AFCON 2025 Final Draw Concluded in Rabat

The final draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 was held on Monday, 27 January, at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat. The star-studded event revealed the paths for the 24 qualified teams as they gear up for Africa’s most prestigious football tournament, scheduled to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.

The tournament will take place across six Moroccan host cities and nine stadiums, marking Morocco’s first time hosting AFCON since 1988.

Groups Revealed

The draw placed the 24 teams into six groups, each consisting of four nations, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting and competitive tournament:

• Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
• Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
• Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
• Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
• Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
• Group F: Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique

Key Storylines

• Group A: Hosts Morocco headline the group and face a challenging pool with Mali, Zambia, and Comoros. Morocco will be looking to capitalize on home advantage to launch a successful title bid.
• Group B: Record seven-time champions Egypt lead the group and will clash with Southern African nations South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe. South Africa, last year’s bronze medalists, could pose a serious threat.
• Group C: Nigeria faces a tough group with Tunisia and East African co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON, Uganda and Tanzania. The Super Eagles, three-time winners, will aim to make a strong start.
• Group D: Defending champions Senegal, led by their world-class stars, face DR Congo, Benin, and Botswana in a group that appears manageable for the Lions of Teranga.
• Group E: Algeria, the 2019 winners, take on Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan in a competitive but balanced group.
• Group F: Cote d’Ivoire, defending champions and two-time winners, are drawn in a "group of death" with five-time winners Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique.

Tournament Format

The top two teams in each group will advance to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed teams, ensuring plenty of drama in the group stages as teams fight for qualification.

African Legends Assist the Draw

The ceremony was broadcast in over 90 countries and featured African football icons Serge Aurier, Aliou Cissé, Joseph Yobo, and Mustapha Hadji, who lent their expertise to conduct the draw.

Excitement Builds for AFCON 2025

With Morocco set to host for the first time in nearly four decades, anticipation is high for the tournament. The North African nation promises a vibrant atmosphere and top-class facilities to welcome the continent’s best players and teams.

The countdown to December 2025 begins, as fans across the continent and beyond eagerly await the drama, passion, and excitement of AFCON.