The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers have concluded, leaving fans with stunning storylines, shocking eliminations, and the field of 24 set for next year’s tournament in Morocco. From the hosts’ scoring prowess to Ghana’s downfall and Botswana’s against-the-odds advancement, here’s the definitive recap of the road to AFCON 2025.
Morocco’s Scoring Spree as Hosts
Already assured of their place at the 2025 AFCON as hosts, Morocco showed no sign of complacency in qualifying. The Atlas Lions were relentless, netting a whopping 26 goals across their six matches while conceding just twice. Their 7-0 demolition of Lesotho was the pinnacle, with Brahim Díaz stealing the show with a hat-trick.
Morocco didn’t need to be competitive, but they didn’t let up. Scoring 4.3 goals per game on average, Brahim Díaz alone outscored 26 entire teams in qualifying.
An African soccer analyst
Ghana’s Shock Elimination
While Morocco soared, continental powerhouse Ghana crashed out in stunning fashion. The rot set in early with a last-gasp 1-0 loss to Angola, before a 2-0 defeat to Sudan, led by former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, left them needing two wins and help to advance. A draw with Angola sealed their fate, eliminating the Black Stars from AFCON for only the second time since 1990.
- Lost 1-0 to Angola on a 93rd minute goal in opener
- Suffered critical 2-0 defeat away to Sudan
- Eliminated after 1-1 home draw with Angola in penultimate game
Botswana’s Stunning Qualification
The feel-good story belonged to 140th-ranked Botswana, who secured their spot at Africa’s top table for the first time since 2012 with a gritty 1-1 draw away to Egypt. The Zebras weathered a storm — just 18% possession and only 4 shots to Egypt’s 30 — but goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko’s heroics made the difference as the Pharaohs dropped points at home for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Egypt | Botswana |
| 82% possession | 18% possession |
| 30 shots | 4 shots |
| 1 goal | 1 goal |
Other notable qualifying storylines included:
- Tunisia suffering a rare home defeat, 1-0 to Comoros
- Libya being awarded a 3-0 loss to Nigeria after diverting their flight and detaining them at the airport for over 12 hours
- Angola winning a highly competitive Group D ahead of Ghana, Sudan, and Madagascar
The Field for AFCON 2025
Here are the 24 teams that will compete at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, to be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026:
- Group A: Morocco (hosts), Burkina Faso, Egypt, Algeria
- Group B: Angola, Congo DR, Cameroon, Senegal
- Group C: Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Tunisia, Comoros
- Group D: Gabon, Nigeria, Zambia, Mali
- Group E: Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Botswana
- Group F: Benin, Sudan, Tanzania, Mozambique
Expect more drama, stunning performances, and unforgettable moments as Africa’s best take center stage once again at AFCON 2025.
