Former Chelsea forward and Africa Cup of Nations winner, Salomon Kalou, has named Nigeria and his native Cote d'Ivoire as the top favourites to clinch the AFCON 2025 title. The tournament kicks off this Sunday in Morocco.
Kalou's Top Picks for the Trophy
Despite a wave of scepticism among Nigerian fans, Kalou, who lifted the trophy with Ivory Coast in 2015, has expressed strong faith in the Super Eagles and the Elephants. In an exclusive interview with Tribuna.com, he placed the two West African giants ahead of host nation Morocco, defending champions Senegal, and Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah.
"Nigeria have an incredible pool of attacking talent, while Cote d'Ivoire are building a balanced team with experience and youth," Kalou stated. "If I had to put my money down, it would be on Nigeria or Cote d'Ivoire."
He elaborated that Nigeria's formidable attack, spearheaded by Victor Osimhen, and Cote d'Ivoire's blend of seasoned campaigners with exciting young talents like Simon Adingra and Oumar Diakité, make them the standout contenders.
Respect for Other Challengers
While firm in his top two, Kalou acknowledged the threat posed by other strong nations in the competition.
On Morocco, he noted their World Cup pedigree and home advantage. For Senegal, he highlighted their champion mentality and the leadership of Sadio Mané. Regarding Egypt, he simply said that with a player of Mohamed Salah's calibre, they always have a chance.
He also mentioned Cameroon and South Africa as "dangerous outsiders with tournament pedigree" that can never be ruled out.
Osimhen Tipped for Golden Boot
Beyond team success, Kalou has made a clear prediction for the individual scoring title. He backed Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen to emerge as the top scorer at AFCON 2025.
Kalou praised Osimhen's current form and mentality, suggesting that Nigeria's group stage fixtures provide the perfect launchpad. "Against Tanzania and Uganda, he could get a few goals early, and once a striker like Osimhen builds momentum, he’s very hard to stop," he explained.
He did, however, recognise the consistent threat of established stars like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané. Additionally, Kalou singled out Algeria's Mohamed Amoura as a potential surprise package, citing his pace and recent scoring form in Europe, especially with the creative support of Riyad Mahrez.
Kalou concluded by reflecting on the tournament's significance, calling AFCON the "heartbeat of African football." He reiterated that while his money is on Nigeria or Cote d'Ivoire, the beauty of the competition lies in its capacity to surprise, making it the continent's most exciting football event.
