AFCON 2025: Final group stage games begin as knockout race intensifies

The final round of group-stage matches at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 gets underway on Monday, December 29, with qualification still hanging in the balance for most teams and the tournament’s trademark late drama very much in play.

Only three sides — Egypt, Nigeria, and Algeria — have secured early passage to the Round of 16 after winning their opening two matches.

For the rest of the field, the final group fixtures will determine not only the automatic qualifiers but also which teams keep their hopes alive via the best third-placed route.

Monday’s action sets the tone, with simultaneous kick-offs designed to maximise tension.

Team standings

In Group B, Egypt’s flawless start has carried them to six points and guaranteed qualification, but the battle behind them remains wide open.

South Africa sit second on three points and know a win over Zimbabwe would remove all doubt. Angola, level with Zimbabwe on one point, face a daunting task against Egypt and will need both a shock result and help elsewhere. With goal difference tight, fine margins could decide everything.

Group A is equally poised. Hosts Morocco lead on four points but are far from secure. Mali and Zambia are level on two points, while Comoros still have a chance on one. Morocco meet a resilient Zambia side that has already shown its fighting spirit, while Mali face Comoros in a fixture that could become a straight fight for survival if results swing the wrong way.

The pressure continues on Tuesday. Nigeria, already through from Group C, take on Uganda, leaving Tunisia — on three points — needing a positive result against Tanzania.

Underdogs

Group D shapes up as a classic final-day squeeze. Senegal and DR Congo are tied on four points, Benin trail closely on three, and Botswana are still searching for their first point. DR Congo will fancy their chances against Botswana.

The group phase concludes on Wednesday. In Group E, Algeria are already through but could yet determine who joins them, with Burkina Faso and Sudan locked together on three points.

Group F promises another tense finale, with Cameroon and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire level on four points and Mozambique close behind on three. Even with Gabon eliminated, the final evening could descend into a three-way scramble for progression.