As the final round of group-stage matches at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations begins, only three teams Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria have secured qualification for the Round of 16.
According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the three nations confirmed their places by winning their first two matches, while the remaining qualification spots will be determined in the last set of group fixtures.
CAF noted that the closing matches will decide the top two teams in each group, who qualify automatically, as well as the best third-placed teams that may also advance to the knockout stage.
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This was contained in a statement released on Monday titled, “AFCON 2025: Final group games begin as knockout race tightens in Morocco,” obtained from the CAF website.
“The final round of group-stage matches at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 gets under way on Monday, with qualification still on the line for most of the field and the familiar AFCON promise of late drama firmly intact,” CAF said.
The football body added that all final group matches will be played simultaneously within each group to increase competitiveness.
“If the opening two rounds have taught anything, it is that AFCON rarely follows a script. The final group games, spread across three days, look set to deliver the decisive twists.” CAF added
Schedule for the Final Group Matches (GMT)
The last set of group-stage games at AFCON 2025 will be played over three days, with teams battling for qualification places.
Monday, 29 December
Angola take on Egypt at 16:00
Zimbabwe face South Africa at 16:00
Zambia clash with hosts Morocco at 19:00
Comoros square off against Mali at 19:00
Tuesday, 30 December
Uganda meet Nigeria at 16:00
Tanzania go up against Tunisia at 16:00
Benin battle Senegal at 19:00
Botswana play DR Congo at 19:00
Wednesday, 31 December
Equatorial Guinea face Algeria at 16:00
Sudan challenge Burkina Faso at 16:00
Gabon take on Côte d’Ivoire at 19:00
Mozambique conclude the group stage against Cameroon at 19:00
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