AFCON 2025 kicks off in late December with Morocco hosting the soccer tournament for the first time since 1988. The competition will run across six host cities and nine stadiums, with the opening match and final in Rabat.
The tournament maintains the expanded 24-team format:
Six groups of four, with the top two from each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the last 16.
Morocco enter as hosts with expectations high, while continental giants such as Senegal, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Egypt and Algeria arrive with different levels of pressure following contrasting performances in recent years.
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What happened at AFCON 2023?
The 2023 edition (played in early 2024 in Ivory Coast) was one of the most dramatic AFCON tournaments in modern history.
Champions: Ivory Coast – came from behind to beat Nigeria 2–1 in the final in Abidjan
Runners-up: Nigeria
Third place: South Africa – won on penalties over DR Congo, knocked out by Nigeria in the semi’s.
Fourth place: DR Congo, knocked out by eventual winners Ivory Coast.
Knockout-stage standouts: Angola reached their first quarter-final since 2010. Cape Verde impressed with a run to the last eight. Mali pushed eventual champions Ivory Coast to the limit
Major underperformers:
Ghana – group-stage exit with no wins.
Algeria – bottom of their group, another shock early elimination.
Tunisia – winless and out in the group stage.
Morocco – last-16 exit despite being World Cup semi-finalists.
AFCON 2023 left several heavyweight nations with something to prove heading into 2025.
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Big omissions from AFCON 2025
While AFCON 2025 features a strong field, several notable nations failed to qualify:
Ghana – the biggest absentee; four-time champions but finished bottom of their qualifying group.
Cape Verde – quarter-finalists in 2023, but miss out
Mauritania – strong 2023 performers but eliminated in qualifying
Mauritius and Madagascar – both pushed late but fell short
Their absence reshapes the competitive balance, opening opportunities for rising or returning teams like Botswana, Comoros, Sudan and Gabon.
Group breakdown for AFCON 2025
Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Morocco carry home pressure and one of the best squads in the tournament. Mali remain steady performers, Zambia bring pace and width, and Comoros arrive after stunning Ghana in qualifying.
Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Egypt’s pedigree versus a South Africa side on the rise makes this a balanced group. Angola and Zimbabwe both possess counter-attacking quality and can disrupt the hierarchy.
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Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Nigeria enter as favourites with elite attacking depth. Tunisia seek redemption after a poor 2023, while Uganda and Tanzania renew familiar regional rivalries.
Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
Senegal remain among the continent’s strongest teams. DR Congo’s 2023 semi-final run ensures they are respected. Benin and Botswana are disciplined and organised, making this a difficult group to navigate.
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
Algeria face significant pressure after back-to-back group-stage exits. Burkina Faso are perennial knockout contenders, and Equatorial Guinea have upset multiple giants at recent AFCONs.
Group F: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
A heavyweight pool featuring defending champions Ivory Coast and Cameroon. Gabon return after missing 2023 and add unpredictability; Mozambique are competitive but underdogs.
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Teams to watch & early betting trends
While official odds are not yet available, several betting angles already stand out:
Morocco (Hosts)
Hosts traditionally perform well, and Morocco’s depth plus home venues make them strong outright contenders. Their AFCON 2023 underperformance increases motivation.
Trend: Host-nation bounce is historically significant at AFCON.
Nigeria (Runners-up in 2023)
One of the continent’s deepest squads with elite forwards. Consistency in big tournaments makes them an attractive early outright pick.
Trend: Strong group-stage performers; good for group-winner markets.
Senegal (2021 champions)
Still among the most balanced sides in Africa. Experienced squad, resilient structure, and reliable tournament temperament.
Trend: Reliable in low-scoring knockout matches and valuable in “Under” markets.
Ivory Coast (Defending champions)
Expect them to be priced strongly but not as favourites. The squad is stable, and their 2023 run showed mental resilience.
Trend: Late-match scoring side with high comeback potential.
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South Africa (2023 bronze medallists)
Under Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana have become tactically organised and defensively disciplined.
Trend: Strong defensive markets (Clean Sheet / Under 2.5 in group stages).
Algeria (Redemption campaign)
High-ceiling team with something to prove. Riskier, but their group is navigable.
Trend: Variance team, high value in long-shot markets.
DR Congo
Semi-finalists in 2023 with a stable core.
Trend: Strong in tournament openers and consistent early performances.
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