Former Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo is confident the stars are aligned for the Super Eagles to become African champions for the fourth time, but warns they must make a good start to the Africa Cup of Nations if they want to go all the way.
ESPN ranks every one of the 24 qualifiers, and forecasts who will go the distance at the continental showpiece in Morocco later this year.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations draw was conducted at a glitzy, vibrant ceremony on Monday, with big hitters like Nigeria and Morocco getting fairly favourable draws, while others, like South Africa, will be trepidatious.
Ivory Coast will begin the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations title against Mozambique, while hosts and World Cup semifinalists Morocco open the 2025 tournament against the Comoros Islands in Rabat on Dec. 21.
ESPN presents everything you need to know ahead of the AFCON group stage draw, including details about the event, the format of the draw, and the rundown of those teams to have qualified for the Nations Cup.
Otto Addo is under pressure as Ghana coach, after a catastrophic AFCON qualifying campaign, but he still has believers who think he is the best person for the job.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign is in the books, with all 24 qualifiers for next year's biennial competition now confirmed. ESPN present the definitive recap on all things AFCON.
Tanzania upset Guinea 1-0 to qualify for the Africa Cup on Nations at the visitors' expense on Tuesday. Botswana and Mozambique grabbed the other two places to complete the lineup for the 24-team tournament in Morocco.
Losing to Rwanda was not the result Nigeria were expecting in their final game of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, despite having already sealed their place in Morocco.
Ghana failed to reach the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004 after drawing with Angola 1-1 in qualifying on Friday.
Puma have gone early with the first batch of brand-new home and away kits for AFCON 2025. ESPN breaks down the best (and worst) of the lot.
Gabon, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda all booked spots at the next Africa Cup of Nations finals on Thursday, some without even playing in the latest qualifiers.
Holders Ivory Coast and Equatorial Guinea became the latest countries to qualify for next year's Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Nigeria have been awarded a 3-0 victory over Libya, and three vital points, from their scheduled Africa Cup of Nations qualifier earlier this month which they refused to play after being stuck in a remote Libyan airport for half a day before the match.
African football fans were treated to a spectacular, if controversial, international break.
Five-time winners Cameroon and 2019 champions Algeria both booked their places at next year's Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco after victories in qualifying on Monday, bringing the number of qualified teams to four.
Nigeria have pulled out of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya on Monday, according to their captain William Troost-Ekong and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored the winner as Nigeria squeaked a 1-0 victory over an ultra-defensive Libya.
Issa Hayatou, influential leader of African soccer and former interim FIFA president, died on Thursday in Paris at the age of 77.
| Group A | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equatorial Guinea | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +6 | 7 |
| Nigeria | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 7 |
| Ivory Coast | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 3 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 0 |
| Group B | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Cape Verde Islands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 |
| Egypt | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Ghana | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
| Mozambique | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -3 | 2 |
| Group C | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Senegal | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 9 |
| Cameroon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| Guinea | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| Gambia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 0 |
| Group D | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Angola | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 7 |
| Burkina Faso | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
| Mauritania | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| Algeria | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
| Group E | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Mali | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 5 |
| South Africa | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +2 | 4 |
| Namibia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 4 |
| Tunisia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
| Group F | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
| Morocco | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 |
| Congo DR | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Zambia | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
| Tanzania | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -3 | 2 |
