JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -Zimbabwe were drawn with 2017 champions Cameroon, fast improving Kenya and plucky neighbours Namibia in Group J of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations during a draw conducted in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Forty-eight African countries will be aiming to qualify for the 35th edition of the biennial Africa showpiece being hosted by Morocco in an attempt to dethrone coach Emerse Fae’s Cote d’Ivoire as continental kings.
Fae – one of the two draw assistants together with Morocco legend Marouane Chamakh – saw his side placed in a tricky group as they bid to defend their title.
Cote d’Ivoire are defending champions after defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final of the continent’s flagship sports competition in Abidjan earlier this year.
The Elephants were placed in Group G where they will play former champions Zambia, Sierra Leone and Chad.
Hosts Morocco were placed in Group B.
The Atlas Lions will take on Gabon, Central African Republic and Lesotho.
Morocco will approach this qualifying campaign with less pressure since they are already assured of participating in the competition on home ground.
The much-coveted trophy will be put back into play with the start of the qualifiers for the next TotalEnergies CAF AFCON which will take place in the North African country.
The qualifiers will start in September 2024 and end in November 2024.
The first and runners-up in the eleven (11) groups that do not involve tournament hosts Morocco, will gain qualification to the competition.
Zimbabwe have advertised for a substantive coach but are yet to announce the new boss. Jairos Tapera remains in caretaker charge.
The Warriors will also hope to have a local stadium approved to host the qualifiers after the Confederation of African Football condemned the country’s stadiums.
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations is the biggest sporting event in Africa and the next championship will be held from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
Groups:
Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco, Gabon,Central Africa Republic, Lesotho
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin Libya, Rwanda
Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger
Group G: Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi
