The Confederation of African Football (CAF) held the draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifiers in Johannesburg on Thursday, setting the stage for an exciting journey to Africa’s premier football tournament.
Forty-eight nations will vie for a spot in the 35th edition of the biennial championship, aiming to dethrone current title holders Côte d’Ivoire.
The draw ceremony was conducted with the assistance of two notable football figures: Emerse Fae, the current coach of defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, and Marouane Chamakh, the Moroccan football legend, who were the Guest of honours for the event.
Fae, fresh from leading Côte d’Ivoire to victory earlier this year, saw his team placed in Group G alongside former champions Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Chad. The Elephants will be aiming to defend their title, which they clinched with a 2-1 win over Nigeria in Abidjan.
Morocco, represented in the draw by Chamakh, is placed in Group B with Gabon, Central African Republic, and Lesotho. As hosts, the Atlas Lions are assured of their place in the finals but will participate in the qualifying matches nonetheless.
The qualification process will unfold between September and November 2024, with the top two teams from each of the eleven groups not containing Morocco securing their place in the finals. This structure ensures a competitive qualifying campaign across the continent.
Notable group placements include Egypt in Group C with Cape Verde, Mauritania, and Botswana, while Nigeria will face Benin, Libya, and Rwanda in Group D. Senegal headlines Group L, which also features Burkina Faso, Malawi, and Burundi.
One of the most intriguing storylines to emerge from the draw involves Group F, where Ghana has been paired with Sudan, Angola, and Niger. This group presents a unique narrative as Sudan’s national team is currently coached by Ghana’s own Kwesi Appiah, setting the stage for an emotionally charged encounter.
The 2025 AFCON is scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, promising three weeks of top-tier African football. As teams begin their preparations, football fans across the continent eagerly await the kick-off of what promises to be a thrilling qualification campaign, with intriguing matchups across all groups.
Groups:
Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco, Gabon,Central Africa Republic, Lesotho
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin Libya, Rwanda
Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger
Group G: Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi
