The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will feature 24 teams competing for continental glory. This confirmation follows the conclusion of the qualifying series on Tuesday night. Tanzania, Botswana, and Mozambique secured the last three slots, completing the roster of participants.
A Full House for the 2025 AFCON
Twenty-one teams had already booked their places before the final round of qualifying matches. These teams include heavyweights like Morocco, the hosts, and defending champions Senegal. Other notable names are Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa.
The full list of participating nations comprises Morocco, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Algeria, DR Congo, Senegal, Egypt, Angola, Gabon, Uganda, and South Africa. Also making the cut are Equatorial Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Benin Republic, Comoros, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Mali, Zambia, and Tunisia.
The three late qualifiers—Tanzania, Botswana, and Mozambique—round off the 24 teams heading to Morocco.
Morocco to Host AFCON 2025
Morocco will host the 35th edition of the AFCON from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. The tournament will take place in six cities across the North African nation. Initially planned for June and July, the schedule was moved to avoid clashing with FIFA’s new-format Club World Cup.
This will be Morocco’s second time hosting the AFCON. They previously hosted the tournament in 1988, where Cameroon emerged as champions.
Qualifying Campaign Ends Dramatically
The 2025 AFCON qualifying series officially concluded on November 19. The final whistle of the Senegal vs. Burundi game marked the end of a long journey for many teams. Ten months after the 2023 final in Cote d’Ivoire, Africa’s best are now set for the next chapter of competition.
Ghana’s absence is the biggest shock of the qualification series. The four-time champions failed to win any of their six matches in Group F, finishing last. Their recent performances hinted at struggles, but missing out entirely has stunned fans.
East African Representation at AFCON
Closer to home, there was a mix of joy and disappointment in East Africa. Tanzania and Uganda secured qualification, while Kenya’s Harambee Stars failed to make the cut. Kenya now looks forward to co-hosting the 2027 AFCON with neighbours Uganda.
Tanzania’s qualification is particularly notable as they return to Africa’s biggest stage. The Taifa Stars join Uganda, maintaining East Africa’s presence at the prestigious tournament.
Looking Ahead to AFCON 2025
The 2025 AFCON promises intense competition with 24 teams vying for glory. Defending champions Senegal will aim to retain their title. Hosts Morocco, runners-up in 2004, will hope to use home advantage to lift the trophy.
Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses like Nigeria, Algeria, and Egypt will seek to add to their title hauls. Emerging teams like Comoros and Mozambique will aim to make their mark on the big stage.
With Morocco’s world-class infrastructure and footballing history, expectations for a successful tournament are high. Fans can look forward to thrilling matches, stunning goals, and unforgettable moments.
Stay tuned to Bangbet News for the latest updates on AFCON 2025. For those looking to add excitement to the tournament, place your bets on Bangbet, where high odds and great offers await!