AFCON 2025: Full List Of Qualified Teams, Favourites, And Challengers As Morocco Gears Up To Host

The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) will light up Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, promising to deliver one of the most competitive and entertaining tournaments in African football history.

AFCON 2025 Qualified Teams

Here are the 24 nations that have booked their place in Morocco:

Algeria
Angola
Benin Republic
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Comoros
Côte d’Ivoire
DR Congo
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
Mali
Morocco (Hosts)
Nigeria
Senegal
South Africa
Sudan
Tanzania
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

AFCON 2025 Favourites

Morocco – As hosts, the Atlas Lions have the home advantage and the confidence from their historic 2022 World Cup semi-final run. Ranked as Africa’s top side, they are the clear favourites.

Senegal – The 2021 champions are loaded with world-class talent led by Sadio Mané and have the experience to go deep once again.

Egypt – With Mohamed Salah leading the charge, the record seven-time champions remain a constant threat thanks to their defensive structure and tournament experience.

Nigeria – The Super Eagles, powered by Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, boast one of the deadliest attacks in Africa and are desperate to lift their first AFCON title since 2013.

AFCON 2025 Challengers

Côte d’Ivoire – The reigning champions enter as a dangerous side capable of going back-to-back despite mixed qualifying results.

Cameroon – The five-time champions bring power, passion, and big-game mentality. Their knockout experience makes them a threat to anyone.

Mali – A team flying under the radar, known for technical precision and consistency. Many believe this could be their breakout year.

Algeria – The 2019 winners are hungry for redemption and armed with a blend of youth, flair, and experience.

South Africa – Organized and tactically solid, Bafana Bafana can frustrate even the strongest teams.

DR Congo – A physical, relentless team with a history of upsetting giants. Expect fireworks when they play.

Tunisia – The Eagles of Carthage are tournament veterans who always find a way to go far, thanks to their tactical discipline.

Zambia – The 2012 champions are back after a long absence. Young and energetic, they’re capable of springing surprises.

The Rest Of The Qualified Teams

The remaining teams will be battling hard for crucial third-place spots to advance to the knockout stages:

Angola, Benin Republic, Botswana, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Among them, Botswana returns after a 12-year absence, while Comoros continues to impress as one of Africa’s fastest-rising football nations.

The Stage Is Set

Fans are already buzzing with anticipation as the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat prepares to host the opening match between Morocco and Comoros on December 21, 2025.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has already declared that Nigeria is going to Morocco “to win it all” — a statement that echoes the Super Eagles’ hunger and ambition.

With star players, electric fans, and the continent’s best on display, AFCON 2025 promises to be an unforgettable celebration of African football.

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When It Comes To The Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) 2025, The Cranes Of Uganda Are Not Coming To Morocco Just To Participate — They’re Coming To Compete.

Head Coach Paul Put has made it clear that his boys are ready for the challenge ahead, despite being drawn into what many call a “group of death” alongside three-time champions Nigeria, tactical powerhouse Tunisia, and fierce regional rivals Tanzania.

“They (Super Eagles) are a perennial powerhouse. There are threats everywhere from their squad with top talent and European experience,” Put told CAFonline.

But the Belgian coach isn’t losing sleep over the opposition. Instead, he’s focused on preparation, confidence, and teamwork.

“We will respect all of them, but we are not intimidated. We will give a good account of ourselves,” he added.

Put acknowledged the strength and discipline of the Tunisian team, praising their tactical depth and technical ability. He also admitted that the East African derby against Tanzania will be one for the books — filled with passion, pride, and familiarity.

The Cranes, making their eighth AFCON appearance, will open their campaign against Tunisia on December 23. Fans across Uganda are already buzzing with excitement, hoping their team can rise beyond expectations and cause a few upsets along the way.

With Put’s confidence and a team eager to prove themselves, Uganda might just be the dark horse story everyone will talk about at AFCON 2025.

At Sports Market International, we bring you the latest news, insights, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of sports. Stay tuned as we follow every twist and turn of the AFCON 2025 journey — because here, we don’t just report sports; we live it.

It is a date with another set of Lion Cubs on Monday afternoon and Head Coach Aliyu Zubairu has assured that Nigeria’s U20 boys are focused and determined to achieve a win that will guarantee them a place at this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals.

Unbeaten in their group B campaign, the Flying Eagles however finished second behind another set of Lion Cubs from Morocco and had to proceed to Ismailia for their game against title-holders Senegal. Senegal also finished second in their group C, which also included Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and Central African Republic.

The 19-team finals have been whittled down to eight contenders, with Tanzania and Zambia eliminated in group A, Tunisia (despite their three points) and Kenya thrown out from group B and Central African Republic stopped in group C.

On Saturday, General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi called on the seven-time champions to play differently when they confront the Cup holders on Monday afternoon.

“I have no doubt that you have the ability to rise to the occasion. Monday is the occasion, because you are not only playing against the defending champions, you also must win to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. The first objective for any team in any competition that is a qualifier for a bigger tournament is to qualify, followed by the second objective of winning the trophy.

“The NFF and the Nigeria football fraternity are fully behind you and giving you the maximum support, and you have to repay their encouragement and prayers with a World Cup ticket on Monday.”

Two years ago, the Lion Cubs from Senegal pipped the Flying Eagles 1-0 in the two teams’ first match of the CAF U20 Championship at the Cairo International Stadium, on the way to the Cubs’ first triumph in the competition, after they defeated Gambia 2-0 in the final. Nigeria finished third in the same competition.

However, Nigeria know they cannot afford to pull any punches on Monday as only the semi-finalists will qualify to fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile later in the year. The Flying Eagles came within a nodding distance of the semi-finals at the last FIFA U20 World Cup in Argentina, two years ago.

Nigeria converted Senegal to a happy hunting-ground ten years ago, beating the host nation 3-1 in the opening match of the CAF U20 Championship and then securing a 1-0 win over the Lion Cubs in the final to pick their seventh continental title. In December of the same year, Nigeria’s U23 team won the Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Senegal to qualify to represent Africa at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Senegal will also flaunt their 2-1 defeat of Nigeria in the Round of 16 of the FIFA U20 World Cup finals in Poland six years ago.

On Monday, at the Suez Canal Stadium, Nigeria must show strength, skills and invention against a Senegalese side that has the ability to turn the table against the opposition when least expected.

“We know what to expect. It is a big match for both teams because the winner will be going to the World Cup. It is like a final match, and if you throw in the matter of the rivalry between our two countries, it means we must be disciplined and determined for the entire duration of the game. We will do just that,” Coach Zubairu said as the team had its first official training in Ismailia on Saturday.

While the rearguard has shown some solidity in the campaign – except for the moment of loss of concentration that allowed Kenya’s second goal on Wednesday – much will be expected of Nigerian striker Kparobo Arierhi, who has scored only one goal here thus far.

Arierhi was venerated as the man to determine the length of Nigeria’s stay in Egypt, after his three goals at the WAFU B U20 Championship in Lome and a pre-tournament strike against the Young Pharaohs of Egypt. But the equalizer that brought parity at the first instance against Kenya has been the only time he attained the scoresheet in three games.

Captain Bameyi, who scored his first competitive goal for the team from the spot against the Rising Stars, will be expected to keep things tight at the back with Odinaka Okoro, Chigozie Ihejiofor and Adamu Maigari also providing cover for goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt.

Zubairu must decide whether to start Divine Oliseh in midfield, alongside Clinton Jephta and Israel Ayuma, or retain Simon Cletus, while Arierhi, Auwal Ibrahim (whose lone goal earned the crucial three points against Tunisia), Ezekiel Kpangu, Precious Benjamin and Mendos Rickson are also available for spaces at the fore.