2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

2025 Africa Cup of Nations
  • Coupe d'Afrique des Nations 2025
  • كأس الأمم الأفريقية 2025
Tournament details
Host countryMorocco
Teams24
Venue(s)6 (in 6 host cities)
← 2023
2027 →

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (also referred to as AFCON 2025 or CAN 2025), known as the TotalEnergies 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, is scheduled to be the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial international men's football championship of Africa organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament will be hosted by Morocco for the second time, and the first time since 1988 (Morocco was originally scheduled to host the 2015 edition, but the tournament was moved after the country's Ebola virus outbreak).

This edition of the tournament is scheduled to be the second after 2019 to take place during the northern hemisphere's summer (June–July), in order to reduce scheduling conflicts with European club teams and competitions;[1][2][3][4] the previous 2023 edition was moved to January and February 2024 owing to the adverse summer weather conditions in Ivory Coast.[5][6]

Guinea was set to be the original host of the tournament, but had its hosting rights stripped after affirming its inadequacy of hosting preparations.[7][8] After a second bidding process, Morocco was named as host on 27 September 2023.[9]

Host selection

Host shift

CAF stripped Cameroon from hosting the 2019 tournament on 30 November 2018 due the lack of speed of progress in preparations,[10] but accepted former CAF President Ahmad Ahmad's request to stage the next edition in 2021. Consequently, the original hosts of 2021, Ivory Coast, became hosts of the 2023 edition with Guinea instead planned to host in 2025.[11] The CAF President confirmed the timetable shift after a meeting with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on 30 January 2019.[12]

New host bidding

On 30 September 2022, CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced that Guinea had been stripped as host for the 2025 edition due to inadequacy and speed of progress in hosting preparations.[8] Consequently, a new process was re-opened for a replacement host bidder.[13][14] The host appointment for the 2025 and 2027 editions was initially supposed to be made on 15 August 2023, but could not be determined prior to the date in question.

Bids:

Withdrawn bids:

Bidding process timeline:[13]

  • 11 November 2022: Deadline for submitting declaration of interest form
  • 16 November 2022: Deadline for CAF to send hosting documents to member associations that declared interest
  • 16 December 2022: Deadline for member associations to submit final bid, including all bidding and hosting documents (hosting agreement, host cities agreement, government guarantees)
  • 20 March–2 April 2023: Inspection visits
  • 27 September 2023: Appointment of host country/countries by CAF executive committee[21]

Qualification

Main article: 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Qualified teams

The following teams have qualified for the tournament.

Team Method of
qualification 		Date of
qualification 		Finals
appearance 		Last
appearance 		Previous best
performance 		FIFA ranking
at start of event
 Morocco Hosts 27 September 2023 20th 2023 Champions (1976)

Venues

On 27 September 2023, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation unveiled a list of six stadiums in six cities to host the competition.

Tangier Rabat Casablanca
Ibn Batouta Stadium Moulay Abdellah Stadium Mohammed V Stadium
Capacity: 65,000

Expandable to: 88,000

Expected by 2024

Capacity: 53,000

Expandable to: 69,500

Expected by 2024

Capacity: 45,891
Agadir Marrakesh Fez
Adrar Stadium Marrakesh Stadium Fez Stadium
Capacity: 45,480 Capacity: 45,240 Capacity: 45,000

Group stage

The top two teams of each group, along with the best four third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16.

Tiebreakers

Teams will be ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 74):[22]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, if two teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are applied exclusively to these two teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Group A

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Morocco (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2 A2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 A3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4 A4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: TBD. Source: CAF
(H) Hosts

Group B

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 B1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2 B2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 B3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4 B4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: TBD. Source: CAF

Group C

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 C1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2 C2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4 C4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: TBD. Source: CAF

Group D

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 D1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2 D2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 D3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4 D4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: TBD. Source: CAF

Group E

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 E1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2 E2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 E3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4 E4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: TBD. Source: CAF

Group F

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 F1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2 F2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 F3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4 F4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: TBD. Source: CAF

Ranking of third-placed teams

Pos Grp Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A A3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to knockout stage
2 B B3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 C C3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 D D3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 E E3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 F F3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: TBD. Source: CAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

Combinations of matches in the round of 16

The specific match-ups involving the third-placed teams depend on which four third-placed teams qualify for the round of 16:

  Possible combinations of third-placed teams
Third-placed teams
qualify from groups 		1A
vs 		1B
vs 		1C
vs 		1D
vs
A B C D 3C 3D 3A 3B
A B C E 3C 3A 3B 3E
A B C F 3C 3A 3B 3F
A B D E 3D 3A 3B 3E
A B D F 3D 3A 3B 3F
A B E F 3E 3A 3B 3F
A C D E 3C 3D 3A 3E
A C D F 3C 3D 3A 3F
A C E F 3C 3A 3F 3E
A D E F 3D 3A 3F 3E
B C D E 3C 3D 3B 3E
B C D F 3C 3D 3B 3F
B C E F 3E 3C 3B 3F
B D E F 3E 3D 3B 3F
C D E F 3C 3D 3F 3E

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
 
 
 
Runner-up Group A
 
 
 
Runner-up Group C
 
Winner R2
 
 
 
Winner R1
 
Winner Group D
 
 
 
3rd Group B/E/F
 
Winner QF1
 
 
 
Winner QF4
 
Winner Group B
 
 
 
3rd Group A/C/D
 
Winner R5
 
 
 
Winner R8
 
Winner Group F
 
 
 
Runner-up Group E
 
Winner SF1
 
 
 
Winner SF2
 
Runner-up Group B
 
 
 
Runner-up Group F
 
Winner R7
 
 
 
Winner R6
 
Winner Group A
 
 
 
3rd Group C/D/E
 
Winner QF3
 
 
 
Winner QF2Third place play-off
 
Winner Group E
 
  
 
Runner-up Group D
 
Winner R4Loser SF1
 
 
 
Winner R3Loser SF2
 
Winner Group C
 
 
3rd Group A/B/F
 

Round of 16

Winner Group DR13rd Group B/E/F
Runner-up Group AR2Runner-up Group C
Winner Group AR33rd Group C/D/E
Runner-up Group BR4Runner-up Group F
Winner Group BR53rd Group A/C/D
Winner Group CR63rd Group A/B/F
Winner Group ER7Runner-up Group D
Winner Group FR8Runner-up Group E

Quarter-finals

Winner R2QF1Winner R1
Winner R4QF2Winner R3
Winner R7QF3Winner R6
Winner R5QF4Winner R8

Semi-finals

Winner QF1SF1Winner QF4
Winner QF3SF2Winner QF2

Third place play-off

Loser SF1vLoser SF2

Final

Winner SF1vWinner SF2

References

  1. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations to switch from January staging to June in 2019". The Guardian. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations: Date switch makes African players more attractive, say agents". BBC Sport. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  3. ^ Imary, Gerald (21 July 2017). "African Cup of Nations finally moved away from mid-season and expanded from 16 to 24 teams". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  4. ^ "FIFA Council makes key decisions for the future of football development". FIFA. 26 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  5. ^ "CAF President Dr Motsepe announces African Super League launch details, AFCON 2023 and Champions League key decisions" (Press release). Confederation of African Football. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2023. ...the Executive Committee has decided that this edition of the tournament will be postponed to the months of January and February 2024. The postponement is as a direct and sole result of the adverse weather conditions in the country and after also having received further technical opinion from experts on adverse effects of staging the matches in that period, as June and July are rainy seasons in Ivory Coast.
  6. ^ Southby, Ben (3 July 2022). "Africa Cup of Nations 2023 finals have been postponed and moved to January 2024 due to weather concerns in Ivory Coast". Eurosport. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Guinea stripped of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations: CAF president". beIN Sports. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  8. ^ a b "CAF President discusses withdrawal by CAF of AFCON Guinea 2025 with Guinea Transition President". Confederation of African Football. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  9. ^ "Morocco to host 2025 Africa Cup of Nations". Confederation of African Football. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Cameroon stripped of hosting 2019 Africa Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  11. ^ "CAN 2019 : le pays hôte sera connu le 9 janvier" [CAN 2019: the host country will be known on January 9]. Le Monde (in French). 10 December 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  12. ^ "Cote d'Ivoire agrees CAF timetable shift". Confederation of African Football. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  13. ^ a b "CAF re-opens bidding process for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2025 hosting rights". Confederation of African Football. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  14. ^ Diallo, Abubakr (1 October 2022). "CAF : qui va organiser la CAN 2025 retirée à la Guinée ?" [CAF: who will organize the CAN 2025 withdrawn from Guinea?]. Afrik (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Source fédérale: le Maroc candidat à l'organisation de la CAN 2025" [Federal source: Morocco candidate for the organization of CAN 2025]. Le 360 Morocco (in French). 1 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  16. ^ "🚨 Algérie : les Fennecs veulent remplacer la Guinée pour organiser la CAN 2025 !". Onze Mondial (in French). 1 October 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  17. ^ "AFCON 2025: CAF to name new host In 2023". Blueprint Newspapers Nigeria. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Nigeria and Benin bid to co-host 2025 Nations Cup". BBC Sport. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  19. ^ "Caf dismisses Nigeria's 2025 Nations Cup host talk". BBC Sport. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  20. ^ Musisi, Frederic (15 January 2023). "Six nations bid to replace Guinea as 2025 Africa Cup hosts". Monitor Uganda. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  21. ^ "CAF Executive Committee unanimously supports Morocco's FIFA World Cup 2030 bid". Confederation of African Football. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023. CAF will announce the successful Nations that will host the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 and the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 at the same time before September this year.
  22. ^ "Regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.

External links