2025 AFCON, Morocco

[dopeisland]

Here's how each team fared in the draw, according to my model of AFCON Qualifying

Uganda by far came out the best in the draw, compared to pre-draw

[amenina]

Qualifying groups for TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 revealed

https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cu ... -revealed/

Exciting Fixtures Highlight Draw for TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 Qualifiers

https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cu ... ualifiers/

TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifiers Draw | Reactions

https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cu ... reactions/

Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco, Gabon,Central Africa 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

[amenina]

2024 Cosafa Cup, semi-final results, 5 July

Comoros 1-2 Angola
Mozambique 0-0 (2-4 pen) Namibia

7 July

Third place match
Comoros vs Mozambique

Final
Angola vs Namibia

https://cosafa.com/final-line-up-comple ... -cup-2024/

[amenina]

2024 Cosafa Cup, results, 7 July

Third place match
Comoros 2-2 (1-3 pen) Mozambique

Final
Angola 5-0 Namibia

Angola's 4th title, and first since 2004

https://cosafa.com/en-fr-pr-angola-stor ... 024-title/

[dopeisland]

My AFCON qualifying model

[Lorric]

2024 Cosafa Cup, results, 7 July

Third place match
Comoros 2-2 (1-3 pen) Mozambique

Final
Angola 5-0 Namibia

Angola's 4th title, and first since 2004

https://cosafa.com/en-fr-pr-angola-stor ... 024-title/

How strange, those two minnows in their group they beat with normal scores and drew 0-0 in that group with Namibia, only to win the final 5-0.

[amenina]

2024 Cosafa Cup, results, 7 July

Third place match
Comoros 2-2 (1-3 pen) Mozambique

Final
Angola 5-0 Namibia

Angola's 4th title, and first since 2004

https://cosafa.com/en-fr-pr-angola-stor ... 024-title/

How strange, those two minnows in their group they beat with normal scores and drew 0-0 in that group with Namibia, only to win the final 5-0.

It's a regional tournament with B-teams, and the schedule is very tight as there is a match every two days, so I don't think anybody can read these results and gather much conclusions.

[amenina]

Why is Morocco in there? It's not to do with seeding, they're assigned to A1.

The hosts have been included in the AFCON qualifiers ever since it is expanded to 24 teams. I guess because this way the qualifiers format is simpler, with 12 groups and the "top two" advancing (obviously in the group with the hosts, only the top team excluding the hosts advance, but almost always the hosts finish in the top two). Also the hosts will have official matches to play instead of having to arrange friendlies themselves.

And nowadays in many international tournaments, the hosts also play in the qualifiers. Saudi Arabia played the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers since it is combined with 2026 WC qualifiers. USA played in the qualifiers for the Gold Cup and Copa America since the Concacaf Nations League were used to qualify teams. Switzerland are playing in the Women's Euro qualifiers due to the Nations League format. And for Euro 2028, the 5 hosts (maybe 4 if NI can't build a stadium) should also be playing qualifiers since not all hosts are guaranteed an automatic spots, at least according to the formats having been proposed by UEFA.

[Shing]

Why is Morocco in there? It's not to do with seeding, they're assigned to A1.

The hosts have been included in the AFCON qualifiers ever since it is expanded to 24 teams. I guess because this way the qualifiers format is simpler, with 12 groups and the "top two" advancing (obviously in the group with the hosts, only the top team excluding the hosts advance, but almost always the hosts finish in the top two). Also the hosts will have official matches to play instead of having to arrange friendlies themselves.

And nowadays in many international tournaments, the hosts also play in the qualifiers. Saudi Arabia played the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers since it is combined with 2026 WC qualifiers. USA played in the qualifiers for the Gold Cup and Copa America since the Concacaf Nations League were used to qualify teams. Switzerland are playing in the Women's Euro qualifiers due to the Nations League format. And for Euro 2028, the 5 hosts (maybe 4 if NI can't build a stadium) should also be playing qualifiers since not all hosts are guaranteed an automatic spots, at least according to the formats having been proposed by UEFA.

The qualification of the 2027 edition will be interesting if they keep the same format. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will host and they are not traditional powerhouse.

[Lorric]

Why is Morocco in there? It's not to do with seeding, they're assigned to A1.

The hosts have been included in the AFCON qualifiers ever since it is expanded to 24 teams. I guess because this way the qualifiers format is simpler, with 12 groups and the "top two" advancing (obviously in the group with the hosts, only the top team excluding the hosts advance, but almost always the hosts finish in the top two). Also the hosts will have official matches to play instead of having to arrange friendlies themselves.

And nowadays in many international tournaments, the hosts also play in the qualifiers. Saudi Arabia played the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers since it is combined with 2026 WC qualifiers. USA played in the qualifiers for the Gold Cup and Copa America since the Concacaf Nations League were used to qualify teams. Switzerland are playing in the Women's Euro qualifiers due to the Nations League format. And for Euro 2028, the 5 hosts (maybe 4 if NI can't build a stadium) should also be playing qualifiers since not all hosts are guaranteed an automatic spots, at least according to the formats having been proposed by UEFA.

These examples are different though. Saudi Arabia would not have had to play Asian Cup qualifiers if they failed to make the next round of WCQ. CONCACAF's unique circumstances would mean the USA could be eliminated and would still be the host nation with their team not involved, and again UEFA 2028's hosts would be in the qualifiers because they need to actually qualify like the US do to participate. Germany were not involved this time because they didn't need to be.

[amenina]

Why is Morocco in there? It's not to do with seeding, they're assigned to A1.

The hosts have been included in the AFCON qualifiers ever since it is expanded to 24 teams. I guess because this way the qualifiers format is simpler, with 12 groups and the "top two" advancing (obviously in the group with the hosts, only the top team excluding the hosts advance, but almost always the hosts finish in the top two). Also the hosts will have official matches to play instead of having to arrange friendlies themselves.

And nowadays in many international tournaments, the hosts also play in the qualifiers. Saudi Arabia played the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers since it is combined with 2026 WC qualifiers. USA played in the qualifiers for the Gold Cup and Copa America since the Concacaf Nations League were used to qualify teams. Switzerland are playing in the Women's Euro qualifiers due to the Nations League format. And for Euro 2028, the 5 hosts (maybe 4 if NI can't build a stadium) should also be playing qualifiers since not all hosts are guaranteed an automatic spots, at least according to the formats having been proposed by UEFA.

These examples are different though. Saudi Arabia would not have had to play Asian Cup qualifiers if they failed to make the next round of WCQ. CONCACAF's unique circumstances would mean the USA could be eliminated and would still be the host nation with their team not involved, and again UEFA 2028's hosts would be in the qualifiers because they need to actually qualify like the US do to participate. Germany were not involved this time because they didn't need to be.

Yes, these are different examples, but still it is better for the hosts of the continental championships to be involved in the official qualifiers instead of playing just friendlies, because you can get more FIFA ranking points this way. Morocco are 12th in the latest FIFA rankings, so they have an outside chance of getting into the top 9 to be seeded in Pot 1 for the 2026 WC final tournament draw. Unfortunately since the 2025 AFCON final tournament have been postponed to December 2025, this will be after the 2026 WC final tournament draw, so Morocco only have the 2025 AFCON qualifiers and the rest of the 2026 WC qualifiers to boost their ranking.

[amenina]

https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cu ... -fixtures/

TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifiers fixtures

Published: Friday, 12 July 2024

Following the draw of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Qualifiers held in Johannesburg last week, CAF has confirmed the official fixtures of all the qualifiers set to take place between September and November 2024.

A total of 48 nations have been drawn into 12 groups of 4, with the top two finishers in the eleven (11) groups that do not involve tournament hosts Morocco, are set to gain qualification to the competition.

The draw produced some interesting match ups to determine the final 24 teams that will contest the 35th edition of Africa’s biggest sporting spectacle set to take place in the North African nation between 21 December and 18 January.

The recent edition held in Cote d’Ivoire re-affirmed the growing standard of African football, with the standard being at an all-time high across all matches.

Looking at the some of the fixtures, reigning champions Cote d’Ivoire will kick off their campaign against 2012 champions Zambia who are drawn in a Group G pool consisting of Sierra Leone and Chad.

Hosts Morocco face Gabon in Group B, while Central African Republic play host to Lesotho in another Group B clash.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria, who finished runners up in Cote d’Ivoire will face Benin, while Libya plays host to Rwanda in what will be a tough Group D.

Group L will produce arguably the most appetising fixture of the opening day of qualifiers when former champions, Senegal play host to Burkina Faso.

For a full list of Groups and Fixtures – CLICK HERE

https://www.cafonline.com/media/rqog505 ... rpdf-2.pdf

TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 Qualifiers Permutations:

The two finishers of the groups that do not involved Morocco (Group B), will gain automatic qualification to the finals.

For teams that finish first and second in a group consisting of Morocco, who by virtue of being tournament hosts gain automatic qualification, the following scenarios will be applied:

· If the host is ranked first, the host is qualified in addition to the second of the group.

· If the host is ranked second, the host will qualify in addition to the first of the group.

· If the host is ranked third or fourth, the host will qualify in addition to the first of the group.

[amenina]

https://www.cafonline.com/news/former-i ... ead-coach/

Former international Nibombe Dare named Togo's new head coach
Published: Wednesday, 17 July 2024

The Togolese Football Federation (FTF) has officially announced the appointment of Nibombe Dare as the new head coach of the national team, known as the Sparrowhawks.

The announcement was made during a press briefing this week at the FTF headquarters in Kégué, ending weeks of speculation about who would succeed Paulo Duarte.

Daré, a former Togolese international player and UEFA Pro licence holder, is set to lead the team into the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifiers.

His first match in charge will be a home fixture against Liberia in early September.

"This is the official announcement of his appointment. Nibombé Daré will be in Lomé very soon to discuss the terms of his contract before his official presentation," FTF Secretary General Herve Agbodan told reporters.



La FTF officialise le nouveau sélectionneur des Eperviers

En savoir plus https://t.co/ESW79CBkRJ pic.twitter.com/RF9M3CfpV0

— FTF-Fédération Togolaise de Football (@FtfTogolaise) July 15, 2024


While Daré's appointment has been confirmed, the length of his contract remains undisclosed.

The FTF stated that the details would be finalised upon Daré's return to Lomé, with an official presentation ceremony to follow in the coming weeks.

The new coach was not present at the press briefing, but his imminent arrival in Lomé is expected to mark the beginning of a new era for Togolese football.

Daré's appointment comes at a crucial time as Togo prepares for the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 qualifiers, with fans and officials alike hoping his experience as a player and his coaching qualifications will help elevate the national team's performance on the continental stage.

[amenina]

And last month, Tunisia appointed Faouzi Benzarti as manager, replacing caretaker Montasser Louhichi: https://www.mosaiquefm.net/fr/football/ ... -nationale

This is his 4th spell in charge, although his previous three spells are mostly as caretaker or were very short, never lasting more than a year.

[dopeisland]

Looks like the fixtures page on CAF's website has been updated with dates for September's fixtures

https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cu ... e-results/