African football legends El Hadary and Mboma to grace AFCON 2025 draw in Rabat

Saturday 25 January 2025 - 07:35

By: Dakir Madiha

African football legends El Hadary and Mboma to grace AFCON 2025 draw in Rabat

African football icons, including Egypt’s Essam El Hadary and Cameroon’s Patrick Mboma, will headline the draw ceremony for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Rabat, Morocco. The event, set to take place at the Mohammed V National Theatre on Monday, will bring together some of the continent’s most celebrated players to determine the group stage matchups for the tournament.

The draw, scheduled for 7 p.m. local time (6 p.m. GMT), will feature a lineup of legendary figures who have left an indelible mark on African football. Among them is Essam El Hadary, the Egyptian goalkeeper who holds the record as the oldest player to feature in a FIFA World Cup match at 45 years and 161 days. El Hadary’s illustrious career includes four AFCON titles with Egypt (1998, 2006, 2008, and 2010) and 159 international caps over 22 years.

Joining him will be Patrick Mboma, the 2000 African Footballer of the Year, who won two AFCON titles with Cameroon and scored 11 goals across four tournaments. Also in attendance will be former Ivory Coast forward Gervinho, an AFCON winner in 2015, and Tunisia’s Aymen Mathlouthi, who represented his nation in six AFCON tournaments between 2008 and 2017.

The draw will determine the group allocations for the 24 teams that have qualified for the tournament, including host nation Morocco. The competition, set to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, will mark Morocco’s second time hosting the continental championship. Matches will be held across several cities, including Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Agadir, Marrakech, and Fez.

“The rich history of the AFCON has been built on great performances and feats of brilliance in the past, and the legends who will be in Rabat have certainly played their part,” the Confederation of African Football (CAF) stated in its announcement. The organization also praised Morocco’s proven track record in hosting world-class football events, including the 2018 African Nations Championship, the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.

Other notable attendees include Mali’s Momo Sissoko and Zambia’s Christopher Katongo, who captained his nation to their first AFCON title in 2012. The presence of these legends underscores the significance of the draw and the anticipation surrounding the tournament.

The 2025 AFCON promises to be a showcase of African football excellence, with Morocco aiming to set new standards as hosts. As the continent’s top teams prepare to compete, the draw in Rabat will mark the beginning of an exciting journey toward crowning the next African champion.