The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches are organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to decide the participating teams of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the 35th edition of the international men's football championship of Africa. The qualification began with the preliminary round which ran from 21 to 26 March and will conclude with the group stage, which will be played in September, October and November, all in 2024. A total of 24 teams will qualify to play in the final tournament, including automatically-qualified hosts Morocco.
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 20 March – 19 November 2024 |
| Teams | 52 (from 1 confederation) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 62 |
| Goals scored | 135 (2.18 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Amine Gouiri Jean-Philippe Krasso(3 goals each) |
← 2023 2027 →
All statistics correct as of 10 October 2024. | |
Entrants
All CAF member associations entered the competition, except Eritrea and Seychelles, who were excluded from the qualifiers. The seeding was based on the FIFA World Ranking from 15 February 2024, with teams ranked 1st to 44th received a bye to the qualifying group stage, while the teams ranked 45th to 52nd had to participate in the preliminary round.[1]
The preliminary round draw was held on 20 February 2024, 14:00 CAT (UTC+2) at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.[2]
For the first time since their suspensions, Kenya and Zimbabwe made their phased returns to the qualifying stage.
| Bye to group stage | Participating in preliminary round |
|---|---|
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Schedule
The schedule of the qualifying tournament is as follows.[4]
| Round | Matchday | Dates | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary round | First leg | 18–22 March 2024 | Team 1 vs. Team 2 |
| Second leg | 22–26 March 2024 | Team 2 vs. Team 1 | |
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 2–10 September 2024 | Team 1 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 4 |
| Matchday 2 | Team 2 vs. Team 3, Team 4 vs. Team 1 | ||
| Matchday 3 | 7–15 October 2024 | Team 1 vs. Team 3, Team 2 vs. Team 4 | |
| Matchday 4 | Team 3 vs. Team 1, Team 4 vs. Team 2 | ||
| Matchday 5 | 11–19 November 2024 | Team 2 vs. Team 1, Team 4 vs. Team 3 | |
| Matchday 6 | Team 3 vs. Team 2, Team 1 vs. Team 4 |
Preliminary round
The eight teams were split into four ties which were played in home-and-away two-legged format.[2]
| Team 1 | Agg. Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Somalia  | 2–5 |  Eswatini | 0–3 | 2–2 |
São Tomé and Príncipe  | 1–1 (a) |  South Sudan | 1–1 | 0–0 |
Chad  | 3–1 |  Mauritius | 1–0 | 2–1 |
Djibouti  | 0–2 |  Liberia | 0–2 | 0–0 |
Group stage
Draw
The group stage draw took place on 4 July 2024 at 2:30 pm (UTC+2) in Johannesburg, South Africa. The 48 national teams involved were divided into twelve groups of four each, which consisted of the 44 teams that entered directly, in addition to the four winners of the preliminary round, and were seeded into four pots of twelve each based on the June 2024 FIFA World Rankings (shown in parentheses).[5][6]
Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament.
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
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Tiebreakers
The teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers are applied in the following order (Regulations Article 14):
- Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above will be reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Away goals scored in all group matches;
- Drawing of lots
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tunisia
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 7 | Final tournament | — | 0–1 | 17 Nov | 1–0 | |
| 2 | Comoros
|
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 17 Nov | ||
| 3 | Gambia
|
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1–2 | 15 Nov | — | 1–0 | ||
| 4 | Madagascar
|
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 2 | 14 Nov | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco[a] (Q)
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | +13 | 12 | Final tournament | — | 4–1 | 5–0 | 18 Nov | |
| 2 | Gabon
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 7 | 15 Nov | — | 2–0 | 0–0 | ||
| 3 | Central African Republic
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | −9 | 3 | 0–4 | 18 Nov | — | 3–1 | ||
| 4 | Lesotho (E)
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 14 Nov | — |
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:
- ^ Morocco has already qualified for the final tournament as the host nation.
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt (Q)
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | +10 | 12 | Final tournament | — | 19 Nov | 3–0 | 2–0 | |
| 2 | Botswana
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 6 | 0–4 | — | 1–0 | 15 Nov | ||
| 3 | Cape Verde
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 3[a] | 15 Nov | 0–1 | — | 2–0 | ||
| 4 | Mauritania
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 3[a] | 0–1 | 1–0 | 19 Nov | — |
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:
Group D
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 10 | Final tournament | — | 3–0 | 18 Nov | 1–0 | |
| 2 | Benin
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 14 Nov | — | 3–0 | 2–1 | ||
| 3 | Rwanda
|
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 5 | 0–0 | 2–1 | — | 14 Nov | ||
| 4 | Libya
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 1 | 0–3[a] | 18 Nov | 1–1 | — |
Notes:
Group E
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Algeria (Q)
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 12 | Final tournament | — | 2–0 | 18 Nov | 5–1 | |
| 2 | Equatorial Guinea (Q)
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 14 Nov | — | 1–0 | 2–2 | ||
| 3 | Liberia (E)
|
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 4 | 0–3 | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | ||
| 4 | Togo (E)
|
5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 | −6 | 2 | 0–1 | 18 Nov | 1–1 | — |
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Group F
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angola (Q)
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 12 | Final tournament | — | 2–1 | 15 Nov | 2–0 | |
| 2 | Sudan
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 7 | 18 Nov | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | ||
| 3 | Ghana
|
4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | 18 Nov | ||
| 4 | Niger
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 1 | 0–1 | 14 Nov | 1–1 | — |
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Group G
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivory Coast (Q)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 9 | Final tournament | — | 2–0 | 4–1 | 18 Nov | |
| 2 | Zambia
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 15 Nov | — | 3–2 | 0–0 | ||
| 3 | Sierra Leone
|
5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 5 | 1–0 | 18 Nov | — | 0–0 | ||
| 4 | Chad (E)
|
5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — |
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Group H
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DR Congo (Q)
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 12 | Final tournament | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 18 Nov | |
| 2 | Guinea
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 6 | 16 Nov | — | 1–2 | 4–1 | ||
| 3 | Tanzania
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 4 | 0–2 | 18 Nov | — | 0–0 | ||
| 4 | Ethiopia
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 16 Nov | — |
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Group I
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mozambique
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 8 | Final tournament | — | 15 Nov | 2–1 | 1–1 | |
| 2 | Mali
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 8 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | 18 Nov | ||
| 3 | Guinea-Bissau
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 4 | 18 Nov | 0–0 | — | 1–0 | ||
| 4 | Eswatini (E)
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 15 Nov | — |
(E) Eliminated
Group J
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameroon (Q)
|
5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 11 | Final tournament | — | 18 Nov | 4–1 | 1–0 | |
| 2 | Zimbabwe
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 8 | 0–0 | — | 15 Nov | 3–1 | ||
| 3 | Kenya
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 4 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | 18 Nov | ||
| 4 | Namibia (E)
|
5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | — |
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Group K
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uganda
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 10 | Final tournament | — | 15 Nov | 2–0 | 1–0 | |
| 2 | South Africa
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 8 | 2–2 | — | 5–0 | 18 Nov | ||
| 3 | Congo
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 4 | 18 Nov | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | ||
| 4 | South Sudan (E)
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 0 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 14 Nov | — |
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated
Group L
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burkina Faso (Q)
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 10[a] | Final tournament | — | 14 Nov | 4–1 | 3–1 | |
| 2 | Senegal (Q)
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 10[a] | 1–1 | — | 18 Nov | 4–0 | ||
| 3 | Burundi (E)
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | −5 | 3 | 0–2 | 0–1 | — | 14 Nov | ||
| 4 | Malawi (E)
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 0 | 18 Nov | 0–1 | 2–3 | — |
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
Notes:
Goalscorers
There have been 135 goals scored in 62 matches, for an average of 2.18 goals per match (as of 10 October 2024). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Mohamed Amoura- Baghdad Bounedjah
- Adem Zorgane
Mabululu- Felício Milson
- Randy Nteka
Tumisang Orebonye
Mokono Eldhino- Jean-Claude Girumugisha
- Bienvenue Kanakimana
Steve Mounié- Junior Olaitan
Hassane Bandé- Sacha Bansé
- Ousseni Bouda
- Issoufou Dayo
Vincent Aboubakar
Goduine Koyalipou
Ousmane Hissein- Amine Hiver
- Mahamat Thiam
Chandrel Massanga
Théo Bongonda- Edo Kayembe
- Fiston Mayele
Ibrahim Adel- Mostafa Fathi
- Omar Marmoush
- Ramy Rabia
- Mohamed Salah
Jannick Buyla- Luis Nlavo
Justice Figuareido- Bongwa Matsebula
- Kwakhe Thwala
Shavy Babicka
Musa Barrow- Ali Sowe
Alidu Seidu
Mama Baldé- Bura Nogueira
Mohamed Bayo
Oumar Diakité
Duke Abuya- John Avire
Sera Motebang
Oscar Dorley- William Gibson
- Mohammed Sangare
Faisal Al Badri- Subhi Al-Dhawi
Carolus Andriamatsinoro
Ayoub El Kaabi- Abde Ezzalzouli
- Achraf Hakimi
- Soufiane Rahimi
Geny Catamo- Elias
- Guima
Jérémy Villeneuve
Sidi Bouna Amar
Chawanangwa Kawonga- Lanjesi Nkhoma
- Zeliat Nkhoma
Deon Hotto
Oumar Sako
Victor Osimhen- Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
Bathusi Aubaas- Iqraam Rayners
Innocent Nshuti
Luís Leal
Sadio Mané- Ismaïla Sarr
Augustus Kargbo- Hindolo Mustapha
Data Elly- Tito Okello
- Valentino Yuel
Abo Eisa- Mustafa Karshoum
Feisal Salum- Mudathir Yahya
Roger Aholou- Kévin Denkey
- Thibault Klidjé
- Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba
Ali Abdi- Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane
- Ferjani Sassi
Aziz Kayondo- Rogers Mato
- Denis Omedi
- Jude Ssemugabi
Kelvin Kampamba- Kings Kangwa
- Kennedy Musonda
Khama Billiat
1 own goal
- Chimwemwe Idana (against Burundi)
- Clement Mzize (against DR Congo)
Qualified teams
The following teams have qualified for the final tournament.
- 1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italics indicates hosts for that year.
References
- ^ "Draw for TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Preliminary Round set for Tuesday". CAFOnline.com. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ a b "TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Preliminary Draw conducted". CAFOnline.com. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Men's Ranking". FIFA. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Oyebola, Mike (25 December 2023). "CAF announces kick-off date for AFCON 2025 qualifiers". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Draw for TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifiers set for 04 July in Johannesburg". Draw for TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifiers set for 04 July in Johannesburg. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Men's Ranking". FIFA. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم "كاف" يقرر خسارة المنتخب الليبي أمام نظيره المنتخب النيجيري" [The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided that the Libyan national team will lose to its Nigerian counterpart.]. beIN Sports (in Arabic). 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.