Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is a very interesting one, as it contains continental powerhouses Senegal and DR Congo, who have three titles between them, and both met during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Botswana and Benin are the less-fancied sides with less AFCON experience, but are keen to cause an upset. Afrosport runs through the details of each team.
Senegal
Nickname: Teranga Lions
AFCON History
The Senegalese are one of the fancied teams of AFCON thanks to their exciting crop of players who ply their trade with some of the biggest clubs in the world.
Their finest moment in history, when they lifted their maiden title three years ago in Cameroon, remains fresh in memory, and they are heavily tipped to go the distance in Morocco.
AFCON Record
Senegal will be making their 19th AFCON appearance, and have previously played 71 times, winning 30 of them, drawing 18 and losing 23. Aside from their AFCON 2021 triumph, the Teranga Lions have finished runners-up on two occasions (2002 and 2019).
Star Player: Sadio Mane
Senegal Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli), Yehvann Diouf (Nice), Mory Diaw (Le Havre)
Defenders: Ilay Camara (Anderlecht), Krepin Diatta (AS Monaco), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal), Abdoulaye Sek (Maccabi Haifa), Moussa Niakhate (Lyon), Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg), El-Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray)
Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Habib Diarra (Sunderland), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Pape Alassane Gueye (Villarreal), Lamine Camara (AS Monaco), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano)
Forwards: Sadio Mane (Al Nassr), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich), Habib Diallo (Metz), Boulaye Dia (Lazio), Cheikh T Sabaly (Metz), Assane Diao (Como), Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG), Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace)
Coach: Pape Thiaw
DR Congo
Nickname: The Leopards
AFCON History
DR Congo are not strangers at AFCON, having been crowned champions twice (1968 and 1974). Success has not been easy to come by for the Central African nation since then, but they always approach each AFCON tournament with a point to prove and a well-assembled squad.
AFCON Record
The Leopards have never finished as runners-up at AFCON but have claimed bronze twice (1998 and 2015). They have previously played 80 games at AFCON, winning 21 of them, drawing 29, and losing 30.
Star Player: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
DR Congo Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Matthieu Epolo (Standard de Liege), Timothy Fayulu (Noah), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre)
Defenders: Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian), Gedeon Kalulu (Aris Limassol), Steve Kapuadi (Legia Warsaw), Joris Kayembe (Genk), Arthur Masuaku (Sunderland), Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham)
Midfielders: Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow), Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Celtic), Brian Cipenga (Castellon), Edo Kayembe (Watford), Nathanaol Mbuku (Montpellier), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos), Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille), Charles Pickel (Espanyol), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland), Mario Stroeykens (Anderlecht)
Forwards: Cedric Bakambu (Betis), Simon Banza (Al-Jazeera), Samuel Essende (Augsburg), Meschack Elia (Alanyaspor), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids)
Coach: Sebastien Desabre
Botswana
Nickname: The Zebras
AFCON History
Botswana are making only their second AFCON appearance, after their first in 2012. They will be eager to prove a point in Morocco, even though they will be seen as underdogs in Group D.
AFCON Record
The Zebras are yet to pick up a point so far at AFCON, with three defeats during their maiden outing in 2012 in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, scoring just two goals and conceding nine goals.
Star Player: Tumisang Orebonye
Botswana Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Lesenya Malapela (Orapa United), Keoagile Kgosipula (Orapa United), Goitseone Phoko (Jwaneng Galaxy), Kabelo Dambe (Township Rollers)
Defenders: Alford Velaphi (Gaborone United), Mothusi Johnson (Gaborone United), Mosha Gaolaolwe (Township Rollers), Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (Al Ittihad), Shanganani Ngandane (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Chicco Molefe (Jwaneng Galaxy), Thabo Leinanyane (Jwaneng Galaxy), Tebogo Kopelang (Jwaneng Galaxy)
Midfielders: Godiraone Modingwane (BDF XI), Olebogeng Ramotse (Jwaneng Galaxy), Gape Mohutsiwa (McOran), Omphile Vissagie (Township Rollers), Gilbert Baruti (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Mothusi Cooper (Township Rollers), Lebogang Ditsile (Gaborone United), Thabo Maponda (Gaborone United), Monty Enosa (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Roketso Majafi (Orapa United), Omphile Ramoagi (Gaborone United)
Forwards: Omaatla Kebatho (Jwaneng Galaxy), Kabelo Seakanyeng (MAS Fes), Thabang Sesinyi (Jwaneng Galaxy), Tumisang Orebonye (Wydad AC), Segolame Boye (SA Flamingoes), Eric Ookame (Orapa United), Thabang Balatlheng (Township Rollers), Losika Ratshukudu (Ubuntu FC), Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Gaborone United)
Coach: Morena Ramoreboli
Benin
Nickname: The Cheetahs
AFCON History
Benin are back at the AFCON finals for the first time since 2019, when they recorded their finest moment by reaching the quarter-finals after knocking out Morocco on penalties in the round of 16.
Under the watch of coach Gernot Rohr, the Cheetahs will be one of the less-fancied sides hoping to make another big statement in Morocco.
AFCON Record
The Beninoise are participating in the AFCON finals for only the fourth time in their history, 21 years on from their debut. They also featured at the 2010 finals in Angola.
They have played a total of 14 games to date, winning none, drawing five and losing nine.
Star Player: Steve Mounie
Benin Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Marcel Dandjinou (Loto), Kassifa Saturnin Allagbe (Chaurey), Serge Obassa (Remo Stars)
Defenders: Samadou Attidjikou (Smouha), Charlemagne Azongnitode (Oulu), Rodrigue Fassinnou (Coton FC), David Kiki (FCSB), Rachid Moumini (Sumqayit FK), Tamimou Ouorou (no club), Yohan Roche (Petrolul), Mohamed Tijani (Yverdon), Olivier Verdon (Ludogorets)
Midfielders: Matteo Ahlinvi (Arsenal / England), Mariano Ahouangbo (NK Olimpija Ljubljana / Slovenia), Ghislain Ahoudo (AS Gabes), Sessi d’Almeida (Neftci Baku / Azerbaijan), Dodo Dokou (Leixoes), Imourane Hassane (Grasshoppers), Rodrigue Kossi (Agadir)
Forwards: Adam Akimey (Helsingborgs IF), Rodolfo Aloko (Kustosija), Romaric Amoussou (Asec Mimosas), Jodel Dossou (L’US Pays du Valois), Steve Mounie (Alanyaspor), Junior Olaitan (Goztepe), Razack Rachidou (Kustosija), Olatoundji Tessilimi (SJK Seinajoki), Aiyegun Tosin (Lorient)
Coach: Gernot Rohr
