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As attention begins to turn to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco, thoughts are also focused on predictions and calculations about how the competition will unfold.
This will be the 35th edition of the tournament since it first kicked off in February 1957, marking the premier continental football competition in Africa.
A total of 24 countries are competing in this year’s AFCON, which runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
However, there are 10 countries that have never qualified for the tournament, or have never participated in AFCON throughout their history. These countries are:
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Djibouti
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Lesotho
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- South Sudan
The 24 competing teams are divided into six groups, with each group containing four teams. The teams will face each other in the group stage to determine the top two that will advance.
The advancing teams will move on to the Round of 16, where single-elimination matches will begin.
Morocco is hosting this year’s tournament, and there is anticipation to see how the country has invested heavily in sports, particularly football, including its collaboration in preparations to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
One notable change in this year’s AFCON is the timing of the tournament. Instead of the usual June to July schedule, the tournament will now take place in December. This adjustment was made due to preparations for the FIFA World Cup.
