Claude Le Roy’s first two Africa Cup of Nations finalstournaments saw his team finish on the podium but the achievement that the popular Frenchman is most famous for is a record nine appearances as a coach.

His is a record that might take decades to beat. “Records are meant to be broken! But for me it’s a privilege that I had all these opportunities and even more important for me is the fact I was never sacked, I always decided to leave. And that’s a big privilege,” recalls the 76-year-old, who still follows the African game with a keen eye.

“And everywhere I worked, people always asked me to come back. I’m proud of that.”

His first game in 1986 was a thrilling 3-2 win over Zambia in Alexandria where Cameroon slipped a two-goal lead but then won the match with a late penalty while a burst of three goals in the space of six minutes saw them beat Algeria 3-2 to finish top of the group.

After Roger Milla’s goal accounted for Cote d’Ivoire in the semi-final, Cameroon met host Egypt in the decider, going down on penalties 5-4 after a goalless draw.

Two years later, however, the Indomitable Lions were crowned champions, overcoming hosts Morocco in a fiery semi-final and then edging Nigeria in the final in Casablanca with Emmanuel Kunde’s second half penalty settling the outcome.

Le Roy coached Senegal at the 1990 and 1992 finals, finishing fourth the first time in Algeria but then being disappointingly eliminated by his old Cameroon charges in the quarter-finals when Senegal hosted the 1992 finals.

Le Roy missed the next six Cup of Nations finals before taking the Democratic Republic of Congo to the 2006 tournament in Egypt, where they reached the last eight.

In 2008, he coached a host nation for the second time, this time Ghana but there was a disappointing semi-final exit to Cameroon again.

In 2013, Le Roy was back with the Leopards but three draws in their first round meant they finished third in the group. It was the first time in seven tournaments the coach had not taken a side beyond the first round.

Congo had missed six successive finals before Le Roy qualified them for the 2015 edition in Equatorial Guinea and saw them to the quarter-finals as they won their group.

Le Roy’s last tournament was in Gabon in 2017 with Togo and his record 38 games as a coach at the finals has seen 16 wins, 12 draws and 10 losses with a positive goal tally of 44 scored to 38 conceded.

Le Roy at the Cup of Nations finals

1986 (Cameroon)
Cameroon 3 Zambia 2
Cameroon 1 Morocco 1
Algeria 2 Cameroon 3
Cameroon 1 Cote d’Ivoire 0
Egypt 0 Cameroon 0

1988 (Cameroon)
Cameroon 1 Egypt 0
Cameroon 1 Nigeria 1
Cameroon 0 Kenya 0
Morocco 0 Cameroon 1
Cameroon 1 Nigeria 0

1990 (Senegal)
Kenya 0 Senegal 0
Cameroon 0 Senegal 2
Senegal 0 Zambia 0
Algeria 2 Senegal 1
Senegal 0 Zambia 1

1992 (Senegal)
Senegal 1 Nigeria 2
Senegal 3 Kenya 0
Senegal 0 Cameroon 1

2006 (DR Congo)
DR Congo 2 Togo 0
Angola 0 DR Congo 0
Cameroon 2  DR Congo 0
Egypt 4 DR Congo 1

2008 (Ghana)
Ghana 2 Guinea 1
Ghana 1 Namibia 0
Ghana 2 Morocco 0Ghana 2 Nigeria 1
Ghana 0 Cameroon 1
Ghana 4 Cote d’Ivoire 2

2013 (DR Congo)
DR Congo 2 Ghana 2
DR Congo 0 Niger 0
Mali 1 DR Congo 1

2015 (Congo)
Equatorial Guinea 1 Congo 1
Congo 1 Gabon 0

Burkina Faso 1 Congo 2
Congo 2 DR Congo 4

2017 (Togo)
Cote d’Ivoire 0 Togo 0
Morocco 3 Togo 1
DR Congo 3 Togo 1

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With five days until the final draw of 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is held in Morocco, anticipation is building. 

For many of Africa’s brightest football talents, this will be a golden opportunity to showcase their skills on one of the continent’s biggest stages.

Here’s a look at five players expected to shine during this prestigious tournament.

Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Atalanta Bergamo)

Crowned African Player of the Year at the CAF Awards on December 16, 2024, in Marrakech, Ademola Lookman will undoubtedly be one of the most closely watched stars at the 2025 AFCON.

The Atalanta Bergamo forward earned the accolade following a spectacular season where he guided his club to UEFA Europa League glory with a historic hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.

Last season, Lookman scored an impressive 27 goals and provided 13 assists, form he has carried into the current campaign with 11 goals in 18 matches.

At the previous AFCON, he contributed three goals to Nigeria’s remarkable run to the final, where they fell 2-1 to hosts Côte d’Ivoire.

The Super Eagles will rely heavily on his offensive prowess in Morocco.

Carlos Baleba (Cameroon, Brighton)

At just 20 years old, Carlos Baleba has established himself as a midfield powerhouse for both Brighton and the Cameroon national team.

Under the guidance of Belgian coach Marc Brys, Baleba played a pivotal role in Cameroon’s flawless qualification for AFCON 2025, finishing atop Group J with 14 points.

His performances in the English Premier League have also attracted interest from Europe’s top clubs.

Set to make his AFCON debut, the former Elite Academy product from Cameroon is poised to make a significant impact on the tournament. His blend of talent and confidence could be key to the Indomitable Lions’ success.

Carlos Baleba (Cameroon, Brighton)

At just 20 years old, Carlos Baleba has established himself as a midfield powerhouse for both Brighton and the Cameroon national team.

Under the guidance of Belgian coach Marc Brys, Baleba played a pivotal role in Cameroon’s flawless qualification for AFCON 2025, finishing atop Group J with 14 points.

His performances in the English Premier League have also attracted interest from Europe’s top clubs.

Set to make his AFCON debut, the former Elite Academy product from Cameroon is poised to make a significant impact on the tournament.

His blend of talent and confidence could be key to the Indomitable Lions’ success.

Brahim Diaz (Morocco, Real Madrid)

Brahim Diaz is set to make his AFCON debut on home soil for Morocco after choosing to represent the country of his heritage over Spain. During the qualification phase, Diaz was outstanding, finishing as the top scorer with seven goals in six matches.

The 25-year-old attacking midfielder from Real Madrid will bolster the Atlas Lions as they aim to end a title drought that dates back to 1976. With the Moroccan crowd behind him, Diaz could be the driving force Morocco needs to clinch the trophy at home.

Simon Adingra (Côte d’Ivoire, Brighton)

Simon Adingra left an indelible mark on the last AFCON, where Côte d’Ivoire triumphed on home soil.

Despite being sidelined during the group stage due to injury, Adingra’s two assists in the final helped secure a 2-1 victory over Nigeria, earning him the Man of the Match award.

At 22, Adingra continues to shine in the Premier League with Brighton, gaining invaluable experience that will benefit the Elephants in Morocco.

With his creative flair and maturity, he is poised to play a pivotal role in Côte d’Ivoire’s title defence.

Ronwen Williams (South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns)

Ronwen Williams’ heroics during the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire are still fresh in memory.

His spectacular saves, both during matches and penalty shootouts, helped South Africa claim a commendable third-place finish.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper was named African Goalkeeper of the Year at the CAF Awards 2024 and was also recognized as the Best Interclub Player for his performances in the CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns.

With his form still peaking, Williams is expected to deliver more show-stopping moments in Morocco.  

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The Final Draw for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 will take place in the grand setting of the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat on Monday, 27 January at 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT).

Inaugurated in 1961 by King Hassan II out of respect to his father, the theatre is an architectural jewel located in the heart of the Moroccan capital.

It embodies the elegance and rich cultural heritage of Morocco, a country that will host a memorable AFCON from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.

It is the largest theatre in Morocco and the first theatrical building built once the country’s independence was regained.

Created in 1962, it is based in the city centre of Rabat, the capital, not far from the medina and Avenue Mohammed-V.

Rabat is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg and has a metropolitan population of 1.8 million. 

A key moment for the 24 qualified nations
The Final Draw ceremony, a symbolic starting point for the competition, will see the 24 qualified teams divided into six first-round groups for the finals.

The event will bring together leading figures in African football, heads of federations, international media and sports legends, promising a star-filled night.

A show at the crossroads of sport and culture
Sport and culture will intertwine to offer a grandiose show. This celebration will reflect the uniqueness of Moroccan culture and the excellence of the organisation of this 35th edition of Africa’s greatest football competition.

Football fans around the world will be able to follow the Final Draw live on CAF’s official social media platforms and partner broadcasters.

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