Tough draw for TotalEnergies AFCON record Holders Egypt while Cote d’Ivoire and hosts Morocco also discover CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 Qualifiers opponents
Egypt, the most successful Nation in the history of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, has been drawn in what many believe is the most difficult Group during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 Qualifiers Draw in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday.
The Pharaohs, who have won the AFCON seven times, will play two on-form teams, Cape Verde and Mauritania – both Nations had an amazing outing in the previous TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. Botswana make the fourth team in Group C.
Côte d’Ivoire, led by coach Emerse Faé – a man who made a name for himself for rescuing Cote d’Ivoire on the brink of elimination at the previous competition – was amongst the draw assistants together with Moroccan legend Marouane Chamakh
Cote d’Iovire have been drawn in Group G alongside former champions Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Chad.
The Elephants are eager to defend their title after their thrilling 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the previous final held in Abidjan earlier this year.
Host nation Morocco, placed in Group B, will face Gabon, Central African Republic, and Lesotho. The Atlas Lions, assured of participation as hosts, will approach the qualifiers with the advantage of home ground support, looking to showcase their strength ahead of the main tournament.
The qualifiers will commence in September 2024 and conclude in November 2024.
The first and second-placed teams from each of the eleven groups, excluding Group B where Morocco competes, will earn their spots in the tournament.
The much-anticipated TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations will be held from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 in Morocco, promising a spectacular showcase of African football talent.
Full groups:
Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco, Gabon,Central Africa Republic, Lesotho
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin Libya, Rwanda
Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger
Group G: Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi
