The stage is set for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the complete line-up of 24 nations confirmed after the final round of qualifiers concluded on Tuesday.
Mozambique claimed the last spot, after defeating Guinea-Bissau 2-1 to seal their place at Africa’s premier football tournament.
Scheduled to take place between December 2025 and January 2026, the tournament will be hosted by Morocco, who automatically qualified as hosts.
They will be joined by 23 other nations, including former champions, perennial powerhouses and rising teams, in what promises to be a showcase of the best in African football.
Uganda returns to the AFCON stage for the first time since 2019 after finishing second in Group K with 13 points.
The Cranes secured their qualification last Thursday, thanks to South Sudan’s 3-2 win over Congo in Juba, which eliminated Congo from contention.
Uganda’s spirited campaign saw them edge out Congo and South Sudan but narrowly miss out on the top spot in their group, which was claimed by unbeaten South Africa.
Tanzania, co-hosts of the 2027 edition with Uganda and Kenya, will also be present in Morocco.
They secured their ticket with a decisive 1-0 victory over Guinea yesterday, finishing second in Group H behind DR Congo.
The tournament will feature perennial heavyweights like Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, and defending champions Cote d’Ivoire, who all qualified with commanding performances.
Nigeria, Tunisia, and South Africa also booked their spots, ensuring the presence of some of the continent’s most iconic teams.
Also, teams like Botswana will add a fresh dynamic to next year’s tournament. Their qualification ends a 12-year absence, underscoring the evolving competitiveness of African football.
However, the qualification process did not come without surprises. Ghana, a four-time AFCON champion, failed to qualify for the first time since 2004.
The Black Stars managed just three draws and suffered three losses in Group F, and were eliminated after a 1-1 stalemate with Angola last Friday, followed by a 2-1 loss to Niger on Monday.
Kenya, co-hosts of the 2027 edition, also failed to qualify, finishing third in Group J behind Cameroon and Zimbabwe.
The 24 nations heading to Morocco for AFCON 2025:
– Morocco (Hosts)
– Burkina Faso
– Cameroon
– Algeria
– DR Congo
– Senegal
– Egypt
– Angola
– Equatorial Guinea
– Cote d’Ivoire
– Uganda
– South Africa
– Gabon
– Tunisia
– Nigeria
– Zambia
– Mali
– Zimbabwe
– Comoros
– Sudan
– Benin
– Tanzania
– Botswana
– Mozambique
