AFCON 2025: Lessons Learned from the AFCON Qualifiers

North African Nations Look Set To Dominate AFCON 2025

While it may seem cliché to fancy the host nation to do well at the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco have more than earned their spot among the pre-tournament favourites. The Atlas Lions were undoubtedly the most impressive team during the qualifiers, ending as the only side with a perfect six wins in six matches while scoring an incredible 26 goals. Walid Regragui's side are also the only African nation to have reached a World Cup semi-final and are the highest-ranked team in the CAF region under FIFA. With a squad boasting the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou Sofyan Amrabat, Youssef En-Nesyri and Hakim Ziyech, the host nation looks primed for a proper run at the title.

Algeria have been a bit of a mixed bag in recent times, as they rose to continental glory by winning the AFCON in 2019 but then followed that up by bowing out in the group stage of the 2021 edition before failing to qualify for the World Cup in 2022. However, now under the guidance of Vladimir Petkovic, the Fennecs have enjoyed an excellent qualifying campaign, recording five wins and a draw, scoring 16 goals while conceding just two. Additionally, with the Desert Warriors sharing a border with hosts Morocco, they are sure to have plenty of support and possess more than enough class in Houssem Aouar, Amine Gouiri, Said Benrahma and co, to make a deep run at the tournament. 

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Nigeria to Lead the AFCON 2025 Charge for West Africa

One of the biggest shocks during qualifying was seeing Ghana fail to earn a spot at the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in two decades. However, West Africa still has a few big names left in the competition, and leading the pack to upset their North-continental counterparts will likely be Nigeria. The Super Eagles took 11 points from their six games, and while they did lose the final match of the group, their qualification had already been secured by then. For Nigeria, a crucial factor to their success in Morocco will be their ability to address their coaching situation, as there are still lots of questions about whether caretaker boss Augustine Eguavoen will be able to manage so many big personalities in the dressing room. 

Senegal's resolve was tested during the AFCON qualifiers, as they had to deal with the departure of Aliou Cisse after nearly a decade in charge - a period during which he led the team to their first-ever continental title at the 2021 tournament. However, the Lions of Teranga showed their class, emerging as Group L winners and qualifying for the main draw with a game to spare. On paper, Senegal are widely viewed as having the most impressive lineup across the continent, featuring the likes of Nicolas Jackson, Ismaila Sarr, and of course, Sadio Mane, who was the team's top scorer in qualifying with three goals. 

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Southern Africans Up Against It at AFCON 2025

Of the Southern African representatives, Bafana Bafana were the most eye-catching side during qualifying, as they secured their qualification with a game in hand by beating Uganda 2-0 on matchday five. South Africa finished in third place at the 2023 AFCON, and since bowing out to Nigeria on penalties in the semi-final of that competition, they have yet to taste a single defeat. Hugo Broos's side were also the highest-scoring team of the Southern African nations in qualifying, netting an impressive 16 goals in their six matches. 

Aside from the aforementioned, Southern Africa will be represented at AFCON 2025 by Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, with the latter returning to the competition after the heartbreak of being disqualified from the previous competition. Notably, none of these three sides managed to win their group, with the Zebras and the Mambas' qualification only being confirmed on the final day of qualifying. 

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The 24 Teams Who Qualified for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations 

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