With the 2025 African Cup of Nations fast approaching, anticipation is mounting for the group draw. Although the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has yet to announce an official date for this key event, the FIFA rankings for October 2024 are expected to be used as the basis for determining the groupings. This does not exactly suit nations such as Cameroon, Burkina Faso and the DRC.
All the countries qualified for the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, to be held in December 2025, were announced yesterday. While we await the official announcement of the draw by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the various groups are already known. With historic nations, outsiders in search of an exploit and promising young teams, the 2025 African Cup of Nations promises to be particularly competitive.
For the draw, CAF will take into account the FIFA Coca Cola rankings for the month of October to determine the different groups. The teams in hat number 1 represent the cream of African football, both in terms of their recent performances and their track record. At the top of the list is Morocco, the host of this year’s tournament, whose advantageous status means it can avoid other African heavyweights in the group phase. Alongside them are regulars at major tournaments such as Senegal, Algeria and Egypt. Côte d’Ivoire, defending champions following their victory at the last edition, complete this impressive line-up.
Cameroon, Burkina Faso and the DRC in hat No. 2
The second hat brings together teams who, although a notch below the seeds, have formidable weapons with which to compete with the best. Tunisia, always consistent in their performances, share this hat with feared teams such as Cameroon, known for their glorious history in the competition, and Mali, who are on the rise. Rounding out the group are DR Congo, who have already proved their potential at major tournaments, South Africa and Burkina Faso. These teams, often tactically very well organised, are perfectly capable of upsetting the favourites.
That’s bad news for nations like Cameroon, who are bound to face a tough nut to crack at the 2025 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. Marc Brys’ Indomitable Lions could yet again find themselves in the group of death. At the CAN 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire, Vincent Aboubakar’s team-mates were drawn against Senegal, Guinea and Gambia. It was particularly difficult for them to reach the second round. The ‘continent’ could once again suffer the same fate.
Outsiders ready to make their mark
The teams in the third hat are those who, despite being lower in the FIFA rankings, could upset the odds. Among them are Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, who have already demonstrated their ability to stand up to the big boys. This hat also reflects the diversity of African football, with teams like Uganda and Benin continuing to make progress on the continental stage. These nations know that a good draw can propel them into affordable groups, where they could aim for a historic qualification for the last 16.
Then there are the minnows, who should not be underestimated. The fourth hat contains teams that are often regarded as the tournament’s minnows. But the African Cup of Nations has always been a competition full of surprises, and these less experienced nations could well come out on top. The Comoros are a perfect example of this spirit of determination. Zimbabwe and Mozambique, as well as Botswana, will also be looking to take advantage of this opportunity to make history.
| Pot | Teams |
|---|---|
| Pot 1 |
– Morocco (13th in FIFA Ranking, host nation) – Senegal (20th) – Egypt (30th) – Nigeria (36th) – Algeria (37th) – Côte d’Ivoire (40th, title holder) |
| Pot 2 |
– Tunisia (47th) – Cameroon (49th) – Mali (54th) – DR Congo (57th) – South Africa (60th) – Burkina Faso (62nd) |
| Pot 3 |
– Angola (82nd) – Gabon (85th) – Uganda (87th) – Equatorial Guinea (88th) – Zambia (94th) – Benin (95th) |
| Pot 4 |
– Mozambique (98th) – Comoros (108th) – Sudan (110th) – Tanzania (112th) – Zimbabwe (117th) – Botswana (140th) |
Leave a Reply