The Draw for the Total Energies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifiers

The draw for the Total Energies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 qualifiers was held in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Forty-eight African countries will compete to qualify for the 35th edition of this biennial African showpiece, aiming to dethrone coach Emerse Fae's Cote d'Ivoire, the reigning continental champions.

Fae, assisted by Morocco legend Marouane Chamakh, found his side placed in a challenging group as they seek to defend their title. Cote d'Ivoire claimed the championship by defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final in Abidjan earlier this year.

The Elephants have been grouped in Group G, where they will face former champions Zambia, Sierra Leone, and Chad.

Hosts Morocco, already guaranteed a place due to their status as hosts, were drawn in Group B. The Atlas Lions will compete against Gabon, Central African Republic, and Lesotho.

Morocco enters this qualifying campaign with reduced pressure, having secured their participation in the competition on home soil.

The coveted trophy will be up for grabs as the qualifiers for the next TotalEnergies CAF AFCON commence in September 2024 and conclude in November 2024.

The top team and runners-up from each of the eleven groups (excluding tournament hosts Morocco) will qualify for the competition.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations is Africa's premier sporting event, scheduled to take place from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.

Groups:

Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia

Group B: Morocco, Gabon,Central Africa Republic, Lesotho

Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana

Group D: Nigeria, Benin Libya, Rwanda

Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia

Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger

Group G: Cote d'Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad

Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia

Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini

Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe

Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan

Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi