The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the final draw for the highly anticipated 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
On Monday night in Rabat, 24 nations discovered their group-stage opponents for Africa’s premier men’s football tournament. A total of 52 CAF member nations participated in the qualifiers, with only two failing to progress.
After a preliminary round, 48 teams were grouped into 12 groups of four, competing in home-and-away fixtures across six matchdays. The top two teams from each group secured their spots in the tournament.
The 2025 AFCON will take place across six cities over four weeks, with only one nation set to claim the title of champions of Africa. Below is a breakdown of the tournament details and the full group-stage draw:
2025 AFCON Group Stage Draw
- Group A: Morocco (hosts), 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: Ivory Coast (holders), Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
Tournament Format and Schedule
The tournament kicks off on December 21, 2025, with group-stage matches running until December 31, excluding Christmas Day. The knockout stages will follow this schedule:
- Round of 16: January 3–6, 2026
- Quarter-finals: January 9–10, 2026
- Semi-finals: January 14, 2026
- Third-Place Playoff: January 17, 2026
- Final: January 18, 2026
The stage is set for an electrifying competition as Africa’s best teams compete for continental glory.