The stage is set at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco, for the highly-anticipated Final Draw of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.
Today, 4 African football nations will discover their group-stage opponents for the continent’s premier football competition.
The draws scheduled for 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT), mark the symbolic beginning of the tournament, which will run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
With excitement sweeping across the continent, players, coaches, and fans eagerly await the matchups defining their journey toward Africa’s most prestigious football trophy.
The tournament will feature a dynamic mix of seasoned heavyweights, emerging contenders, and debutants:
- Pot 1: Morocco (hosts), Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire (defending champions)
- Pot 2: Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, Burkina Faso
- Pot 3: Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Benin
- Pot 4: Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana
This diverse lineup sets the stage for a thrilling showcase of contrasting styles, narratives, and rivalries.
The host nation, Morocco returning to host AFCON for the first time since 1988, enters as one of the favorites. Riding high on their historic semifinal run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the Atlas Lions aim to capitalize on home advantage.
Defending champions, Côte d’Ivoire, fresh from their triumph on home soil in 2024, are determined to make it back-to-back titles. Meanwhile, 2021 winners Senegal, led by coach Pape Thiaw, remain strong contenders.
Underdogs like Botswana, appearing at AFCON for only the second time since 2012, and Comoros, hoping to replicate their surprise 2021 campaign, bring an element of unpredictability to the competition.
The tournament’s most successful team, Egypt will rely on stars like Mohamed Salah to bolster their chances. However, dark horses such as Mali and Burkina Faso, known for their talented squads, could disrupt the hierarchy and challenge for the title.
The 24 teams will be divided into six groups of four. The top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the knockout stages.
As hosts, Morocco automatically occupies position A1, while the remaining teams are seeded based on their FIFA rankings. The historic Mohammed V National Theatre, inaugurated in 1961, will serve as a fitting backdrop for the grand occasion. The evening will blend sport and culture, featuring performances by global music stars RedOne and Gims.
African football legends like Essam El Hadary, Patrick Mboma, and Mustapha Hadji will add prestige to the event, which will be broadcast live in over 90 countries through CAF platforms and global networks.
The AFCON 2025 Final Draw not only celebrates the unifying spirit of African football but also sets the stage for a tournament that promises unparalleled talent, passion, and drama as the continent’s finest battle for glory.
