The AFCON 2025 groupings have all been confirmed following the conclusion of the draw ceremony held in Rabat, Morocco on Monday night, 27 January 2025.
Our Legend @jyobo234 stepping at the Afcon 2025 Draw in Rabat #SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/l4i54Pf07Z
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) January 27, 2025
Ahead of the tournament, Ivory Coast are the reigning champions. The Elephants will be eager to defend their crown and extend their good record on the continental showpiece.
However, standing in their way are other African football powerhouses like Egypt, Nigerian – who finished as runners-up in the last event – Senegal, Morocco, Algeria and Cameroon.
Each of these teams have the chance to reign supreme as the action gets underway later this year.
AFCON 2025: Number of teams drawn and format of the competition
There are 24 nations that will participate in the Morocco football fiesta. These teams have been drawn into six groups of four where they will play a round-robin format of three matches in the group stages to determine who goes through.
The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the knockout stages, while the third-placed teams will battle it out for the remaining spots.
Granted, six teams will finish third depending on how well they fared on points and goals. However, four will be fortunate enough to make it into the round of 16 when it is all said and done.
The ensuing knockout stages will see the 16 teams sending each other home until two are left to partake in the final which will take place on 18 January 2026.
The complete AFCON 2025 draw 🌍 pic.twitter.com/92YKrLKlSw
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 27, 2025
AFCON 2025 group pairings in full
Below are the drawn groups gotten from the 24 contesting nations that will be going for the ultimate prize in Morocco later this year.
Group A teams
- Morocco
- Mali
- Zambia
- Comoros
Group B teams
- Egypt
- South Africa
- Angola
- Zimbabwe
Group C teams
- Nigeria
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Tanzania
Group D teams
- Senegal
- DR Congo
- Benin
- Botswana
Group E teams
- Algeria
- Burkina Faso
- Equatorial Guinea
- Sudan
Group F teams
- Ivory Coast
- Cameroon
- Gabon
- Mozambique
AFCON 2025 opening game
The curtain raiser for the AFCON 2025 will see Morocco tackle Comoros on 21 December 2025 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
