The stage is ready on the Mohammed V Nationwide Theatre in Rabat, Morocco, the place 24 African soccer nations will be taught their group stage opponents within the highly-anticipated Remaining Draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 on Monday. The occasion, set for 19h00 native time (18h00 GMT), will reveal the group stage opponents for twenty-four groups competing for African soccer’s most coveted trophy.
The draw is greater than only a formal procedure–it marks the symbolic starting of Africa’s premier soccer competitors, which is able to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
With the temper throughout the continent reaching fever pitch, coaches, gamers, and followers are keen to search out out who their groups will face within the group stage battles.
The 24 Competing Nations
The match contains a mix of perennial powerhouses, rising stars, and debutants:
Pot 1 (Favourites): Morocco (hosts), Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire (defending champions) Pot 2: Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, Burkina Faso Pot 3: Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Benin Pot 4 (Underdogs): Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana
The range of groups guarantees a contest crammed with contrasting kinds and narratives.
Favourites and Underdogs
Host nation Morocco, returning to host the AFCON for the primary time since 1988, will look to capitalize on their house benefit. The Atlas Lions, using excessive on their historic 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinal run, are among the many favourites.
Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire are additionally eyeing back-to-back triumphs after lifting the trophy on house soil only one 12 months in the past. Senegal, the 2021 winners, led by coach Pape Thiaw, are equally decided to make historical past.
In the meantime, underdogs like Botswana, returning to the AFCON for under the second time since 2012, and Comoros, trying to replicate their shock 2021 marketing campaign, convey a singular edge to the match.
Document Holders and Darkish Horses
The document champions Egypt, spearheaded by stars like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, stay a formidable power. Nevertheless, groups like Mali and Burkina Faso, usually labeled as darkish horses, might upset the normal order with their proficient squads.
Draw Mechanics
The draw will divide the 24 groups into six teams of 4, with the highest two in every group, together with the 4 finest third-placed groups, advancing to the spherical of 16.
Morocco routinely occupies place A1 as hosts, whereas the remainder of the groups are seeded primarily based on their FIFA rankings.
A Star-Studded Night
The Mohammed V Nationwide Theatre, inaugurated in 1961, is dressed for the event, showcasing Morocco’s class and cultural heritage.
The occasion will function musical performances by internationally famend artists like RedOne and Gims, celebrating the unity of sport and tradition.
African soccer legends similar to Essam El Hadary, Patrick Mboma, and Mustapha Hadji will grace the occasion, including gravitas to the night.
Broadcast stay to over 90 nations on CAF’s platforms and world broadcasters, the AFCON 2025 draw symbolizes the unifying energy of African soccer.
The match, scheduled from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, guarantees a showcase of expertise, resilience, and fervour as Africa’s most interesting compete for continental glory.
