The journey to the AFCON 2025 begins with qualification. In this thrilling campaign, nations from across the continent battle for a ticket to the final tournament in Morocco. On this page, you’ll find everything about the qualifiers: from an explanation of the format to group standings. Discover how the preliminary rounds unfolded, how the draw shaped the groups, and check out the complete fixture list.
How does AFCON 2025 qualifiers work?
A total of 24 nations will compete at AFCON 2025. To get there, teams must go through the qualification process. In total, 52 countries entered the qualifiers, including host nation Morocco. Only Eritrea and the Seychelles were excluded. Although Morocco took part in the qualifiers, they were automatically qualified as hosts. This means that in Morocco’s group, only one additional team was able to qualify.
The qualification process consists of two stages: the preliminary round and the group stage.
Preliminary Round
Qualification began with a preliminary round featuring the eight lowest-ranked teams on the FIFA rankings. These nations were paired through a draw, with each tie played over two legs (home and away). The Preliminary Round took place from 20 to 26 March 2024, with the four winners advancing to the group stage, bringing the total number of teams to 48.
Group Stage Qualification
The 48 teams were seeded at the draw into four pots based on the FIFA rankings and drawn into 12 groups of four teams each, one from each pot. Every team faced their group opponents twice, home and away. The top two teams from each group secured a spot at the final tournament. The group stage ran from September 2024 to November 2024.
Everything about AFCON 2025 qualifiers
The road to AFCON 2025 was just as exciting as the tournament itself. A total of 52 nations battled it out for one of the coveted tickets to Morocco. From the first preliminary round to the final group-stage matches, here’s everything you need to know about how the qualifiers unfolded.
Preliminary Round Qualification
The qualifiers kicked off with a preliminary stage where the lower-ranked nations faced off for a place in the group stage. It quickly became clear which underdogs could spring a surprise.
Qualification Draw
After the preliminary round, the draw determined the group stage line-ups. This moment revealed exciting clashes and set the stage for the rest of the campaign.
Qualification Match Schedule
From the very first to the final group-stage match, the fixture list brings all games together in one clear overview. That way, you won’t miss a single duel.
Qualification Standings
The standings show at a glance which nations sit at the top of their groups and which teams still have work to do in the race for AFCON 2025. Check out the group tables for all the details.