaï. At only 19 years old, the midfielder from Trabzonspor restored momentum to the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire. Despite his young age, the former Bastia player showed personality, whether in the fluidity of his ball exits, even under high pressure, but also in decision-making, particularly with distant strikes.

A substitute in Côte d'Ivoire’s first two matches against Mozambique (1-0) and Cameroon (1-1), Christ Inao Oulaï started against Gabon (3-2) on the 3rd day of group stages - with the key to the Man of the match title - and no longer left the Eleven of Emerse Faé until the elimination in the quarter-final against Egypt (defeat 2-3).

He submitted his business card and shook  the hierarchy in an aging Ivorian midfielder. It is now him who fluidifies the game of the Elephants, bringing creativity but above all intensity where Franck Kessié, Ibrahim Sangaré and Seko Fofana take their steps. His carefreeness brings a breath of fresh air to a key sector for Côte d'Ivoire.

Christian Kofane - Cameroon
At 19 years old, the Cameroonian striker also discovered the Africa Cup of Nations. And yet, he was one of the best Indomitable Lions in the competition before the quarter-final elimination against Morocco (2-0). In the air game as well as in small spaces, Christian Kofane easily dominates his opponents thanks to his 89m and impressive physique.

Replacement during the first outing of Cameroon against Gabon (1-0), Christian Kofane reversed the trend and snatched the position of No. 9 from Karl Etta-Eyong. And he proved David Pagou right with his 2 goals in 4 games. Figures that are in line with his start to the season at Leverkusen (5 goals and 5 assists in 23 games). Cameroon holds an immensely talented center forward for several years.

One of the most discoveries of this AFCON. Isolated in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad at 21 years since last summer, Mahamadou Doumbia proved himself to the general public during the African Cup of Nations in Morocco.

On the bench initially, the product of the training center Jean-Marc Guilloux Bamako, was a technical guarantee for Mali, in addition to its physical slaughter and its intelligence of play in exceeding function. 

His little bridge over Sofyan Amrabat in the box in the quarter-final against Morocco will remain for a long time in the collective memory of African fans. It would not be surprising to see him again very soon in Europe, after his departure from the Royal Antwerp a little less than a year ago.

Coming from a family of footballers, Mamadou Sarr follows in the footsteps of his father, Pape Sarr. Considered the future boss of Senegal’s defense, the Strasbourgeois is already showing his face even though Kalidou Koulibaly, the current leader of the Lions of Teranga hinge is still there.

At the beginning of this competition, Mamadou Sarr was the fifth defender in the hierarchy established by Pape Thiaw who also preferred him to Abdoulaye Seck against Sudan in the eighth final. But when the boss Koulibaly was injured in the 24th minute of play in the semi-final against Egypt, it was to him that the coach looked.


Mamadou Sarr returned as a boss in the face of Egypt.
At 20 years, Sarr made an excellent entry with interventions full of maturity and accuracy. His calm, speed and quality of recovery make him a complete central defender with a big margin for improvement. The day he announces his retirement, Kalidou Koulibaly will not have to worry about his replacement.