CAN 2025 qualifiers in Morocco: Who needs what to qualify for the final phase?

Next week, we will know the 24 teams who will participate in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with the last two qualifying rounds expected to result in several high-stakes matches.

Ghana is the team most at risk of not participating in the competition in Morocco. The Black Stars must take maximum points and hope that Sudan only suffers two defeats.

The top two from each of the 12 qualifying groups qualify. Algeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt and Senegal, former world champions, are already assured of their place alongside Angola, Burkina Faso and the host country.

The Central African Republic are the only remaining team yet to make their Africa Cup of Nations debut, while Botswana and Rwanda are battling for second appearances.

BBC Sport Africa is tasked with determining who needs what to land a place at Africa’s biggest sporting event, which kicks off on December 21 next year and runs until January 18, 2026.

Group A is the tightest, with all four nations still in contention.

The Tunisialeader, is one point ahead of the Comoros and two on the Gambiawhile Madagascaroutsider, is further away.

The Carthage Eagles, who are aiming for a 17th consecutive participation in the final phase, have entrusted the interim to Kais Yaacoubi after the dismissal of the experienced Faouzi Benzarti.

Madagascar must beat the North Africans on Thursday to keep their faint hopes alive, while Gambia must face Comoros at home a day later in Berkane.

Depending on these results, the final day, which will see Tunisia host the Scorpions and Comoros host Madagascar, could be trying for supporters of the four countries.

Group B looks simpler, with Morocco already assured of first place and Gabon favored for second.

The Panthers host Morocco on Friday and will qualify if they obtain the same result as the Central African Republic against Lesotho.

Otherwise, Gabon travel to the Central African Republic on Monday, which will be another decisive match not to be missed.

The Botswana is at the top of Group C, three points ahead of the Cap-Vert and the Mauritania.

The Zebras welcome the Mauritanians on Friday, before Cape Verde hosts Egypt, who rested their captain Mohamed Salah.

Botswana travel to Egypt and Mauritania host the islanders on Tuesday.

Morena Ramoreboli takes over as interim head of Botswana after the departure of Didier Gomes da Rosa, who took charge of the Libyan club Al Ahli Tripoli.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria needs just one point to qualify from Group D, after the sanction against Libya (3-0) which stranded the Super Eagles at an airport in the country overnight last month – although this sanction is subject to appeal.

One of the two countries, the Benign and the Rwandaseems ready to join them, while Libya is on the verge of elimination.

The Knights of the Mediterranean must beat Rwanda and Benin and hope that the Super Eagles will do them a favor by winning their two confrontations with the same opponents.

Qualification will be decided on the last day, unless Benin beats Nigeria and that the Rwanda does not impose itself in the face of Libya.

In Group E, the Togo must beat Liberia, already eliminated, this Wednesday in Monrovia, to extend its journey until the last day, where it will absolutely have to win against the Equatorial GuineaSunday in Lomé.

However, the National Thunder could qualify with a game in hand if they beat top-ranked Algeria on Thursday.

Ghana’s hopes hang by a thread in Group F, with just two points from four matches.

The four-time African champions could even be eliminated by the time they face Angola in Luanda on Friday, as Sudan will qualify if they avoid defeat away to Niger in Lome the day before.

Defender Alexandre Djiku and attackers Antoine Semenyo and Inaki Williams are among coach Otto Addo’s eight withdrawals, while Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has not been called up.

Group G could be the scene of a decisive match between the Zambia and the Sierra Leonethe Ivory Coastthe reigning African champion, needing one more victory to be sure of being able to defend her title.

The Leone Stars can take the initiative and return to equal points with the Zambia if they impose themselves on the outside against the Chad in Abidjan on Wednesday.

The West Africans were reinforced by striker Kei Kamara, 40, second top scorer in the history of American Major League Soccer, who is coming out of his international retirement.

The Zambia hosts the Ivorians on Friday but knows that a draw during their trip to Sierra Leone would be enough to progress in the direct confrontations after winning the first meeting between the two teams.

The Guinea and the Tanzania are vying for last place in Group H, with the West Africans two points ahead.

Guinea hosts DR Congo, Tanzania travels to Ethiopia and Guinea will then travel to Tanzania in the final round.

L’Ethiopia has a small chance of qualifying, but it must win its two matches and hope that Guinea loses theirs.

The Mozambique and the Mali both lead Group I with eight points, and either will secure qualification if they win their Friday match in Maputo.

The Guinea-Bissau are four points behind and hope to take advantage of a possible misstep, but Luis Boa-Morte’s men must return from their trip to Eswatini, already eliminated, with three points.

Guinea-Bissau hosts Mozambique on the final day, while Mali hosts Eswatini.

The Zimbabwe is the big favorite to join Cameroon and qualify from Group J. He will do so if he avoids defeat at home against KenyaFriday in Polokwane, a neutral ground.

Harambee Stars must win this match to keep their hopes alive, which would require them to go one better than Zimbabwe’s result in Cameroon when they host Namibia on Tuesday.

In group K, theUganda only needs one point from its two matches, at home againstSouth Africa and outside Congo-Brazzavilleto return to the final phase for the first time since 2019.

South Africa need a win and will be confident of beating winless South Sudan at home next Tuesday if they drop points in Uganda.

Congo needs two big victories to spoil the party.

Qualification in Group L has already been achieved, with Burkina Faso and Senegal having qualified two days from the end at the expense of Burundi and Malawi.