What Is the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification?

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is the flagship international men’s football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). To decide which nations reach the final tournament, CAF runs a qualification process involving almost all its members. Qualification ensures that teams earn their place via competitive matches, rather than automatic entry (except hosts). Todaysurewins follows every phase of this process closely to provide accurate insights and forecasts.

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Format of the Qualification for AFCON 2025

Based on the current qualification cycle for the 2025 AFCON, here is how the structure works:

• Number of entrants: 52 national teams entered the qualification process. Wikipedia

• Exclusions: Eritrea and Seychelles did not participate. Wikipedia

• Preliminary round: The lowest-ranked eight teams (based on the FIFA ranking of 15 February 2024) had to play preliminary two-legged ties. The winners of those ties advanced to the main group stage. Wikipedia+1

• Group stage: After preliminaries, there are 48 teams in the group stage (44 teams with byes + 4 from preliminaries) divided into 12 groups of 4 each. Wikipedia+1

• Qualification spots: From those 12 groups, the top two from each group (i.e., first and second place) qualify for the final tournament. Since the host nation (Morocco) is automatically qualified, their group behaves slightly differently (no extra spot needed for them). Wikipedia+2Confédération Africaine de Football+2

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Key Dates & Matchdays

Here are important dates in the 2025 AFCON qualification timeline:

Phase	Matchdays	Timeline
Preliminary round	First legs & second legs	20-26 March 2024 Wikipedia+1
Group stage matchday 1	Group matches begin	2-10 September 2024 Wikipedia+1
Matchday 2	Group fixtures continue	Around September 2024 Wikipedia+1
Matchdays 3 & 4	October 2024 fixtures Wikipedia+1
Matchday 5 & 6	November 2024 completes group stage matches Wikipedia+2Daily Sports+2

These matchdays are critical. Todaysurewins tracks them for prediction purposes because form, injury updates, and other late developments happen close to these times.

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Current Progress & Which Teams Have Qualified

Here’s what we know so far (as of late 2024):

• Qualified:

  • Hosts Morocco qualified automatically. Wikipedia+1

  • Early qualifiers include Burkina Faso (first team besides hosts to confirm qualification), Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and others. Olympics+1

• Contenders & Tight Races:

  • Many groups are still being decided by slim margins, especially for second place.

  • Goal difference and head-to-head results are playing big roles in tight groups.

  • Some traditional powerhouses have had to fight unusually hard to ensure qualification.

• Surprises / Upsets:

  • Teams like Zimbabwe, Comoros, or others not usually prominent have stepped up.

  • Some well-known teams are under pressure in their groups.

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FAQ: Common Questions About the Qualification

Q: Does the host nation participate in qualification?
A: No. The host (Morocco for the 2025 tournament) is automatically qualified, and does not use up a group qualification slot. Wikipedia+1

Q: How many teams qualify for the final tournament?
A: A total of 24 teams will contest the final tournament. That includes the host plus 23 teams coming through qualification. Wikipedia+1

Q: What happens if two teams are tied on points in a group?
A: Tiebreakers used include head-to-head results, goal difference, goals scored, etc. These are standard CAF rules, which affect who finishes first or second, especially in tight groups.

Q: Can a team qualifying from the preliminary round still win AFCON?
A: Yes. Winning in the preliminary round just means beginning qualification early; once in the group stage, all teams have the same opportunity to finish in top two and reach the finals.

Q: Are there wildcard or best third-place spots?
A: No. In this format, only the top two teams in each group qualify; there are no wildcard or best third-place advancements. Wikipedia+2Confédération Africaine de Football+2

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What Todaysurewins Looks Out For / What Fans Should Watch

• Late Injury / Suspension News: Changes close to matchdays matter—losing a key player can swing a fixture.

• Home vs Away Performance: Some teams are much stronger at home; predictions weigh that heavily.

• Motivation Levels: Some matches are “must-win” for qualification; others are dead rubbers. Motivation (tournament history, pride, chance of next round) can influence outcomes.

• Statistical Trends: Goal averages, clean sheets, goals conceded on the road, etc., are key metrics that Todaysurewins monitors.

• Head-to-Head Records: Where teams have met recently in qualifiers or other competitions, how they’ve fared influences predictions.

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Impact for Predictions & Betting Insights

• Tight groups mean stakes are high on final matchdays. Todaysurewins often flags fixtures where a win or draw will likely decide who qualifies.

• In many qualification scenarios, second place is fiercely contested. Predicting group standings (1st or 2nd) is often as important as predicting match winners.

• Matches involving hosts or teams already secure are less predictable in motivation; sometimes they rest players or experiment.

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Responsible Prediction Use

While Todaysurewins offers insights and predictions based on qualification progress, statistics, and expert judgment, remember:

• These are guidance, not guarantees. Upsets happen in AFCON qualifiers more than in some other competitions.

• Don’t over-bet on one fixture; spread risk across games where you have good information.

• Keep up with squad announcements and matchday changes—they often affect outcome probabilities more than historical data in tight scenarios.

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Final Thought

The Africa Cup of Nations qualification process for 2025 is shaping up to be as competitive as ever. With a mix of established teams, emerging underdogs, and narrow margins defining group spots, every match matters. Todaysurewins will continue monitoring results, updating forecasts, and highlighting fixtures with high stakes.

If you follow the qualification flow and pair predictions with an understanding of format, motivation, and statistics, you’ll gain an edge in anticipating who makes it to the AFCON finals. Ferreira or upset, every journey to the finals tells a story—and you’ll want to know the chapters.