Cote d’Ivoire pooled with Zambia, Sierra Leone and Chad in AFCON qualifiers

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Jul 04, 2024. 15:39

Reigning Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Cote d’Ivoire have been pooled with Zambia, Sierra Leone and Chad in the group stage of the qualifiers for the 2025 edition of the tournament.

The draw for the group stage was conducted in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday afternoon, with 48 teams split into 12 groups of four.

The Elephants claimed a legendary AFCON triumph on home soil earlier this year, and will be confident of securing a ticket from Group G to the next finals in Morocco, which will be held in December 2025 and January 2026.

The Atlas Lions, who will be present as hosts regardless of their performance in the qualifiers, will have the chance to tune up for the tournament in Group B against Gabon, Central African Republic and Lesotho.

Seven-time AFCON champions Egypt are in Group C alongside Cape Verde, Mauritania and Botswana, while 2023 runners-up Nigeria will tackle Benin, Libya and Rwanda in Group D.

Ghana have been drawn in Group F alongside Angola, Sudan and Niger, while Cameroon must overcome Namibia, Kenya and Zimbabwe in Group J.

Champions of the 2021 edition, Senegal find themselves in Group L against Burkina Faso, Malawi and Burundi, while North African heavyweights Algeria and Tunisia are in Groups E and A respectively – the Fennec Foxes face Equatorial Guinea, Togo and Liberia, while the Carthage Eagles will come up against Madagascar, Comoros and Gambia.

DR Congo head Group H and will battle with Guinea, Tanzania and Ethiopia; Group I sees Mali face the challenge of Mozambique, Guinea-Bissua and Eswatini; and South Africa are the seeded team for Group K ahead of Uganda, Congo and South Sudan.

The group stage of the qualifiers will be played in the international windows in September, October and November of this year. The top two teams in each group will secure qualification for the 2025 AFCON, which will be held in Morocco in December 2025 and January 2026.

AFCON Qualifiers Draw

Group A

– Tunisia

– Madagascar

– Comoros

– Gambia

Group B

– Morocco

– Gabon

– Central African Republic

– Lesotho

Group C

– Egypt

– Cape Verde

– Mauritania

– Botswana

Group D

– Nigeria

– Benin

– Libya

– Rwanda

Group E

– Algeria

– Equatorial Guinea

– Togo

– Liberia

Group F

– Ghana

– Angola

– Sudan

– Niger

Group G

– Cote d’Ivoire

– Zambia

– Sierra Leone

– Chad

Group H

– DR Congo

– Guinea

– Tanzania

– Ethiopia

Group I

– Mali

– Mozambique

– Guinea Bissau

– Eswatini

Group J

– Cameroon

– Namibia

– Kenya

– Zimbabwe

Group K

– South Africa

– Uganda

– Congo

– South Sudan

Group L

– Senegal

– Burkina Faso

– Malawi

– Burundi