The second round of matches at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 delivered a series of thrilling contests, with several players across the groups standing out and earning Player of the Match honours for their decisive contributions.
PUNCH Online highlights the key performers from Matchday 2:
Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) – Recognised for his constant attacking threat in Algeria’s 1–0 win over Burkina Faso, despite Riyad Mahrez scoring the only goal.
Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) – Named Man of the Match in Ivory Coast’s 1–1 draw with Cameroon, marking a back-to-back award for the talented winger.
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) – Starred in Nigeria’s 3–2 victory over Tunisia with one goal and two assists, driving the team’s attacking play.
Mohamed Mamoun Eisa (Sudan) – Played a key role in Sudan’s 1–0 win over Equatorial Guinea, earning the official CAF Man of the Match award.
Sadio Mané (Senegal) – Scored the equaliser and impressed with his overall performance in Senegal’s 1–1 draw with DR Congo.
Yohan Roche (Benin) – Netted the only goal in Benin’s historic 1–0 victory over Botswana, securing the country’s first-ever win in AFCON finals.
Naël El Aynaoui (Morocco) – Recognised for his consistent performance in Morocco’s 1–1 draw with Mali.
Youssouf Zaidou (Comoros) – Awarded Man of the Match in Comoros’ 0–0 draw with Zambia, influencing the midfield throughout the match.
Omar Marmoush (Egypt) – Delivered an attacking masterclass in Egypt’s 2–1 win over Zimbabwe, contributing to the team’s comeback before Mohamed Salah’s late winner.
Simon Msuva (Tanzania) – Opened the scoring from the penalty spot in a 1–1 draw with Uganda and was pivotal in his team’s performance.
Geny Catamo (Mozambique) – Scored from the penalty spot and inspired Mozambique’s historic 3–2 win over Gabon, earning the Man of the Match award.
As the competition progresses, these standout performances are setting the tone for an intensely competitive AFCON 2025, with teams and players continuing their quest for continental glory.
