The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Morocco between 21st December 2025 and 18th January 2026.
This will be the 35th edition of Africa’s premier national team tournament, organised by CAF (the Confederation of African Football). The tournament is often also referred to by its shortened name: AFCON 2025.
There will be 24 teams taking part in the finals, with two sides having progressed from each of the 12 qualifying groups. The qualifying group matches were held between 20th March and 19th November 2024.
The initial stage of the AFCON finals will feature six groups, with each one containing four teams. The teams finishing in the top two places in each group will qualify for the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed teams, based on their records in the group stage.
AFCON 2025 participating teams
The 24 teams that will take part in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have now been decided. We’ll take a look at each of the competing nations, their previous records in this tournament and some of the star players who might take them deep into the tournament. We’ll include a rating for each team, based on our evaluation of their chances of winning the tournament.
The club sides associated with each player were correct at the time of writing but may change between now and the start of the AFCON 2025 tournament. Loan deals show the club to which the player has been loaned at the time of writing.
Morocco 🇲🇦
Morocco did not qualify for the AFCON finals until 1972 and, on their debut, they were eliminated in the group stage despite remaining unbeaten. Although they drew all three of their three matches, that was not enough to qualify for the knockout rounds. Nonetheless, it didn’t take the North African side long to claim the trophy, as they took the title in 1976.
However, Morocco have struggled in recent times, having failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals since 2004. Despite that poor record in this tournament, Morocco can take confidence from their performance in the 2022 World Cup. They finished top of their group, claimed a win over Belgium and then beat Spain on penalties in the round of 16 after a goalless 120 minutes. Morocco also beat Portugal 1-0 in the quarter-finals before losing to France in the semi-final.
The Atlas Lions took that form into the qualifying groups for this competition, winning all six of their matches with a goal aggregate of 26-2. They scored four or more goals in five of their six victories.
Morocco have also qualified for the 2026 World Cup with ease. They won all eight of their qualifying group matches, scoring 22 times and conceding just twice.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Morocco: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Nayef Aguerd (Marseille), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahçe), Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis).
Prediction: 12 of the previous tournaments have been won by the host country, which equates to around one third of all finals. As the host country, and buoyed by their performance in the last World Cup, Morocco will fancy their chances of claiming a second AFCON title.
Rating: 8/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Egypt 🇪🇬
Egypt have the best record of any nation in this tournament, having won AFCON seven times. They have also been defeated in the final seven times. However, the last time they won the trophy was in 2010. Since then, they have been beaten in two finals.
In world football, Egypt have never made an impact, having qualified for the World Cup finals just three times in their history before this year, and they are yet to win a match in that tournament.
Egypt finished top of their qualifying group for AFCON, winning four and drawing two of their six matches. However, after winning their opening four games, the Pharaohs stuttered towards the end with 1-1 draws against both Cabo Verde and Botswana.
Despite all that, Egypt made light work of their World Cup qualifying group this year, winning eight and drawing two of their 10 matches.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Egypt: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Trézéguet (Al Ahly), Omar Marmoush (Manchester City), Mostafa Mohamed (Nantes), Zico (Al Ahly).
Prediction: At the time of qualifying, Egypt had lost just one of their last 19 matches. Despite their good record in AFCON, they were eliminated from the previous tournament by DR Congo, after losing a penalty shootout 8-7. Mo Salah had picked up a hamstring injury earlier in that tournament and was not able to take any part in the DR Congo match. Keeping the Egyptian captain fit will be crucial to his nation’s chances of success.
Rating: 7/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Algeria 🇩🇿
Algeria won the Africa Cup of Nations as recently as 2019, when a second-minute goal from Baghdad Bounedjah was enough to seal a 1-0 win over Senegal. They followed that with success in the 2021 Arab Cup, defeating Tunisia 2-0 in the final.
The Algerians easily won their AFCON qualifying group to reach these finals, winning five and drawing one of their six group matches. The Fennecs scored 16 goals and only conceded twice in that sequence.
The North African side also topped their World Cup qualifying group, winning eight of their 10 matches. Their solitary loss came at home to Mozambique.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Algeria: Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli), Saïd Benrahma (Neom), Rayan Aït-Nouri (Manchester City), Baghdad Bounedjah (Al-Shamal), Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg).
Prediction: Algeria made an early exit from AFCON 2023, when they finished bottom of their group after collecting just two points from their three matches. It was a similar story in 2021, where just a single point from three group matches saw them eliminated at the first hurdle. There will be more attractive betting options amongst the shorter-priced teams, although Algeria will be happy with the draw for the groups.
Rating: 6/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Senegal 🇸🇳
After losing to Algeria in the 2019 AFCON final, Senegal went one better when they won the delayed 2021 tournament courtesy of a penalty shootout victory over Egypt, which followed a goalless 120 minutes.
The Lions of Teranga were unbeaten in qualifying for the AFCON 2025 finals, winning five and drawing one of their six group matches. They only conceded one goal across those six games.
Senegal also remained unbeaten in their World Cup qualifying group, with seven wins from their 10 matches.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Senegal: Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich), Boulaye Dia (Lazio), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace), Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Lamine Camara (Monaco), Pape Sarr (Tottenham), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Abdou Diallo (Al-Arabi), Édouard Mendy (Al-Ahli).
Prediction: On paper, the Senegalese have possibly the strongest pool of players and plenty of striking power. Given their defensive prowess in the qualifying group, they look certain to play a significant part in the latter stages of the tournament.
Rating: 8/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nigeria 🇳🇬
Nigeria were the losing finalists in 2023 when, after taking a first half lead against Côte d’Ivoire, they eventually lost 2-1. They are normally a factor in this tournament, having finished third or better in 16 of the 20 occasions they have taken part.
In qualifying, the Super Eagles were not that convincing. They were awarded one win by default and were only victorious in two of their other five matches. They failed to beat Rwanda either at home or away—matches which they would have expected to win.
Nigeria also failed to qualify automatically for the World Cup after finishing second in their qualifying group, one point behind South Africa. Although they only lost once, five draws from 10 matches consigned Nigeria to a place in the play-off round.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Nigeria: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Kelechi Iheanacho (Celtic), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham), Victor Boniface (Werder Bremen), Alex Iwobi (Fulham), William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood), Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş), Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Prediction: Nigeria look to have plenty of attacking options within their ranks and, with the pool of players they can call on from the top European leagues, they should feature prominently again.
Rating: 7/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮
Côte d’Ivoire(also known as the Ivory Coast) come into AFCON 2025 as the defending champions after defeating Nigeria in the previous final. Prior to that, they had not progressed beyond the quarter-finals since winning the 2015 tournament.
Nicknamed Les Éléphants, Côte d’Ivoirewill forever be associated with Didier Drogba. The former Chelsea striker is their record scorer, having amassed 65 goals from 105 appearances.
They would have been expected to win their AFCON qualifying group, but could only finish in second place, one point behind winners Zambia.
Côte d’Ivoire did top their World Cup qualifying group, finishing one point ahead of Gabon. They also achieved an exceptional feat by going through all 10 qualifying matches without conceding a goal, with their only dropped points coming from two goalless draws.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for the Côte d’Ivoire: Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisboa), Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli), Simon Adingra (Sunderand), Oumar Diakité (Reims), Seko Fofana (Rennes), Emmanuel Agbadou (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Evan Ndicka (Roma), Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest), Evann Guessand (Aston Villa), Amad Diallo (Manchester United).
Prediction: Côte d’Ivoirehave a strong squad and will be determined to successfully defend their title.
Rating: 7/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mali 🇲🇱
Mali finished runners-up in their first ever AFCON appearance in 1972, but since then they have yet to reach another final. Successive third-placed finishes in 2012 and 2013 have been their best finishes since.
Mali topped their qualifying group for these finals after winning four and drawing two of their six matches, and only conceding one goal. However, it was not the strongest qualifying group and, aside from a 6-0 home victory over Eswatini, the Eagles found goals hard to come by.
A disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign won’t have given Mali supporters any confidence, as their side could only finish third in their group, and they lost both their home and away match against the group winners, Ghana.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Mali: El Bilal Touré (Beşiktaş), Kamory Doumbia (Brest), Dorgeles Nene (Fenerbahçe), Adama Traoré (Ferencváros), Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur), Mohamed Camara (Al-Sadd).
Prediction: A first AFCON title looks unlikely for Mali, who will do well to progress beyond the quarter-finals.
Rating: 5/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tunisia 🇹🇳
A fourth-place finish in 2019 saw Tunisia progress beyond the quarter-finals for the first time since they won the title in 2004. In the last AFCON, the north African side failed to win a match in the group stage and finished bottom, scoring just a single goal. In their qualifying group for AFCON 2025, Tunisia finished in second place (two points behind Comoros).
Tunisia have qualified for five of the previous seven World Cup final tournaments but have failed to progress beyond the group stage in any of those appearances.
Tunisia matched the Côte d’Ivoirein winning their World Cup qualifying group without conceding a goal. The Eagles of Carthage won nine and drew one of their 10 matches, but it was one of the weaker qualifying groups.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Tunisia: Elias Achouri (F.C. København), Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley), Sayfallah Ltaief (Sparta Rotterdam), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Aïssa Laïdouni (Al Wakrah), Ali Abdi (Nice).
Prediction: With their poor recent record in this competition, it’s hard to see Tunisia challenging for the trophy in AFCON 2025.
Rating: 5/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cameroon 🇨🇲
Cameroon are the second most successful side in AFCON history, having won the title on five occasions. They have also qualified for the World Cup more times than any other African nation, having reached the finals on eight occasions. However, they have only progressed past the group stage once, when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals in 1990.
In two of the previous three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, the Indomitable Lions have been eliminated in the round of 16. Although they qualified with ease for this tournament by winning their group by five points, Cameroon found goals hard to come by. They scored eight goals in their six matches, but only one goal in their three away matches, two of which ended goalless.
A disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign saw Cameroon heading for the play-offs after they could only finish second to the surprise group winners, Cabo Verde.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Cameroon: Vincent Aboubakar (unattached), André Onana (Manchester United), Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United), Frank Anguissa (Napoli), Carlos Baleba (Brighton), Enzo Boyomo (Osasuna), Jackson Tchatchoua (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Prediction: If Cameroon can back up a solid defence with a goal threat, they could play a big part in this tournament.
Rating: 7/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
DR Congo 🇨🇩
Although they have two AFCON titles to their name, the last success was in 1974, when they competed as Zaire. Since then, they have had six quarter-final exits, before achieving their best finish in nearly 50 years when finishing fourth in the last tournament.
DR Congo topped their AFCON qualifying group with four wins and two losses, although goals were at a premium, with only seven scored across those six matches. However, the Leopards did keep four clean sheets in their six matches.
DR Congo are another team heading to the World Cup qualification play-offs, after giving Senegal a run for their money in their qualifying group but eventually finishing two points adrift at the top of the table.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for DR Congo: Yoane Wissa (Newcastle), Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Meschak Elia (Young Boys), Simon Banza (Sporting Braga), Silas (VfB Stuttgart), Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland), Arthur Masuaku (Sunderland).
Prediction: Progressing beyond the quarter-final stage may be a tough ask at AFCON 2025.
Rating: 5/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
South Africa 🇿🇦
South Africa won the Africa Cup of Nations on their first appearance in the tournament in 1996, when they also hosted the event. After finishing second and third in the subsequent two tournaments, South Africa then had to wait over 20 years before they progressed beyond the quarter-finals again, when they finished third in AFCON 2023.
In their AFCON qualifying group, Bafana Bafana finished top with four wins and two draws from their six matches. They were the joint second-highest scorers across all the groups with 16 goals.
South Africa were also successful in their World Cup qualifying group. They topped their group, finishing one point ahead of Nigeria and Benin. It should have been a more comfortable success, but the South Africans lost three points when a 2-0 win over Lesotho was reversed to a 3-0 loss, after they fielded an ineligible player in that match.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for South Africa: Lyle Foster (Burnley), Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Prediction: The vast majority of the South African squad play their football in the South African Premier League. They may struggle against oppositions with players who compete at a higher level of football.
Rating: 5/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Angola 🇦🇴
Angola have qualified for the AFCON finals nine times previously but are yet to progress beyond the quarter-final stage. In the last tournament, they were defeated 1-0 by Nigeria in the quarter-finals in a tight match.
The Angolans finished top of their AFCON qualifying group with four wins and two draws from their six matches, whilst Ghana, who would have been favourites to win the group, were eliminated without winning a single match.
However, Angola could only finish fourth in a disappointing effort in their World Cup qualifying group. They proved hard to beat, losing just two of their 10 matches, but six drawn games meant they finished some distance off the top place.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Angola: David Carmo (Real Oviedo), M’Bala Nzola (Pisa), Mabululu (Al Ahli SC), Zito Luvumbo (Cagliari), Felício Milson (Crvena Zvezda), Fredy (Bodrum), Bastos (Botafogo), Depú (Radomiak Radom).
Prediction: The Sable Antelopes could be a surprise package in this tournament. With several players playing in Europe, they could cause some upsets.
Rating: 5/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Burkina Faso 🇧🇫
Burkina Faso finished runners-up in this tournament in 2013, losing the final to Nigeria by a solitary goal. Les Étalons have been losing semi-finalists twice since then.
Burkina Faso qualified in second place in their group, finishing six points behind group winners Senegal, but also six points ahead of the bottom two sides.
In not making the play-off round for the 2026 World Cup, Burkina Faso will feel hard done by. They finished in second place in the group, behind Egypt, and collected four more points than Nigeria. However, due to the withdrawal of Eritrea from another group, results against the sixth-placed sides were discounted for the play-off standings. Nigeria had drawn both games against bottom-placed Zimbabwe, so ended up ahead of Burkina Faso with a better goal difference of one.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Burkina Faso: Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), Dango Ouattara (Brentford), Bertrand Traoré (Sunderland), Nasser Djiga (Rangers), Issa Kaboré (Wrexham).
Prediction: A lot will rest on the shoulders of star defender Edmond Tapsoba, who played a big part in Bayer Leverkusen’s record-breaking season in the Bundesliga in 2023/24. Potential semi-finalists.
Rating: 6/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Zambia 🇿🇲
Zambia were the surprise champions of this tournament in 2012, when they defeated Côte d’Ivoireon penalties in the final after the match ended 0-0. However, Zambia have only qualified three times in the six tournaments since then, and were eliminated in the group stage on each of those occasions.
They topped their qualifying group for this year’s tournament when they again got the better of Côte d’Ivoire, who finished a point behind them in second place.
However, Zambia finished in a remote fourth place in their unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Zambia: Lameck Banda (Lecce), Kings Kangwa (Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Patson Daka (Leicester City), Fashion Sakala (Al-Fayha).
Prediction: Despite winning their qualifying group, Zambia’s recent record in this competition suggests they are unlikely to feature in the latter stages.
Rating: 4/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶
Equatorial Guinea have only taken part in AFCON four times previously, with a best finish of fourth place in 2015. However, in the 2023 tournament, they qualified for the knockout stages after winning a group that included both of the eventual finalists—Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria. They defeated Côte d’Ivoire4-0 in that group in a memorable win.
In securing their place for this tournament, Equatorial Guinea finished second in their qualifying group and a full eight points behind group winners Algeria.
In their World Cup qualifying group, Equatorial Guinea could only finish in fifth place out of the six teams. However, that placing is deceptive, as two 1-0 victories were cancelled and changed to 3-0 defeats following the fielding of an ineligible player. Additionally, another match was forfeited when the Equatorial Guinea players refused to travel to a qualifying game in Malawi.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Equatorial Guinea: Saúl Coco (Torino), Santiago Eneme (Sparta Prague), Jesús Owono (Andorra), Iban Salvador (Wisła Płock).
Prediction: Although we saw that Equatorial Guinea can be a match for any team on their day in AFCON 2023, they are unlikely to progress deep into this tournament.
Rating: 4/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Comoros 🇰🇲
Comoros took part in this competition for the first time in 2018 and qualified for the finals for the only time in 2021. In their brief footballing history, Comoros have since made the semi-finals of the COSAFA Cup in 2024.
The Coelacanths topped their qualifying group to reach these finals, having won three and drawn three of their six matches, and they finished two points ahead of Tunisia in doing so.
However, Comoros were unable to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and finished in fourth place in their group. Four of their five wins in that group came from home and away matches against the bottom two sides.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Comoros: Zaydou Youssouf (Al-Fateh), Myziane Maolida (Al-Kholood), Warmed Omari (Hamburger), Faïz Selemani (Qatar SC), Youssouf M’Changama (Troyes), Rafiki Saïd (Standard Liège).
Prediction: The majority of the Comoros squad ply their trade in the lower French leagues. This will be a step up for most of their squad, but they are capable of causing a shock result.
Rating: 5/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tanzania 🇹🇿
Tanzania have only qualified for the AFCON finals three times previously, and on each occasion they have exited at the group stage without winning a match. During qualification for this tournament, they finished second in their group and eliminated the more-fancied Guinea team, whom they beat home and away.
The Taifa Stars will be hoping to make an impact in this tournament, as they will automatically qualify for AFCON 2027 as one of the co-hosts.
Tanzania could only finish in third place out of the five teams in their World Cup qualifying group, despite being awarded a 3-0 victory when their match against Congo was cancelled. They only scored three goals in their seven matches, and none at all in their three home matches.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Tanzania: Mbwana Samatta (Le Havre), Novatus Miroshi (Göztepe), Simon Msuva (Al-Talaba).
Prediction: Many of the Tanzania squad play in their home country, and their lack of depth is highlighted by the fact four of their recent call-ups play for English non-league sides. They’re unlikely to progress beyond what will be a tough group stage.
Rating: 3/10. ⭐⭐⭐
Gabon 🇬🇦
Gabon have qualified eight times previously for the AFCON finals but are yet to progress beyond the quarter-finals. They qualified in second place in their qualifying group for these finals—eight points behind a strong Morocco side.
To highlight the difference between those sides, Morocco defeated Gabon 4-1 at home and 5-1 in the away tie. One interesting statistic is that, in their previous two AFCON finals appearances, Gabon did not lose a match in regulation time (one win and six draws), but they also did not progress beyond the round of 16 in either tournament.
Gabon just came up short in their attempt at an automatic 2026 World Cup place, finishing one point behind the Côte d’Ivoirein their group. They won eight of their 10 matches, with their solitary loss being a 1-0 away defeat to the group winners, and they will now take their chances in the play-off round.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Gabon: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille), Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC), Mario Lemina (Galatasaray), Shavy Babicka (Crvena zvezda), David Sambissa (İstanbulspor).
Prediction: The heavy defeats to Morocco in qualifying suggest Gabon may be some way behind the favourites, but in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, they do have a potential matchwinner at any level.
Rating: 5/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mozambique 🇲🇿
In the last five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments for which Mozambique have qualified, they have failed to win a match and have not progressed beyond the group stage on any occasion. AFCON 2025 will only be the third time they have qualified for the finals in the last 15 tournaments.
The Mambas qualified for this tournament with ease, finishing second to Mali in their group but a full six points ahead of third-placed Guinea-Bissau.
Despite failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Mozambique put up a reasonable effort in their qualifying group when they finished in third place on 18 points and seven points behind the winners, Algeria.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Mozambique: Geny Catamo (Sporting Lisboa), Reinildo Mandava (Sunderland), Bruno Langa (Pafos).
Prediction: Mozambique could progress to the round-of-16 stage for the first time in their history, but that may be as far as they get. However, they have been drawn in a tough group, which will hinder their chances of progressing.
Rating: 4/10. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Uganda 🇺🇬
Uganda finished runners-up in this tournament back in 1978, but then had to wait 39 years until they reached the AFCON finals again. They exited at the group stage in 2017 before reaching the round of 16 two years later.
They qualified for this year’s tournament with room to spare, finishing second in their group behind South Africa. The team in third place, Congo, finished nine points behind Uganda.
The Cranes finished in second place in their World Cup qualifying group, ahead of Mozambique on goal difference, but failed to claim one of the play-off places.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Uganda: Aziz Kayondo (Slovan Liberec), Denis Omedi (APR FC), Khalid Aucho (Young Africans), Travis Mutyaba (CS Sfaxien).
Prediction: The Cranes may have been flattered by qualifying so easily, as their group was quite weak. They’re unlikely to make any headway in these finals.
Rating: 3/10. ⭐⭐⭐
Benin 🇧🇯
This will be Benin’s fifth appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations finals, with their best finish so far being a quarter-final place in 2019. However, they have still not won a game in any of their appearances in the finals. The quarter-final place was achieved following three draws in the group stage, followed by a victory on penalties after a draw in 120 minutes of play against Morocco in the round of 16.
Benin qualified for these finals after taking second place in their group by virtue of a better head-to-head goal difference than Rwanda, with whom they shared eight points.
Benin put up a good fight in their World Cup qualifying group, remaining in contention for the top place until the final matchday. However, a 4-0 loss away to Nigeria saw the Cheetahs drop to third place in the final standings.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Benin: Andréas Hountondji (St. Pauli), Steve Mounié (Augsburg), David Kiki (FCSB), Hassane Imourane (Grasshopper).
Prediction: It will be a good achievement if the Cheetahs can progress beyond the group stage.
Rating: 2/10. ⭐⭐
Zimbabwe 🇿🇼
In their five previous appearances in the AFCON finals, Zimbabwe are yet to progress beyond the group stage. In the last tournament, they were suspended by FIFA and not permitted to take part.
The Warriors qualified in second place in their group for this tournament, losing just one of their six matches. However, they scored just six goals across those six matches, with four of those coming in the two matches against bottom-placed Namibia.
Goals were also hard to come by for Zimbabwe as they finished bottom of their World Cup qualifying group, having scored just five times across five draws and five defeats. The only positive for Zimbabwe was that they held Nigeria to 1-1 draws in both their home and away meetings.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Zimbabwe: Marshall Munetsi (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Jordan Zemura (Udinese), Tawanda Chirewa (Huddersfield Town), Tino Kadewere (Aris Thessaloniki), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell).
Prediction: A lack of firepower is likely to hinder Zimbabwe’s progress in this tournament.
Rating: 3/10. ⭐⭐⭐
Sudan 🇸🇩
Although Sudan have one title and two runners-up finishes to their name in AFCON finals, the last of these was 55 years ago. It was a very different tournament in those early competitions, with only three teams taking part in the two times Sudan finished second.
Since winning the trophy in 1970, the Falcons of Jediane have found it tough going. They have only qualified five times and have progressed beyond the group stage just once. In qualifying for this year’s tournament, Sudan finished second in their group and finished five points ahead of the highly fancied Ghana.
The Sudanese also held highly-fancied Senegal to a goalless draw in a World Cup qualifying match in March and, despite not qualifying for the World Cup, Sudan were unbeaten in their qualifying group home matches (W1, D4).
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Sudan: Mohamed Abdelrahman (Al-Hilal SC), Seif Teiri (Al-Nasr Benghazi), Mohamed Eisa (Nassaji).
Prediction: Sudan will struggle to make any impression in this tournament, and another group stage exit looks on the cards.
Rating: 2/10. ⭐⭐
Botswana 🇧🇼
Botswana have previously qualified for the finals once before, in 2012. In that tournament, they made an early exit after losing all three group matches.
The Zebras qualified for AFCON 2025 despite losing their opening two group matches. They collected eight points from their remaining four matches—a sequence which included a 1-1 draw away to Egypt in their final match. However, it should be noted Egypt had already qualified from what was a weak-looking group by that stage.
Botswana struggled in their World Cup qualifying group, finishing in fifth place out of the six teams. Two of their three victories were achieved against the side who finished bottom, Somalia.
Amongst the notable players that are likely to feature for Botswana: Tumisang Orebonye (Al-Ittihad SC), Gape Mohutsiwa (MC Oran).
Prediction: On paper, Botswana look to be the weakest team in the finals. With the majority of their squad playing in the domestic Botswana league, it is hard to see them progressing from their group.
Rating: 2/10. ⭐⭐
Africa Cup of Nations winners
This table shows the tournament record of the 24 teams competing in AFCON 2025.
| Nation | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Times in Finals | Most recent win | Most recent runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 2010 | 2021 |
| Cameroon | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 2017 | 2008 |
| Nigeria | 3 | 5 | 8 | – | 20 | 2013 | 2023 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 2023 | 2012 |
| Algeria | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 2019 | 1980 |
| DR Congo | 2 | – | 2 | 2 | 20 | 1974 | – |
| Zambia | 1 | 2 | 3 | – | 18 | 2012 | 1994 |
| Sudan | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 9 | 1970 | 1963 |
| Tunisia | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 2004 | 1996 |
| Senegal | 1 | 2 | – | 3 | 17 | 2021 | 2019 |
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 11 | 1996 | 1998 |
| Morocco | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 1976 | 2004 |
| Mali | – | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 | – | 1972 |
| Burkina Faso | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | – | 2013 |
| Uganda | – | 1 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 1978 |
| Equatorial Guinea | – | – | – | 1 | 4 | – | – |
| Angola | – | – | – | – | 9 | – | – |
| Gabon | – | – | – | – | 8 | – | – |
| Mozambique | – | – | – | – | 5 | – | – |
| Zimbabwe | – | – | – | – | 5 | – | – |
| Benin | – | – | – | – | 4 | – | – |
| Tanzania | – | – | – | – | 4 | – | – |
| Botswana | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – |
| Comoros | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – |
AFCON 2025 group stage
The draw for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 group stage was held at 18:00 GMT on 27th January 2025 in Rabat, Morocco.
The composition of the six groups for AFCON 2025 is listed below.
Group A
- 🇲🇦 Morocco
- 🇲🇱 Mali
- 🇿🇲 Zambia
- 🇰🇲 Comoros
Group A match schedule
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 21st December 2025 | Morocco vs Comoros |
| 22nd December 2025 | Mali vs Zambia |
| 26th December 2025 | Morocco vs Mali |
| 26th December 2025 | Zambia vs Comoros |
| 29th December 2025 | Zambia vs Morocco |
| 29th December 2025 | Comoros vs Mali |
Group B
- 🇪🇬 Egypt
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- 🇦🇴 Angola
- 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Group B match schedule
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 22nd December 2025 | Egypt vs Zimbabwe |
| 22nd December 2025 | South Africa vs Angola |
| 26th December 2025 | Egypt vs South Africa |
| 26th December 2025 | Angola vs Zimbabwe |
| 29th December 2025 | Angola vs Egypt |
| 29th December 2025 | Zimbabwe vs South Africa |
Group C
- 🇳🇬 Nigeria
- 🇹🇳 Tunisia
- 🇺🇬 Uganda
- 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Group C match schedule
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 23rd December 2025 | Nigeria vs Tanzania |
| 23rd December 2025 | Tunisia vs Uganda |
| 27th December 2025 | Nigeria vs Tunisia |
| 27th December 2025 | Uganda vs Tanzania |
| 30th December 2025 | Uganda vs Nigeria |
| 30th December 2025 | Tanzania vs Tunisia |
Group D
- 🇸🇳 Senegal
- 🇨🇩 DR Congo
- 🇧🇯 Benin
- 🇧🇼 Botswana
Group D match schedule
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 23rd December 2025 | Senegal vs Botswana |
| 23rd December 2025 | DR Congo vs Benin |
| 27th December 2025 | Senegal vs DR Congo |
| 27th December 2025 | Benin vs Botswana |
| 30th December 2025 | Benin vs Senegal |
| 30th December 2025 | Botswana vs DR Congo |
Group E
- 🇩🇿 Algeria
- 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
- 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea
- 🇸🇩 Sudan
Group E match schedule
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 24th December 2025 | Algeria vs Sudan |
| 24th December 2025 | Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea |
| 28th December 2025 | Algeria vs Burkina Faso |
| 28th December 2025 | Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan |
| 31st December 2025 | Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria |
| 31st December 2025 | Sudan vs Burkina Faso |
Group F
- 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire
- 🇨🇲 Cameroon
- 🇬🇦 Gabon
- 🇲🇿 Mozambique
Group F match schedule
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 24th December 2025 | Côte d’Ivoire vs Mozambique |
| 24th December 2025 | Cameroon vs Gabon |
| 28th December 2025 | Côte d’Ivoire vs Cameroon |
| 28th December 2025 | Gabon vs Mozambique |
| 31st December 2025 | Gabon vs Côte d’Ivoire |
| 31st December 2025 | Mozambique vs Cameroon |
Africa Cup of Nations 2025: latest betting odds
The latest odds to win the tournament outright are as follows:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Morocco | 3.78 |
| Egypt | 7.00 |
| Algeria | 7.10 |
| Senegal | 7.60 |
| Nigeria | 11.00 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 13.00 |
| Mali | 13.00 |
| Tunisia | 13.00 |
| Cameroon | 19.25 |
| South Africa | 41.00 |
| DR Congo | 51.00 |
| Angola | 69.00 |
| Burkina Faso | 83.00 |
| Zambia | 83.00 |
| Gabon | 83.00 |
| Benin | 101.00 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 101.00 |
| Sudan | 101.00 |
| Mozambique | 106.00 |
| Comoros | 165.00 |
| Tanzania | 165.00 |
| Uganda | 215.00 |
| Zimbabwe | 426.00 |
| Botswana | 751.00 |
How did the 24 teams qualify for AFCON 2025?
There were 12 qualifying groups, with four teams in each. The top two teams in each group qualified directly for the finals. Here are the final standings in each of those qualifying groups.
Qualifying Group A
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Comoros | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 12 |
| 2 | Tunisia | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 10 |
| 3 | Gambia | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| 4 | Madagascar | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 2 |
Qualifying Group B
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | +24 | 18 |
| 2 | Gabon | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 10 |
| 3 | Lesotho | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 13 | -11 | 4 |
| 4 | Central African Republic | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 14 | -11 | 3 |
Qualifying Group C
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 2 | +10 | 14 |
| 2 | Botswana | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 8 |
| 3 | Mauritania | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 7 |
| 4 | Cabo Verde | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 4 |
Qualifying Group D
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | 6 | 3* | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 11 |
| 2 | Benin | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 |
| 3 | Rwanda | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 8 |
| 4 | Libya | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 5 |
Qualifying Group E
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Algeria | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 | +14 | 16 |
| 2 | Equatorial Guinea | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 8 |
| 3 | Togo | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 5 |
| 4 | Liberia | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 12 | -8 | 4 |
Qualifying Group F
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angola | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 14 |
| 2 | Sudan | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 8 |
| 3 | Niger | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 7 |
| 4 | Ghana | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 3 |
Qualifying Group G
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zambia | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 13 |
| 2 | Côte d’Ivoire | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 12 |
| 3 | Sierra Leone | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | -5 | 5 |
| 4 | Chad | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 3 |
Qualifying Group H
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DR Congo | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 12 |
| 2 | Tanzania | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 10 |
| 3 | Guinea | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 9 |
| 4 | Ethiopia | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 12 | -9 | 4 |
Qualifying Group I
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mali | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | +9 | 14 |
| 2 | Mozambique | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 11 |
| 3 | Guinea-Bissau | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 5 |
| 4 | Eswatini | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 13 | -11 | 2 |
Qualifying Group J
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameroon | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 14 |
| 2 | Zimbabwe | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 9 |
| 3 | Kenya | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 6 |
| 4 | Namibia | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 2 |
Qualifying Group K
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 5 | +11 | 14 |
| 2 | Uganda | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 13 |
| 3 | Congo | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 12 | -8 | 4 |
| 4 | South Sudan | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 12 | -6 | 3 |
Qualifying Group L
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senegal | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | +9 | 16 |
| 2 | Burkina Faso | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 10 |
| 3 | Burundi | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 4 |
| 4 | Malawi | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 4 |
Key: Pl = Played, W = won, D = drawn, L = lost, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, GD = Goal difference, Pts = Points
Top scorers in the qualifying groups
| Goals Scored | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Brahim Diaz | Morocco |
| 6 | Serhou Guirassy | Guinea |
| 4 | Amine Gouiri | Algeria |
| 3 | Jean-Philippe Krasso | Côte d’Ivoire |
| 3 | Youssef En-Nesyri | Morocco |
| 3 | Sadio Mané | Senegal |
| 3 | Soufiane Rahimi | Morocco |
| 3 | Trézéguet | Egypt |
Last 10 Africa Cup of Nations finals
Recent finals have all been close affairs. None of the previous 10 finals have been decided by more than one goal, and eight of those finals featured one or fewer goals.
| Year | Host Country | Winners | Runners-Up | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Egypt | Egypt | Côte d’Ivoire | 0-0* |
| 2008 | Ghana | Egypt | Cameroon | 1-0 |
| 2010 | Angola | Egypt | Ghana | 1-0 |
| 2012 | Gabon | Zambia | Côte d’Ivoire | 0-0** |
| 2013 | South Africa | Nigeria | Burkina Faso | 1-0 |
| 2015 | Equatorial Guinea | Côte d’Ivoire | Ghana | 0-0*** |
| 2017 | Gabon | Cameroon | Egypt | 2-1 |
| 2019 | Egypt | Algeria | Senegal | 1-0 |
| 2021 | Cameroon | Senegal | Egypt | 0-0**** |
| 2023 | Ivory Coast | Côte d’Ivoire | Nigeria | 2-1 |
Top scorers in AFCON final tournaments
| Goals Scored | Player | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Samuel Eto’o | Cameroon |
| 14 | Laurent Pokou | Côte d’Ivoire |
| 13 | Rashidi Yekini | Nigeria |
| 12 | Hassan El-Shazly | Egypt |
| 11 | Patrick Mboma | Cameroon |
| 11 | Hossam Hassan | Egypt |
| 11 | Didier Drogba | Côte d’Ivoire |
| 10 | Ndaye Mulamba | DR Congo |
| 10 | Francileudo Santos | Tunisia |
| 10 | Joel Tiéhi | Côte d’Ivoire |
| 10 | Mengistu Worku | Ethiopia |
| 10 | Kalusha Bwalya | Zambia |
| 10 | André Ayew | Ghana |
| 9 | Manucho | Angola |
| 9 | Vincent Aboubakar | Cameroon |
| 9 | Sadio Mané | Senegal |
| 9 | Abdoulaye Traoré | Côte d’Ivoire |
Africa Cup of Nations stadiums
Nine venues will host matches during AFCON 2025, with the final held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
- Adrar Stadium, Agadir
- Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
- Fez Stadium, Fez
- Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh
- Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
- Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat
- Al Barid Stadium, Rabat
- Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat
- Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier
Africa Cup of Nations FAQs
When will the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations take place?
The opening match is on the 21st of December 2025, with the final taking place on 18th January 2026.
Where will the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations be held?
The tournament will be held in Morocco. This is the first time they have hosted the event since 1988.
How many countries will compete in AFCON 2025?
24 teams will compete in the final tournament.
Where will the AFCON 2025 final be played?
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final will be played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The stadium is the home ground of FAR Rabat, who compete in the Botola, the top-tier of Moroccan football.
How many venues will host 2025 AFCON matches?
There will be nine different venues used throughout the tournament.
Where was the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held?
The 2023 AFCON tournament was held in Côte d’Ivoire. The hosts won that tournament, defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final.
Which nations have the most AFCON titles?
Egypt have been the most successful nation with seven titles, followed by Cameroon (5), Ghana (4), Nigeria (3), Côte d’Ivoire (3), Algeria (2) and DR Congo (2). Eight nations have won the title once.
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