The stage is set for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations AFCON 2025 qualifiers draw, taking place on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:
Participating Teams:
A total of 48 African nations will battle it out for a spot in the prestigious tournament. Teams will be divided into four pots based on the latest FIFA Rankings released on June 20th, 2024.
The Draw Process:
The draw will create 12 groups (A-L) of four teams each. Teams will be drawn from each pot, one by one, until all groups are filled.
Qualification Scenarios:
The top two teams from each group (excluding the group containing host Morocco) will qualify for the main tournament.
In the group with Morocco (who automatically qualifies as host):
- If Morocco finishes first, the second-placed team also qualifies.
- If Morocco finishes second, the first-placed team qualifies.
- If Morocco finishes third or fourth, the first-placed team qualifies.
Key Dates:
AFCON 2025 Qualifiers Draw: July 4th, 2024 (12:30 GMT)
Qualifiers Start: September 2024 (exact dates to be confirmed)
Main Tournament: The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Morocco from December 21st, 2025, to January 18th, 2026.
Who’s the Favourite?
The top-ranked teams in Pot 1 (Ivory coast, Nigeria, Senegal and Egypt) will undoubtedly be contenders. However, with the exciting group format and qualification scenarios, any team can pull off an upset and secure their place in Morocco.
Pots for the Draw:
POT 1: Morocco (Host), Senegal, Egypt, Ivory coast, Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, Cameroon, Mali, South Africa, DR Congo, Ghana
POT 2: Cape Verde, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Zambia, Benin, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Mozambique, Madagascar
POT 3: Kenya, Mauritania, Congo, Tanzania, Guinea Bissau, Libya, Comoros, Togo, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Central Africa Republic
POT 4: Niger, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Burundi, The Gambia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, South Sudan, Chad
The AFCON 2025 Qualifiers draw ceremony marks the beginning of the road to 2025 African Cup of Nations. Get ready for some thrilling qualifiers as African nations vie for a chance to be crowned champions.