The road to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been mapped out following the draw held in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday.
A total of 48 African nations are gearing up to compete for the opportunity to dethrone reigning champions Cote d’Ivoire and clinch the prestigious trophy in Morocco.
Defending champions Cote d’Ivoire, under the guidance of coach Emerse Fae and draw assistant Moroccan legend Marouane Chamakh, find themselves in a challenging Group G.
They will navigate encounters against former champions Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Chad as they aim to retain their title.
Morocco Gets Easy Group as Hosts:
The host nation, Morocco, secured a favourable draw in Group B. They’ll face Gabon, Central African Republic, and Lesotho, potentially easing their path to the final tournament due to their automatic qualification as hosts.
The journey to qualify for AFCON 2025 begins in September 2024 and concludes in November of the same year.
Each group will see the top two teams advance to the main tournament, with an exception for Morocco’s group where only the winner will progress alongside the hosts.
Make a note in your calendars! AFCON’s 35th edition is scheduled to take place in Morocco from December 21st, 2025, to January 18th, 2026, promising a thrilling month of African football action.
Group Breakdown:
Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco (host), Gabon, Central African Republic, Lesotho
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin, Libya, Rwanda
Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger
Group G: Cote d’Ivoire (champions), Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi