In a little less than a year, Africa will live to the rhythm of the 2025 African Cup of Nations (CAN), which will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. After the close of the qualifiers on November 19 , the 24 qualified teams are now known. Among them, the great powers will be present, but, as always, several surprises marked these qualifiers.
Host country Morocco is the first team to qualify. Undefeated in group B, the Atlas Lions will have the honor of defending their colors at home. Ivory Coast, reigning champion after its victory in February 2024 against Nigeria (2-1), will also be present to defend its title. Runners-up Nigeria topped Group D, while Ivory Coast finished second in Group G, behind Zambia. Senegal, eliminated in the round of 16 in the last edition, and Egypt, the most successful country in the competition and still a serious contender for the title, qualified as first in their respective groups. These teams, accompanied by Algeria, Mali, Cameroon, South Africa and Comoros, are the first 12 to qualify.
However, CAN 2025 is not limited to the great African football nations. Several less expected teams also qualified, bringing a touch of freshness to the competition. Countries like Botswana, Tanzania and Mozambique stood out during this qualifying campaign. Benin and Gabon, absent from the last editions, will also return to the continental scene. Unfortunately, a giant of African football will miss this edition: Ghana. After participating in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Black Stars suffered an early exit, finishing last in their group after a disappointing campaign marked by defeats against Angola and Sudan. This is the first time since 2004 that Ghana will not participate in the CAN.
Another major nation, Guinea, will also be absent. Sily National, which had participated in the last editions since 2017, was eliminated on the final day of the qualifiers after a defeat against Tanzania, while a simple draw was enough for them to qualify. The Gambia and Mauritania, who participated in the last edition, will also not be there this time. Initially scheduled for the summer of 2025, this 35th edition of the CAN was moved to the end of the year so as not to coincide with the Club World Cup organized by FIFA in the United States.
Here is the list of teams qualified for CAN 2025:
- Morocco (host country)
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Algeria
- Senegal
- Angola
- RD Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ivory Coast
- South Africa
- Uganda
- Gabon
- Tunisia
- Nigeria
- Mali
- Zimbabwe
- Zambia
- Comoros
- Benign
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Botswana
- Mozambique
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