Photo Credit: Fédération Sénégalaise de Football
Twenty-four teams are confirmed for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations that will take place in Morocco in a little over a year and it was a thrilling qualification campaign to follow. The expansion of the tournament is creating opportunities for Africa's rising national teams to compete with the elite nations who traditionally dominate the region. In the second part of our look at the 24-team field, Pan-Africa Football reviews Groups G-L and the nations who qualified.
Group G
Photo Credit: Football Association of Zambia
Group Summary
It appeared that there may be some drama in the final window of matches but Zambia put the worries of their supporters to rest by not only defeating Ivory Coast at the beginning of the recent international window but going on to win the group. Chipolopolo found their form at the right time while the defending champions slipped to second place due to complacency. For Sierra Leone there was promise but a failure to capitalize positive momentum gained in October while Chad exceeded expectations by being a difficult team to break down.
Qualified Teams
Zambia
A difficult 2024 ended on a positive note for Chipolopolo whose defense remained solid, keeping a clean sheet in their final four matches. Injuries throughout the campaign impacted the attack down the stretch but the group winners found goals when they needed them most. Zambia are establishing a strong defensive backbone and foundation while the team continues to discover in its attacking approach.
Coach Avram Grant and his team responded well under pressure, most importantly in the home victory over Ivory Coast last week with a controlled performance. Grant justified the decision of the Football Association of Zambia to keep him on after a disappointing 2023 AFCON and the Israeli tactician has done a good job of experimenting with different formations and a large pool of players. This served him well when injuries to players like Patson Daka occurred as well as a rift with striker Fashion Sakala that has not been resolved yet.
Video: Zambia 1-0 Ivory Coast highlights (Credit: FAZ TV)
Ivory Coast
The defending African champions looked set to finish top of the group but coach Emerse Faé made the mistake of resting numerous players against Sierra Leone in the Elephants' fourth match, resulting in a 1-0 defeat that halted the Ivorian charge. The defense remains very strong and the midfield is outstanding due to the immense quality of Seko Fofana and Franck Kessié. The attack remains a bit inconsistent and the challenge for Faé is to find the right combination of players from a variety of options.
With regards to the attack there remains potential with some players emerging during the campaign. Jean-Philippe Krasso won the trust of Faé at the striker position early in qualifying and there remain numerous options on the wings including younger players like Simon Adingra, Evann Guessand, Amad Diallo and Bénie Traoré along with veterans like Nicolas Pépé.
Video: Ivory Coast 2-0 Zambia highlights
Group H
Photo Credit: Fédération Congolaise de Football Association
Summary
DR Congo snatched control of Group H early and never relinquished first place, allowing the Leopards to lose their final two matches with no penalty. A dramatic conclusion saw Tanzania overtake Guinea courtesy of Simon Msuva's goal in a 1-0 victory over the Syli National in Dar es Salaam. Serhou Guirassy is living up to expectations in the shirt of Guinea but his absence in the opening two matches came back to haunt the West African nation in the end.
Qualified Teams
DR Congo
The high talent level is well known in the Leopards team but under coach Sébastien Desabre the Congolese are realizing their full potential. Disasters and mishaps from previous qualifying campaigns appear to be a thing of the past under the French manager who continues to organize his team and convince talented dual national players to wear the Congolese colors.
The core group of the Leopards are experienced and in their prime while Desabre is giving opportunities to young talents like midfielder Noah Sadiki with the future in mind. At this point, the most important priority for Desabre and the Leopards is to discover a striker to rely on (Simon Banza?) and develop the depth in the team to prepare for any absences or injuries.
Video: Tanzania 0-2 DR Congo highlights
Tanzania
The Taifa Stars never produce many goals (2025 qualifying: 5 goals in 6 matches, 2023 qualifying: 3 goals in 6 matches) but the defense and organization of the East African nation continues to produce success. Veteran striker Simon Msuva returned for the final international window to deliver two crucial goals including the lone goal in a 1-0 home victory over Guinea to clinch qualification.
Midfielders Mudathir Yahya, Novatus Miroshi and Feisal Salum also provided important and timely contributions when Tanzania needed it most. It is clear that this team now has the confidence to compete with Africa's strongest teams but lack the quality in the attack to find goals. Msuva and fellow veteran forward Mbwana Ally Samatta remain capable but if Tanzania want to make a deep run in Morocco they will need to receive contributions from younger attackers like Kibu Denis and Clement Mzize.
Video: Simon Msuva scores the winner against Guinea to qualify Tanzania
Group I
Photo Credit: Fédération Malienne de Football
Summary
Mali only allowed one goal in their six matches as Les Aigles continue to establish themselves as a group to fear in African football. A second consecutive successful qualification for Mozambique comes after the Mambas topped fellow Lusophone country Guinea-Bissau away from home, another feather in the cap for successful coach Chiquinho Conde who is now aiming for more ambitious goals with this group.
Qualified Teams
Mali
After years of developing many young talents who continue to move to European club football, the expectations are growing for supporters of Les Aigles. It was mostly a dominant qualification campaign under former Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet who has an excellent midfield and attack that is capable of overwhelming any opponent.
At this point the only concerns for Mali are establishing solidity in the heart of the defensive line and consistency from their forwards. Kamory Doumbia and Nene Dorgeles are young and explosive attackers who can take this group to the next level but in the past the defense, particularly the central partnership, has let this team down in crucial matches against stronger competition.
Video: Mali 6-0 Eswatini highlights
Mozambique
Under coach Chiqunho Conde, Mozambique have earned the right to compete with Africa's best with another AFCON qualification. Featuring an experienced team led by dual national recruits such as attacking left back Bruno Langa and central midfielder Guima, the key to unlocking defenses lies with young wide playmaker Geny Catamo who continues to develop well in Portuguese club football.
While this team is an adequate force, the Mambas lack a reliable striker and the reliable defense needed to make a run at the AFCON finals. There were signs of promise during their group stage exit at the 2023 edition but the weaknesses mentioned above make the Mambas a team that is maximizing their limited potential.
Video: Guinea-Bissau 1-2 Mozambique highlights
Group J
Photo Credit: Fecafoot- Officiel
Group Summary
Cameroon did well to establish their dominance in Group J after some controversy around the hiring of coach Marc Brys with familiar faces providing the important contributions. Zimbabwe have fully arrived back on the African scene after a FIFA ban that stretched on for a couple of years, making the Warriors one of the stories of this 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign. Kenya did not have enough attacking firepower and Namibia disappointed after a stellar 2023 AFCON performance.
Qualified Teams
Cameroon
It is still mostly the same cast and actors who are carrying the Indomitable Lions. Vincent Aboubakar is beginning to rediscover his form after some time off due to injury and the captain provided three goals during the campaign. Tricky winger Georges-Kévin N'Koudou is becoming more important to the team and there is now more stability in the Cameroonian midfield since the arrival of Brys.
It is important to note that this group did not perform very well at the 2023 AFCON (exited in the Round of 16 to Nigeria) and have not lived up to the historical reputation of the Cameroon national team. Aboubakar is not the force he used to be and the defense is not particularly intimidating even with a talented goalkeeper like André Onana behind it. Confidence is not high among supporters and there remains much to prove for a group that does not currently look like contenders in Morocco.
Video: Boris Enow scores from a free kick in an important 1-0 victory over Kenya
Zimbabwe
It is great to see Zimbabwe not only back competing in African national team football but putting things together on the pitch. The Warriors developed a reputation of underachieving over the years even before the FIFA ban that left them unable to compete in qualifying for the 2023 AFCON. Under coach Michael Nees it has come together with an intriguing group of both experienced stars and rising talents.
Veterans like Khama Billiat, Walter Musona and goalkeeper Washington Arubi are bringing leadership to the squad with young attacker Tawanda Maswanhise showing signs of being able to contribute now rather than later. However it is the defense that is forming into a remarkable unit in front of goalkeeper Arubi. FC Copenhagen center back Munashe Garananga continues to develop and Jordan Zemura is a talented left back who is accumulating experience in top European leagues.
Video: Zimbabwe 3-1 Namibia highlights
Group K
Photo Credit: South African Football Association
Group Summary
South Africa cruised through the group without too much trouble, recovering from an opening match draw at home to Uganda to mostly dominate their opponents. Uganda are back on the African scene after a few years in the wilderness under Paul Put who has helped the Cranes rediscover their scoring touch. Administrative issues limited the Republic of Congo and South Sudan still have a long way to go before the Bright Stars can seriously expect AFCON qualification.
Qualified Teams
South Africa
Coach Hugo Broos was not afraid to ruffle the feathers of South African football experts in his early days and it appears that Bafana Bafana are now playing with an edge and attitude not seen during years of disappointment. A shaky start in the opening two matches gave way to dominating performances at home and an impressive 2-0 victory in Kampala against runners-up Uganda.
The core of the team formed from top South African club Mamelodi Sundowns continues to deliver for Broos but the Belgian is successfully exploring the younger and less established talent in his player pool. Attackers like Elias Mokwana, Patrick Maswanganyi and Oswin Appolis as well as young center back Rushwin Dortley are all younger players who could play an important role in the future to add to a well established group of veterans.
Video: Uganda 0-2 South Africa highlights (Credit: FUFA TV)
Uganda
Ugandan football lovers needed to see positive signs in a Cranes team who struggled mightily to score more than one goal in a World Cup or AFCON qualifying match, doing it only once since early in 2021 AFCON qualifying before coach Paul Put arrived. The Belgian with a proven track record managing African national teams has discovered the attacking potential in this Uganda team, scoring two or more goals in three of their six qualifying games.
But what is most important for Uganda's ambitions is a solid defense which delivered. Central defender Bevis Mugabi appears to be comfortable as a defensive leader along with captain and Young Africans midfielder Khalid Aucho who can be an intimidating presence in the middle of the pitch. A poor performance at home against South Africa took some of the glory away from an excellent qualifying campaign but the Cranes are now a rising team with growing confidence.
Video: Uganda 2-0 Congo highlights
Group L
Photo Credit: Fédération Sénégalaise de Football
Group Summary
This group was settled early with Senegal maintaining the pace at the top with Burkina Faso the clear runners-up. Burundi and Malawi were no match for the West African nations who quickly established their dominance. Despite a major coaching change, Senegal continued to prove why they are now one of Africa's dominant powers with an evolving group of talent who play in the highest leagues around the world.
Qualified Teams
Senegal
It was shocking to see long-time head coach Aliou Cissé unceremoniously dismissed in October but interim coach Pape Thiaw oversaw a winning end to the AFCON qualifying campaign. The most difficult task with the Lions of Teranga is introducing new young talents to an experienced team that contains luminaries Sadio Mané, Kalidou Koulibaly and Édouard Mendy without disrupting what has made Senegal the champions of Africa in 2021.
The dominance of recent qualifying campaigns was not on display as much this time around but the Senegalese team can dominate with their combination of power and technique. Young players such as midfielders Lamine Camara and Habib Diarra are increasing their responsibilities and duties among the veteran players and Senegal are improving the areas where they could be exploited. With Koulibaly and Mané in the twilight of their national team careers it is important for the next permanent manager to maintain the high level of competition among the younger members of the Lions.
Video: Senegal 4-0 Malawi highlights
Burkina Faso
Despite being unable to host their home fixtures due to the inadequate stadium situation at home, the Stallions continue to be a force and constant presence in African football. An excellent defensive battery led by top defender Edmond Tapsoba provides the foundation for Burkina Faso to dream of their first AFCON title that has eluded them despite deep runs in previous editions.
However the team is too dependent on attacking stars like Bertrand Traoré which creates moments when the Stallions cannot assert themselves against the top teams. The emergence of Dango Ouattara and the recent return of striker Lassina Traoré after a long time out due to injury offers plenty of hope but the midfield remains questionable and there is little to no depth when key players are injured or unavailable.
Video: Burkina Faso 4-1 Burundi highlights
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