The lineup for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) is set, with several notable teams making the cut and others falling short during the qualification campaign.
Defending champions Senegal, along with Nigeria, DR Congo, and Morocco, headline the list of 18 nations set to compete in the tournament scheduled for February 2025.
However, this edition of CHAN has been marked by surprising eliminations and first-time qualifications.
North African heavyweights Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya have all failed to qualify. Morocco, notably, will be the sole representative of the UNAF region, securing their place without playing.
Meanwhile, host nations Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania were automatically included in the final roster.
One of the most remarkable stories of the qualifiers was the historic achievement of the Central African Republic, who advanced to the tournament by eliminating Cameroon after a dramatic 2-2 draw.
Burkina Faso also stunned Côte d’Ivoire, prevailing 3-2 to book their spot, while Mauritania secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Mali to punch their ticket to the finals.
In addition to these surprises, Senegal, DR Congo, Guinea, and Nigeria asserted their dominance, comfortably securing their spots with convincing victories over their respective opponents.
The CHAN 2025 final phase will feature 18 nations, including the yet-to-be-decided representative of the CECAFA region.
The last slot, awarded to the “best team in the CECAFA zone,” remains contested by Burundi, Ethiopia, and South Sudan despite their defeats in qualifying matches.
Here are the 18 nations confirmed for the tournament:
- Kenya (host nation)
- Tanzania (host nation)
- Uganda (host nation)
- Morocco
- Senegal
- DR Congo
- Nigeria
- Guinea
- Burkina Faso
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Rwanda
- Zambia
- Angola
- Madagascar
- Niger
- Mauritania
- Sudan
With an intriguing mix of established powerhouses and debutants, CHAN 2025 promises to deliver thrilling football action as teams from across Africa battle for continental glory.
