The knockout picture at the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations is rapidly taking shape, with 15 teams now confirmed for the Round of 16 following the conclusion of group-stage matches in Groups A and B.
Tournament hosts Morocco continued their impressive run with a commanding 3–0 victory over Zambia, reaffirming their status as one of the competition’s early favourites.
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In the group’s other fixture, Mali held Comoros to a goalless draw, a result that proved enough to seal their passage into the knockout rounds.
Morocco finished top of Group A with seven points, while Mali advanced in second place despite ending the group with three points.
Zambia and Comoros were eliminated after both sides finished on two points.
Record champions Egypt secured first place in Group B after a 0–0 draw with Angola, ending the group phase with seven points.
South Africa claimed the second automatic qualification spot after surviving a five-goal thriller against Zimbabwe, edging the encounter 3–2 to finish on six points.
Zimbabwe and Angola exited the tournament after finishing the group with one and two points respectively.
With Groups A and B concluded, focus now turns to Groups C through F, where qualification battles remain intense.
The top two teams in each group qualify automatically for the Round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams across the six groups will also advance.
Teams currently sitting on three points are already assured of progression, while ties at the end of the group stage will be decided by head-to-head records before goal difference and other criteria.
Teams Already Qualified for the AFCON 2025 Round of 16
The following 15 teams have secured their places in the knockout stage:
Nigeria
Ivory Coast
Egypt
Senegal
Benin
Tunisia
Burkina Faso
DR Congo
Cameroon
Algeria
South Africa
Mali
Morocco
Mozambique
Sudan
Only one Round of 16 berth remains unclaimed, with Angola, Uganda and Tanzania still in contention.
All three sides must win their final group matches and rely on favourable results elsewhere to keep their AFCON 2025 hopes alive.
As the group stage reaches its decisive final stretch, Morocco 2025 continues to deliver high drama as boys are now gradually being separated from men.
