As Africa’s qualifying rounds reach their final stages, the lineup of 24 teams set to compete in the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco is nearly complete.
The decisive fifth and sixth rounds, scheduled from Wednesday to next Tuesday, will determine the last of the qualified teams, concluding the journey for the 52 nations initially competing for a coveted spot in the continent’s premier football tournament.
Already, seven teams, alongside Morocco as the host nation, have secured their spots in the 35th edition of the tournament, which will be held from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
The top two teams from each of the 12 qualifying groups will earn a place in the finals, per tournament regulations.
Among the teams confirmed are Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, and Senegal, who will join Morocco in what promises to be a fiercely contested championship.
In Group A, former champions Tunisia are currently leading with seven points, just ahead of Comoros, Gambia, and Madagascar.
Tunisia will play Madagascar next, while Gambia faces Comoros, with final matches set to pit Tunisia against Gambia and Comoros against Madagascar.
In Group B, Morocco has already qualified after a perfect four-game winning streak.
Gabon and the Central African Republic are now vying for the second spot.
Morocco’s next match will be against Gabon, with other group games featuring Central Africa against Lesotho.
Egypt leads Group C with a flawless record, having secured its qualification.
Botswana, Cape Verde, and Mauritania are in a tight race for the second slot.
Egypt will face Cape Verde next, followed by Botswana, while Mauritania hosts Botswana in a crucial match.
Nigeria tops Group D with 10 points, yet no team has officially qualified. Nigeria will face Benin in a critical upcoming game, with other key matches including Rwanda against Libya.
In Group E, Algeria leads with four consecutive wins, securing its qualification.
Equatorial Guinea, Togo, and Liberia are in contention for the remaining spot, with upcoming matches including Algeria against Equatorial Guinea.
Angola has secured Group F with a surprise 12 points, while Sudan and Ghana battle for second place.
In the upcoming rounds, Angola faces Ghana, while Sudan takes on Niger.
In Group G, reigning champions Côte d’Ivoire lead with nine points, closely followed by Zambia.
Key matches will feature Côte d’Ivoire against Zambia and Sierra Leone against Chad.
Group H sees DR Congo leading and qualified, while Guinea, Tanzania, and Ethiopia still compete for second place.
Upcoming games include Congo against Guinea and Ethiopia against Tanzania.
Mozambique and Mali lead Group I and are strong contenders for the two qualification spots.
Mozambique’s clash with Mali could determine both teams’ fates.
Group J sees Cameroon at the top, with Zimbabwe close behind.
They face Namibia and Kenya in the upcoming rounds as the group’s two qualification spots are finalized.
In Group K, Uganda and South Africa lead with strong showings, and both are close to qualification.
South Africa will play Uganda in a decisive match, while Congo also remains in contention.
Lastly, Group L has been settled, with Burkina Faso and Senegal securing their qualification.
The final rounds will confirm the group leader, as Burkina Faso faces Senegal.
As these high-stakes matches approach, African football fans eagerly await the full roster of teams who will compete for the title in Morocco.
The final games promise intense showdowns, as nations across the continent fight for a place in the tournament.
