The draw for the highly anticipated TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 has been concluded, setting the stage for a thrilling tournament in Morocco. The prestigious ceremony took place at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat on Monday, January 27, bringing together African football legends and officials to unveil the tournament’s group stage matchups.
This edition of AFCON promises to be a spectacle, as 24 of Africa’s finest teams vie for the continent’s most prestigious football trophy. Morocco, hosting the tournament for the first time since 1988, will showcase its top-tier infrastructure across six cities and nine state-of-the-art stadiums, ensuring a world-class footballing experience. The competition will run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, a period during which African football will take center stage on the global sports calendar.
The Group Stage Draw
The draw has set the path for teams to navigate their way toward the title, with six groups each consisting of four nations. A breakdown of the groups is as follows:
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
Host nation Morocco headlines Group A, where they face tough opposition from Mali, Zambia, and Comoros in what is expected to be a fiercely contested pool. Defending champions Cote d’Ivoire, aiming for back-to-back titles, have been drawn in Group F, where they will battle old rivals Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique.
Record seven-time champions Egypt will navigate a challenging Group B alongside 2023 bronze medalists South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Nigeria faces a mix of North and East African competition in Group C, which includes Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Elsewhere, 2021 champions Senegal headline Group D against DR Congo, Benin, and Botswana, while 2019 winners Algeria will contest Group E against Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan.
The Road to Glory
The tournament format remains consistent with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stages, accompanied by the four best third-placed teams. This structure ensures a highly competitive battle throughout the group stage, with opportunities for surprises and underdog triumphs.
With Morocco’s advanced footballing facilities, strategic tournament organization, and a deep passion for the sport, AFCON 2025 is set to be a grand spectacle, bringing together millions of fans both on the continent and across the globe. The draw ceremony, broadcast in over 90 countries, was graced by African football legends Serge Aurier, Aliou Cissé, Joseph Yobo, and Mustapha Hadji, adding to the prestige of the occasion.
As the countdown to kick-off begins, Africa’s finest footballing talents prepare to showcase their skills on the grandest stage. With electrifying matchups and fierce rivalries set to unfold, AFCON 2025 is poised to deliver unforgettable moments, reaffirming Africa’s status as a powerhouse of world football.
For more updates on the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, visit www.cafonline.com.
