The draw ceremony for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Monday evening at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco.
CAF’s Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu, oversaw the draw, with assistance from African football legends Joseph Yobo (Nigeria), Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire), Hadji Mustapha (Morocco), and Aliou Cisse (Senegal).
The Super Eagles, runners-up in the last edition held in Côte d’Ivoire, must navigate their way past the one-time African champions Carthage Eagles, as well as the Cranes and the Taifa Stars.
Host nation Morocco will take on Mali, 2012 African champions Zambia, and Comoros in Group A. Prior to the draw, the head coach of Mali Tim Saintfiet had set no expectations on who he would like to face or not.
“To be honest, I have no expectations. When I was in the previous job (Gambia national team) we really had an idea of who we want to play or not,” he told Flashscore.
"Now with Mali, I think we have a good team, we have a strong team and sometimes it's playing against strong teams, it's easier to motivate the players.
"I don't think there are weak teams, every team is a good team. Maybe on paper teams like Botswana and Zimbabwe look easier, but sometimes the motivation of players.
"The focus of players is less when you play against them. So for me, I have no expectations.
"I will look against who we play and afterwards we will prepare it, but I'm ready for every opponent."
Africa's most successful team Egypt will renew their rivalry with South Africa in Group B, joined by Angola and Zimbabwe's Warriors.
Meanwhile, the Senegalese national team, who claimed their only title in 2021, will need to overcome Botswana, DR Congo, and Gernot Rohr’s Benin Republic in order to progress to the knockout phase as they aim for a second African title.
2013 AFCON runners-up Burkina Faso will face Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, and former African champions Algeria in Group E. Elsewhere, holders Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Mozambique, and Gabon will make up Group F.
The opening match of the 35th AFCON will take place on December 21st, featuring the Atlas Lions against Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles will begin their quest for a fourth African title against Tanzania on December 23rd at the Fez Stadium in Fez.
Four days later, they will face Tunisia at the same venue, before taking on Uganda’s Cranes on December 30th.
Full groups
Group A
Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Group B
Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Group C
Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Group D
Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
Group E
Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
Group F
Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
The 24-team event sees six first-round groups with the top two in each section, plus the four best third-placed finishers, advancing to the last 16.
See the full schedule for AFCON 2025 here.
