NSPO001

Sport Football AFCON Draw

2025 AFCON Draw: Holders Cote d’Ivoire begin title defence against Mozambique

Accra, Jan. 28, GNA – Defending champions Cote d’Ivoire will begin their title defence against Mozambique at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Morocco.

The final draw for the 2025 AFCON was held at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat on Monday, with all 24 qualified teams drawn into six groups.

Defending champions Cote d’Ivoire face old rivals and five-time winners Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique in Group F as they quest to retain the title. 

Hosts Morocco headline Group A and would take on Mali, Zambia, and Comoros.

Record seven-time winners Egypt faces a trio of Southern African teams in Group B in the form of last year’s bronze medalists, South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe.

In Group C, Nigeria would lock horns with Tunisia and the East African duo of Uganda and Tanzania, who would be co-hosts of 2027 AFCON.

The 2021 champions, Senegal, go up against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, and Botswana in Group D.

Algeria, winners in 2019, take on Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan in an interesting Group E.

The tournament to be held from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 would be spread across six host cities and nine stadia in Morocco.

The last time Morocco hosted the AFCON was in 1988.

Full Draw:

GROUP A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros

GROUP B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe

GROUP C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania

GROUP D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana

GROUP E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan

GROUP F: Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique

GNA