- Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco, title-holders Ivory Coast, and Nigeria are likely to be among the top seeds for the 2025 tournament draw.
- The draw will take place in Rabat on January 27, with the latest FIFA world rankings determining the seeds.
- The 24 participants will be divided into six four-team groups, with winners and runners-up from each group plus the best four third-placed teams qualifying for the knockout phase.
The stage is set for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria poised to be among the top seeds for the draw. A Confederation of African Football official revealed that the latest FIFA world rankings would “almost certainly determine the seeds”.
The draw, scheduled to take place in Rabat on January 27, will see the 24 participants divided into six four-team groups. The winners and runners-up from each group, along with the best four third-placed teams, will qualify for the knockout phase.
Likely Seeding:
- First: Morocco (hosts), Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Ivory Coast (holders)
- Second: Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso
- Third: Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Benin
- Fourth: Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana
The tournament, originally set for mid-2025, has been pushed back to avoid clashing with the revamped Club World Cup. It will now kick off on December 21 and finish on January 18, marking the first time the biennial AFCON will span two years.
