2025 AFCON, Morocco

[perica]

What did I write? Until 2010

[Jackson Harrison]

What did I write? Until 2010

Yeah!

Until 2010 african cup of nations was always hold at the begin of world cup year

[Jackson Harrison]

Following the conclusion of the 34th edition of TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, the focus has shifted to the next edition, with the preliminary draw of TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 scheduled for Tuesday, 20 February 2024 in Cairo, Egypt.

The draw will be conducted at 14h00 local time (12h00 GMT).

The preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will include the eight (8) lowest-ranked teams according to the FIFA ranking: Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome, Chad, Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia and Eswatini.

The matches will be played on home and away basis during the FIFA Window of 18-26 March 2024. The four (4) preliminary round winners will join the 44 exempted teams for the group stage.

[amenina]

Following the conclusion of the 34th edition of TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, the focus has shifted to the next edition, with the preliminary draw of TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 scheduled for Tuesday, 20 February 2024 in Cairo, Egypt.

The draw will be conducted at 14h00 local time (12h00 GMT).

The preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will include the eight (8) lowest-ranked teams according to the FIFA ranking: Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome, Chad, Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia and Eswatini.

The matches will be played on home and away basis during the FIFA Window of 18-26 March 2024. The four (4) preliminary round winners will join the 44 exempted teams for the group stage.

Article: https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cu ... r-tuesday/

Draw procedure: https://www.cafonline.com/media/0hxl00e ... eng-fr.pdf

FIFA ranking: https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men

Did not enter AFCON 2025: Eritrea, Seychelles


Draw procedures of the preliminary round of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025

I. Engaged teams:

52 teams engaged in the next Africa Cup of Nations. The less 8 ranked teams in the FIFA ranking will play the preliminary round and the remaining 44 teams will be exempted and will play directly in the group stage.

II. System of the qualifiers:

Preliminary round:
Knock out system from home and away matches for the less 8 qualified teams in the FIFA ranking.

Group stage:
the 4 winners of the preliminary round in addition to the 44 exempted teams will play the group stage.

III. Draw procedures of the preliminary round:

The less 8 ranked teams are distributed into 2 pots according to their ranking:
4 lowest ranked among the 8 teams: Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome & Chad
4 highest ranked among the 8 teams: Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia & Eswatini

Pot 1: Lowest 4 ranked
Somalia
Djibouti
Sao Tome
Chad

Pot 2: Highest 4 ranked
Mauritius
South Sudan
Liberia
Eswatini

The 1st ball drawn from pot 1 will play against the 1st ball drawn from Pot 2 and the teams of Pot 1 will play the 1st leg at home. The same process will be repeated for the remaining teams in pot 1 & 2

[Jackson Harrison]

Following the conclusion of the 34th edition of TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, the focus has shifted to the next edition, with the preliminary draw of TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 scheduled for Tuesday, 20 February 2024 in Cairo, Egypt.

The draw will be conducted at 14h00 local time (12h00 GMT).

The preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will include the eight (8) lowest-ranked teams according to the FIFA ranking: Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome, Chad, Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia and Eswatini.

The matches will be played on home and away basis during the FIFA Window of 18-26 March 2024. The four (4) preliminary round winners will join the 44 exempted teams for the group stage.

Article: https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cu ... r-tuesday/

Draw procedure: https://www.cafonline.com/media/0hxl00e ... eng-fr.pdf

FIFA ranking: https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men

Did not enter AFCON 2025: Eritrea, Seychelles


Draw procedures of the preliminary round of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025

I. Engaged teams:

52 teams engaged in the next Africa Cup of Nations. The less 8 ranked teams in the FIFA ranking will play the preliminary round and the remaining 44 teams will be exempted and will play directly in the group stage.

II. System of the qualifiers:

Preliminary round:
Knock out system from home and away matches for the less 8 qualified teams in the FIFA ranking.

Group stage:
the 4 winners of the preliminary round in addition to the 44 exempted teams will play the group stage.

III. Draw procedures of the preliminary round:

The less 8 ranked teams are distributed into 2 pots according to their ranking:
4 lowest ranked among the 8 teams: Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome & Chad
4 highest ranked among the 8 teams: Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia & Eswatini

Pot 1: Lowest 4 ranked
Somalia
Djibouti
Sao Tome
Chad

Pot 2: Highest 4 ranked
Mauritius
South Sudan
Liberia
Eswatini

The 1st ball drawn from pot 1 will play against the 1st ball drawn from Pot 2 and the teams of Pot 1 will play the 1st leg at home. The same process will be repeated for the remaining teams in pot 1 & 2

Ah I thought the other one that didn't engage was Morocco as they're hosting - wonder why Seychelles didn't?

That leaves only 43 so one group will only have 3 with the best ranked team qualifying, presumably Morocco will be paired to play friendlies against teams from this group?

[amenina]

Following the conclusion of the 34th edition of TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, the focus has shifted to the next edition, with the preliminary draw of TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 scheduled for Tuesday, 20 February 2024 in Cairo, Egypt.

The draw will be conducted at 14h00 local time (12h00 GMT).

The preliminary round of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will include the eight (8) lowest-ranked teams according to the FIFA ranking: Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome, Chad, Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia and Eswatini.

The matches will be played on home and away basis during the FIFA Window of 18-26 March 2024. The four (4) preliminary round winners will join the 44 exempted teams for the group stage.

Article: https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cu ... r-tuesday/

Draw procedure: https://www.cafonline.com/media/0hxl00e ... eng-fr.pdf

FIFA ranking: https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men

Did not enter AFCON 2025: Eritrea, Seychelles


Draw procedures of the preliminary round of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025

I. Engaged teams:

52 teams engaged in the next Africa Cup of Nations. The less 8 ranked teams in the FIFA ranking will play the preliminary round and the remaining 44 teams will be exempted and will play directly in the group stage.

II. System of the qualifiers:

Preliminary round:
Knock out system from home and away matches for the less 8 qualified teams in the FIFA ranking.

Group stage:
the 4 winners of the preliminary round in addition to the 44 exempted teams will play the group stage.

III. Draw procedures of the preliminary round:

The less 8 ranked teams are distributed into 2 pots according to their ranking:
4 lowest ranked among the 8 teams: Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome & Chad
4 highest ranked among the 8 teams: Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia & Eswatini

Pot 1: Lowest 4 ranked
Somalia
Djibouti
Sao Tome
Chad

Pot 2: Highest 4 ranked
Mauritius
South Sudan
Liberia
Eswatini

The 1st ball drawn from pot 1 will play against the 1st ball drawn from Pot 2 and the teams of Pot 1 will play the 1st leg at home. The same process will be repeated for the remaining teams in pot 1 & 2

Ah I thought the other one that didn't engage was Morocco as they're hosting - wonder why Seychelles didn't?

That leaves only 43 so one group will only have 3 with the best ranked team qualifying, presumably Morocco will be paired to play friendlies against teams from this group?

AFCON hosts also play qualifiers. All results count towards the group standings, but since Morocco are already qualified, only one team will "qualify" from the group (although it is very likely Morocco will finish top two of the group).

[Jackson Harrison]

Article: https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cu ... r-tuesday/

Draw procedure: https://www.cafonline.com/media/0hxl00e ... eng-fr.pdf

FIFA ranking: https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men

Did not enter AFCON 2025: Eritrea, Seychelles


Draw procedures of the preliminary round of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025

I. Engaged teams:

52 teams engaged in the next Africa Cup of Nations. The less 8 ranked teams in the FIFA ranking will play the preliminary round and the remaining 44 teams will be exempted and will play directly in the group stage.

II. System of the qualifiers:

Preliminary round:
Knock out system from home and away matches for the less 8 qualified teams in the FIFA ranking.

Group stage:
the 4 winners of the preliminary round in addition to the 44 exempted teams will play the group stage.

III. Draw procedures of the preliminary round:

The less 8 ranked teams are distributed into 2 pots according to their ranking:
4 lowest ranked among the 8 teams: Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome & Chad
4 highest ranked among the 8 teams: Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia & Eswatini

Pot 1: Lowest 4 ranked
Somalia
Djibouti
Sao Tome
Chad

Pot 2: Highest 4 ranked
Mauritius
South Sudan
Liberia
Eswatini

The 1st ball drawn from pot 1 will play against the 1st ball drawn from Pot 2 and the teams of Pot 1 will play the 1st leg at home. The same process will be repeated for the remaining teams in pot 1 & 2

Ah I thought the other one that didn't engage was Morocco as they're hosting - wonder why Seychelles didn't?

That leaves only 43 so one group will only have 3 with the best ranked team qualifying, presumably Morocco will be paired to play friendlies against teams from this group?

AFCON hosts also play qualifiers. All results count towards the group standings, but since Morocco are already qualified, only one team will "qualify" from the group (although it is very likely Morocco will finish top two of the group).

So effectively a 3 team group with Morocco and best other team qualifying?

[amenina]

Ah I thought the other one that didn't engage was Morocco as they're hosting - wonder why Seychelles didn't?

That leaves only 43 so one group will only have 3 with the best ranked team qualifying, presumably Morocco will be paired to play friendlies against teams from this group?

AFCON hosts also play qualifiers. All results count towards the group standings, but since Morocco are already qualified, only one team will "qualify" from the group (although it is very likely Morocco will finish top two of the group).

So effectively a 3 team group with Morocco and best other team qualifying?

Somewhat like that. But the results against Morocco count towards the standings so the other three teams cannot treat them as "friendlies".

[amenina]

https://twitter.com/MickyJnr__/status/1 ... 4034435122

There’s an agreement reached in principle for the 2025 AFCON to be staged between 23 July to 21 August 2025 in Morocco.

[Jackson Harrison]

AFCON hosts also play qualifiers. All results count towards the group standings, but since Morocco are already qualified, only one team will "qualify" from the group (although it is very likely Morocco will finish top two of the group).

So effectively a 3 team group with Morocco and best other team qualifying?

Somewhat like that. But the results against Morocco count towards the standings so the other three teams cannot treat them as "friendlies".

Gotcha!

Why not have 13 groups with winners and 11 best 2nds going through? Excluding 4 teams seems stupid!

[amenina]

So effectively a 3 team group with Morocco and best other team qualifying?

Somewhat like that. But the results against Morocco count towards the standings so the other three teams cannot treat them as "friendlies".

Gotcha!

Why not have 13 groups with winners and 11 best 2nds going through? Excluding 4 teams seems stupid!

They have used this qualifying format since the final tournament is expanded to 24 teams. They first use the preliminary round to eliminate the lowest-ranked teams so that the number of teams remaining in the qualifying group stage is 48. Then there are 12 groups of 4 teams, with the top two of each group (apart from the group which contains the hosts that only team will qualify from it). And usually the number of teams which enter is not a multiplier of 4 like this time.

[Sagy]

So effectively a 3 team group with Morocco and best other team qualifying?

Somewhat like that. But the results against Morocco count towards the standings so the other three teams cannot treat them as "friendlies".

Gotcha!

Why not have 13 groups with winners and 11 best 2nds going through? Excluding 4 teams seems stupid!

As much as I hate eliminating 4 teams after h2h, deciding who advance when comparing across different groups is worse.

BTW, this holds true for tournament with 3x4 with 8 advancing, 6x4 with 16 advancing and 12x4 with 32 advancing, not just in qualifying.

[Jackson Harrison]

Somewhat like that. But the results against Morocco count towards the standings so the other three teams cannot treat them as "friendlies".

Gotcha!

Why not have 13 groups with winners and 11 best 2nds going through? Excluding 4 teams seems stupid!

As much as I hate eliminating 4 teams after h2h, deciding who advance when comparing across different groups is worse.

BTW, this holds true for tournament with 3x4 with 8 advancing, 6x4 with 16 advancing and 12x4 with 32 advancing, not just in qualifying.

Well, there is no better tournament for 12, 24 or 48 teams?

[Sagy]

Gotcha!

Why not have 13 groups with winners and 11 best 2nds going through? Excluding 4 teams seems stupid!

As much as I hate eliminating 4 teams after h2h, deciding who advance when comparing across different groups is worse.

BTW, this holds true for tournament with 3x4 with 8 advancing, 6x4 with 16 advancing and 12x4 with 32 advancing, not just in qualifying.

Well, there is no better tournament for 12, 24 or 48 teams?

Yes, groups of 6 with top 4 advancing. Each group of 6 is subdivided into two groups of 3. Each team plays 3 games vs teams from the other subgroup. The best team from each subgroup is guaranteed to advance. Same is true for any team that finishes with a win and two draws. Teams that finish with win, draw, and a loss are likely to advance but might not (same as today) a team with 3 draws could advance, but might not (same as today). It is unlikely for a team with two draws and a loss to advance, but it is possible (same as today).

In all cases, results from other groups have no impact on a teams chance to advance. It is also unlikely for a team to lock 1st place after 2 games (basically, the other 4 games in the group had to have ended in a draw)

[Jackson Harrison]

As much as I hate eliminating 4 teams after h2h, deciding who advance when comparing across different groups is worse.

BTW, this holds true for tournament with 3x4 with 8 advancing, 6x4 with 16 advancing and 12x4 with 32 advancing, not just in qualifying.

Well, there is no better tournament for 12, 24 or 48 teams?

Yes, groups of 6 with top 4 advancing. Each group of 6 is subdivided into two groups of 3. Each team plays 3 games vs teams from the other subgroup. The best team from each subgroup is guaranteed to advance. Same is true for any team that finishes with a win and two draws. Teams that finish with win, draw, and a loss are likely to advance but might not (same as today) a team with 3 draws could advance, but might not (same as today). It is unlikely for a team with two draws and a loss to advance, but it is possible (same as today).

In all cases, results from other groups have no impact on a teams chance to advance. It is also unlikely for a team to lock 1st place after 2 games (basically, the other 4 games in the group had to have ended in a draw)

That format idea isn't such a bad one on the surface but has logistical issues!