The race to AFCON 2025 is complete. After months of intense matches, thrilling upsets, and unforgettable performances, the final 24 teams have been confirmed for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, set to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
This article breaks down the qualification format, group results, standout moments, controversies, and what lies ahead for Africa’s biggest football tournament.
The qualifiers began with a preliminary round in March 2024: the eight lowest-ranked African teams played home-and-away playoffs, with four advancing. Those four joined 43 higher-ranked teams plus hosts Morocco in a 48-team group stage. Twelve groups of four were drawn (in July 2024 in Johannesburg), and each group played round-robin home-and-away from September to November 2024. The top two teams from each group (24 in total, including host Morocco) advance to AFCON 2025. CAF used a head-to-head tiebreaker for teams level on points.
- The preliminary round (Mar 2024) featured the lowest 8 teams; 4 winners moved to the group stage.
- Group stage: 48 teams (including host Morocco) in 12 groups of 4; double round-robin (Sep–Nov 2024).
- Qualifiers: Group winners and runners-up qualify (2 per group}.
Group Standings and Results
The group stage concluded in November 2024. Group winners (W) and runners-up (R) were as follows (points in parentheses):
- Group A: Comoros (W, 12 pts) and Tunisia (R, 10 pts). Comoros remained unbeaten, leapfrogging Tunisia on the final day.
- Group B: Morocco (W, 18) and Gabon (R, 10)(Morocco had already qualified as host).
- Group C: Egypt (W, 14) and Botswana (R, 8)
- Group D: Nigeria (W, 11) and Benin (R, 8; on head-to-head over Rwanda).
- Group E: Algeria (W, 16) and Equatorial Guinea (R, 8).
- Group F: Angola (W, 14) and Sudan (R, 8).
- Group G: Zambia (W, 13) and Ivory Coast (R, 12).
- Group H: DR Congo (W, 12) and Tanzania (R, 10).
- Group I: Mali (W, 14) and Mozambique (R, 11).
- Group J: Cameroon (W, 14) and Zimbabwe (R, 9).
- Group K: South Africa (W, 14) and Uganda (R, 13).
- Group L: Senegal (W, 16) and Burkina Faso (R, 10).
Each group’s final standings reflected these outcomes. For example, CAF reports that Sudan and Angola joined the finals as Group F’s two qualifiers (Angola 14 pts, Sudan 8 pts). The full list of qualified teams (24 total) includes host Morocco and the above pairs: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Algeria, Egypt, Angola, DR Congo, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia, Comoros, Gabon, Nigeria, Zambia, Mali, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Botswana, Benin, Sudan, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
Key Matches and Upsets
- Ghana 0–1 Angola (Sept 2024): Angola stunned hosts Ghana in Kumasi with a stoppage-time winner by Felicio Milson. Despite Ghana fielding stars like Partey and Kudus, Milson’s 90+3’ goal secured a shock win, derailing Ghana’s campaign.
- Tunisia 0–1 Comoros (Nov 2024): In Tunis, Comoros won by a rare 1-0 scoreline (a second-half strike by Rafiki Saïd) to overtake Tunisia at the top of Group A. This upset (Tunisia’s first home qualifying defeat in years) handed Comoros the group lead.
- Tunisia 0–1 Gambia (Nov 2024): Earlier in the same window, Gambia had already shocked Tunisia 1-0 in Tunis (Abdoulie Ceesay 17’). That result ended Tunisia’s unbeaten home record and left Tunisia vulnerable on the final day.
- Sudan 2–0 Ghana (Nov 2024): Sudan (coached by Ghanaian Kwesi Appiah) won in Benghazi to put Ghana’s hopes in jeopardy. Two quick second-half goals sealed qualification for Sudan and meant Ghana needed unlikely wins in their last matches.
- Libya vs Nigeria (Nov 2024): The match never took place: Libya refused to play in Uyo after a lengthy airport delay, so CAF awarded Nigeria a 3–0 win by forfeite. This controversy gave Nigeria crucial points (they won Group D).
- Algeria 5–1 Togo (Oct 2024): Algeria maintained a perfect qualifying record by thumping Togo 5-1. Goals from Benrahma, Aouar, Gouiri and Amoura gave Algeria a dominant victory and kept them top of Group E.
These standout results shaped the race in several groups. Ghana’s failures (winless in three games, only one point) became a major talking point.
Qualified Teams
All 24 finalists for AFCON 2025 are now known.They include hosts Morocco and 23 teams from the group stage:
Morocco; Burkina Faso; Egypt; Algeria; Angola; DR Congo; Cameroon; Senegal; Ivory Coast; Equatorial Guinea; Tunisia; Comoros; Gabon; Nigeria; Zambia; Mali; Zimbabwe; South Africa; Uganda; Botswana; Benin; Sudan; Tanzania; Mozambique. These nations will meet in Morocco (Dec 21, 2025–Jan 18, 2026) for the finals.
Upcoming Fixtures
With qualifying over, attention turns to the AFCON finals. The final tournament draw is set for 27 January 2025 in Rabat. Morocco and Comoros will kick off the finals on 21 December 2025 in Rabat. (By CAF’s schedule, the final will be on 18 January 2026 in Rabat.) No further qualifying games remain – teams will use 2025 friendlies and camps to prepare for the finals.
Top Scorers and Controversies
- Leading scorers: Morocco’s Brahim Díaz led all scorers with 7 goals, despite Morocco not needing qualification. Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy had 6 goals. Algeria’s Amine Gouiri, Egypt’s Trézéguet and Zambia’s Kennedy Musonda each scored 4. Several players stood out – for example, Central African Republic’s Louis Mafouta scored a brace in a 3–1 win over Lesotho – but the above were the top totals.
- Nigeria-Libya forfeit: Nigeria was controversially awarded a 3-0 win after Libya refused to play in Nigeria due to travel delays. CAF confirmed the forfeit victory, which helped Nigeria clinch qualification.
- Ghana controversy: Reigning champions Ghana underperformed badly. They drew 0-0 at home with Sudan and lost to Angola, leaving them with just one point from three games. Ghana’s fans reportedly protested in Accra over the team’s performance.
- Coaching issues: Sudan’s coach Kwesi Appiah (a former Ghana coach) had to relinquish his role on Ghana’s football association board to avoid a conflict of interest. In East Africa, Kenyan coach Engin Firat publicly criticized refereeing after a goalless draw with Zimbabwe, sparking controversy around officiating standards.
These storylines, along with the final draw and group stage fixtures, set the stage for what promises to be an exciting Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Sources: Official CAF news releases, ESPN and Reuters reports on AFCON qualifying. These accounts detail the format, results and key events of the 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign.