Africa Cup of Nations Standings: Tournament Moves to Knockout Phase

AFCON 2025: A Pivotal Moment in African Football

The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 is taking place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, with twenty-four of Africa’s men’s national football teams competing. The 35th edition of the biennial tournament is being hosted across nine venues in six cities. As the continent’s premier football competition unfolds, the Africa Cup of Nations standings have become crucial for fans tracking their teams’ progress through this historic tournament.

Group Stage Complete: Qualified Teams Emerge

The group stage officially came to an end on 31 December 2025 following the conclusion of the third and final round of matches, with the Round of 16 now set as Africa’s biggest football nations largely lived up to expectations with Nigeria & Algeria finishing with perfect records. Host nation Morocco asserted their dominance, finishing top of their group, while Egypt secured their progression with a solid pragmatic performance, and heavyweights like Nigeria and Senegal topped groups C and D.

The 24 teams are divided into six groups (A-F) of four teams each, with the top two teams from each group, along with four of the best third-placed teams, advancing to the knockout stage. The best third-placed teams qualified include Mozambique, Sudan, Benin, and Tanzania. Defending Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast came from two goals down to defeat Gabon 3-2 in their final Group F fixture, qualifying them as group winners.

Historic Tournament Brings Excitement

Due to FIFA expanding its Club World Cup competition to 32 teams scheduled for June and July 2025, this edition of the tournament is played between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026, marking the first time that the tournament is played over the Christmas and New Year period. Notable absences include Ghana, four-time African champions, who failed to qualify after finishing bottom of their group, missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004.

What’s Next: Knockout Stage Ahead

The Round of 16 matches will be played from 3–6 January 2026, followed by the quarter-finals on 9 and 10 January, with the semi-finals scheduled for 13 January, before the tournament concludes with the final in Rabat on 18 January. For football enthusiasts worldwide, the Africa Cup of Nations standings reveal a tournament filled with drama and exceptional talent. As teams progress through the knockout phase, fans can expect thrilling matches that showcase the best of African football on the global stage.