The draw for the teams that advanced to the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) concluded, with five-time champions Cameroon and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire placed in the same group.

On Monday, January 27, 2025, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the AFCON 2025 group stage lineup in Rabat, Morocco.

The 24 teams were divided into four pots and drawn into six groups, each containing four nations. African football legends Mustapha Hadji, Serge Aurier, Aliou Cissé, and Joseph Yobo participated in conducting the draw.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe expressed high expectations for the tournament, saying,

The first match, scheduled for December 21, 2025, will feature host nation Morocco against Comoros.

Group Lineup Overview

• Group A: Morocco (hosts), Comoros, Zambia, and Mali.

• Group B: Zimbabwe, Angola, South Africa, and seven-time winners Egypt.

• Group C: East African teams Tanzania and Uganda alongside Tunisia and Nigeria, both seen as tournament heavyweights.

• Group D: Botswana, Benin, DR Congo (strong performers in the last edition), and 2021 champions Senegal.

• Group E: Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Algeria.

• Group F: Mozambique, Gabon, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire in what many consider the toughest group.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16, along with four of the best-performing third-placed teams. Notably, 12 of the participating teams have previously won the AFCON title.