The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations came to an end over the weekend, with Senegal edging past hosts Morocco 1-0 in a tightly contested final to lift the coveted continental trophy.
The triumph crowned a memorable tournament in North Africa, marked by high-quality football, passionate support, and dramatic moments that once again highlighted the depth of talent across the continent.
While much of the spotlight inevitably fell on the two finalists, the AFCON 2025 tournament featured a total of 24 nations that successfully navigated the qualification process to earn their place on Africa’s biggest football stage.
These teams represented all regions of the continent, reflecting both established footballing powers and emerging nations continuing to make steady progress at the international level.
As hosts, Morocco gained automatic qualification and went on to justify their status with an impressive run to the final. Senegal, who ultimately claimed the title, were joined by fellow heavyweights such as Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, Cameroon, Algeria, and Côte d’Ivoire, all of whom brought pedigree, experience, and strong tournament expectations into the competition. South Africa, Mali, Zambia, and Burkina Faso also featured prominently, reinforcing their consistent presence in recent AFCON editions.
Beyond the traditional giants, several nations underlined the growing competitiveness of African football. DR Congo, Angola, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Zimbabwe secured qualification through determined qualifying campaigns, while Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, and Mozambique represented East and Southern Africa with renewed ambition. Comoros and Botswana also earned their places, highlighting the increasing balance within the continent’s football landscape, alongside Benin, whose return added further diversity to the tournament lineup.
In total, the countries that qualified for AFCON 2025 were Morocco, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Algeria, DR Congo, Senegal, Egypt, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, South Africa, Gabon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Zambia, Mali, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Sudan, Benin, Tanzania, Botswana, and Mozambique.
Together, these nations delivered a tournament that lived up to AFCON’s reputation for intensity, unpredictability, and unforgettable football moments, even as Senegal ultimately emerged as champions.
