Egypt Leads the Charge: AFCON 2025 Quarterfinals Spotlight on a Dominant Ideal XI
11 January 2026
AFCON 2025 Quarterfinals Overview
The Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 concluded its quarterfinals with Nigeria defeating Algeria 2-0 and Egypt overcoming Ivory Coast 3-2. Morocco also beat Cameroon 2-0 and Senegal edged Mali 1-0. SofaScore’s ideal XI leans heavily Egyptian, including five players from Egypt, with additional picks from Morocco and Nigeria and one from Mali.
In short, the slate was chalked up as a showcase for the Egyptian layer of talent, though a few stars from other nations still peppered the XI and kept the drama cooking. A light reminder: good form in the group stage does not always guarantee a smooth semifinal ride, but it sure helps when you’re counting on Salah to spark the engine.
The SofaScore Ideal XI
Goalkeeper: Diarra (Mali) – 8.5
Defenders: Onyimaitechi (Nigeria) – 8.2; Ramy Rabia (Egypt) – 7.9; Adam Masina (Morocco) – 7.6; Osayi Samuel (Nigeria) – 8.2
Midfield: Abdessamad Zlelzouli (Morocco) – 7.5; Hamdi Fathi (Egypt) – 7.6; Imam Ashour (Egypt) – 7.9; Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – 7.7
Attack: Omar Marmoush (Egypt) – 7.9; Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) – 8.2
In the semifinals, Egypt will face Senegal, while Nigeria clashes with Morocco on the upcoming Wednesday.
And yes, the football gods love a good XI as much as a good pun. The lineup reads like a cross-continental dream team, with a few surprise inclusions that sparked plenty of internet debate.
Semifinal Picture and a Quick Preview
The semis set the stage for a showdown where Egyptian resilience meets Morocco’s technical flair and Nigeria’s pace. The permutations promise a tasty clash, with Egypt and Senegal renewing a classic continental duel and Morocco pinning its hopes on a robust defense and quick transitions.
Punchline time: If formations were dating profiles, this XI would be swiping right on every defense—except the offside trap, which stays single and forever offside.
Punchline time 2: In the theater of AFCON, the only thing sharper than Salah’s finish is the referee’s whistle—talk about a dramatic mic drop at the edge of the box.
