The announced stars of the competition, Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, Nigerian Victor Osimhen, Senegalese Sadio Mané and Egyptian Mohamed Salah, have lived up to expectations and will try to guide their countries to the final of the AFCON-2025 on Wednesday.

Achraf Hakimi, hero restored

Star and captain of the Atlas Lions, who was the centerpiece of the tournament held in Morocco, Achraf Hakimi started the AFCON-2025 recovering from a serious injury to his left ankle suffered on November 4 with Paris SG in the Champions League.

Left to rest during the first two group matches, coming on in the third, the right-back, often considered the best in the world in his position, then played the entirety of the eighth match won by force against Tanzania (1-0), and of the successful quarter-final against Cameroon (2-0).

After almost two months without playing, Hakimi understandably lacked rhythm during his first few minutes, failing to regain the level he had before his injury.

Nevertheless, the Moroccan captain was immediately decisive. In the round of 16, he came very close to scoring with a free kick that ultimately crashed against the Tanzanian crossbar.

Then he provided a decisive pass to Brahim Diaz to unlock a tense situation. Adored by the Moroccans, Hakimi will have the difficult task in the semi-final of containing Nigeria's attacking fury. His coach, Walid Regragui, has no doubt about this, asking for a little more patience to see his captain return to his best form.

Victor Osimhen, fury on a mission

Since leaving Napoli for Galatasaray in Turkey, the masked Nigerian striker has disappeared from the radar of major European leagues. The Super Eagles' failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup contributed to Osimhen's relative obscurity during the first half of the season.

His talent, still intact as evidenced by his six goals scored in the Champions League so far, exploded once again in the face of the world during the AFCON.

In five matches, Osimhen has already scored four goals and provided two assists. Thanks to him and his teammates Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams, the Super Eagles, the tournament's top scorers with 14 goals, are impressing to the point of overtaking Morocco, their semi-final opponent, as favorites.

In addition to the statistics, Osimhen adds passion, fighting for every ball and putting in a significant amount of defensive work.

Since Nigeria's 2023 final defeat to Ivory Coast (2-1), Osimhen has been on a mission. "I'm not the same player since that final," he declared after the quarter-final. "I'm working hard. I analyze all the mistakes I make to figure out how to improve. I'm also gaining confidence with my teammates. I want to win something with the team; it won't be easy, but I assure you that I've grown since the last one."

Sadio Mané, veteran record-breaker

Although he no longer has his former vivacity, the 33-year-old Senegalese Sadio Mané still maintains his influence on his team, the tournament favorite along with the host Moroccan team.

Although he only scored one goal, Mané provided three assists to his teammates, thus becoming the best passer in the history of the AFCON with nine assists, ahead of the Ivorian Yaya Touré.

He also strengthened his honorary record as the most decisive player in the history of the AFCON, combining his goals (10) and his assists (9), ahead of Mohamed Salah (11 goals and 5 assists).

Still as adored as ever by both Senegalese fans and his teammates, Mané continues to distinguish himself with exemplary behavior on and off the field, assuming his role as leader of the Lions of Teranga.

Mohamed Salah, the quest for a first Africa Cup of Nations

Like Mané, his former Liverpool partner, Mohamed Salah no longer has the legs of a twenty-year-old, and the Pharaoh is chasing his first continental title in his fifth participation in an AFCON.

He puts his whole heart and soul into it. Having left for Morocco on bad terms with his club Liverpool, Salah, 33, displays his smile and good humor with the national team. Sometimes reprimanded by his demanding coach, Hossam Hassan, for his defensive lapses, the Reds winger is ruthless in front of goal: 4 goals since the start of the tournament, just one behind Brahim Diaz, the competition's top scorer.

Salah also assumes his role as leader by relieving his young teammates of the enormous pressure surrounding Egypt, in search of the eighth AFCON in its history, a record, to further consolidate its dominance over African football.