CAN 2025: the competition takes shape

The 2025 African Cup of Nations, scheduled from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 in Morocco, is fast approaching. As the qualifiers draw to a close, the national teams are fighting to get their precious ticket.

As the organizing country, Morocco is naturally qualified for this edition of the CAN. With 19 participations and a title in 1976, the Atlas Lions have a rich history in this competition, but remain with a taste of unfinished business, particularly after their lost final in 2004. This home edition represents a unique opportunity for the The team led by Walid Regragui, who shone at the 2022 World Cup by reaching the semi-finals.

Led by world-class players like Achraf Hakimi and Sofyan Amrabat, the Moroccans will have the advantage of playing in front of an enthusiastic audience in modern infrastructures. If the Lions can manage this wait, they could finally lift their second continental trophy and make history on home soil. Fans of Morocco, and of African football in general, will closely follow the competition, with platforms like Bet777 offering interesting odds for punters eager to follow every step of this adventure.

On Saturday, Guinea played for its survival against a DRC team already qualified and undefeated until now. A goal from Serhou Guirassy in stoppage time allowed Sily National to win 1-0, in a half-empty Abidjan stadium but electrified by Guinean supporters.

If the Leopards of the DRC had approached the match without real pressure, on the strength of their five consecutive victories without conceding a goal, they nevertheless did not succeed in containing the Guinean enthusiasm. Sébastien Desabre, DRC coach, said: “This match was above all a test for us. We will now focus on our preparation for the final phase. »

Unsurprisingly, the big names in African football have already secured their places for the competition:

• Egypt (26 participations), record holder for victories with seven trophies.
• Ivory Coast (25 participations), which seeks to reconnect with its glorious past.
• Cameroon (20 participations), a real heavyweight on the continent.
• Senegalreigning champion, determined to retain his crown.

Several lesser-known teams were able to find a place among the qualifiers, illustrating the growth of African football. The Comoros, who will celebrate their second participation after 2021, continue to surprise and are now one of the nations to watch. Benin, Sudan and Zimbabwe will also return after several years of absence. Although these teams are often considered underdogs, they have shown in the qualifiers that they can shake up the hierarchy, as Sudan’s recent performance proved, and could well spring a surprise in the competition.

• Morocco (host country)
• Burkina Faso
• Algeria
• Cameroon
• Senegal
• Egypt
• RD Congo
• Angola
• Nigeria
• Equatorial Guinea
• Ivory Coast
• Tunisia
• Gabon
• South Africa
• Uganda
• Comoros
• Mali
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• Benign
• Sudan