WeeklySA_AdminMOROCCO 2025: Seven countries from the Cosafa region will hope to make impact at the continental showpiece in December
By Sports Reporter
With just two TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations titles to its name, the Southern African region’s continental ambitions will be at an all-time high when the much-anticipated continental showpiece takes centre stage in Morocco in a few months’ time.
For the first time in the history of the competition, the Southern African region (COSAFA) will have a record seven representatives competing at Africa’s most prestigious competition in Morocco between 21 December 2025 – 18 January 2026.
Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are the seven qualified nations from the region which is a first since CAF’s expansion of participating teams from 16 to 24 at the Egypt 2019 finals.
South Africa (1996) and Zambia (2012) are the only two Southern African nations to lift the coveted title since the tournament’s 1957 inception.
The most recent podium finish for a Southern African nation came recently at the Cote d’Ivoire finals when Bafana Bafana edged DR Congo for a third-place finish, while Zambia who were also in Cote d’Ivoire bowed out in the group stages.
Chipolopolo hold the record for the most TotalEnergies CAF AFCON appearances, with the Morocco finals set to be their 19th appearance, while South Africa prepare to make it 12 and Angola having the third most qualifications at 10. Botswana and Comoros make a return to the finals and will both be making their second appearances. The Zebras last appeared in the 2012 finals, while the Coelacanths made an impressive debut in the 2021 edition where they reached the Round of 16.
With the gap evidently narrowing in African football as seen at the Cote d’Ivoire finals and across CAF’s men’s and women’s Interclub competitions, the stage is set for the Southern African region to make its impact against the best teams on the African continent.
Looking at the groups, Zambia and Comoros face an uphill battle against hosts, Morocco and West African powerhouse, Mali in Group A.
Group B will see a trio of Southern African representation as Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe join record holders, Egypt. Botswana are drawn against former champions Senegal, DR Congo as well as Benin in Group D, while Mozambique find themselves in Group F against reigning champions Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Gabon.
With the battle lines officially drawn for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, a special focus will be on the North African region on whether they will be able to reclaim the coveted TotalEnergies CAF AFCON title.
Morocco plays host to Africa’s biggest football competition, where 24 African nations will battle it out for Africa’s most prestigious title that currently resides in West Africa with the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.
Algeria was the last North African nation to lift the title when the Dessert Foxes outwitted Senegal in the final to claim their second TotalEnergies CAF AFCON title since 1990.
Before Algeria’s triumph, North Africa’s wait dated back to a decade when Egypt last lifted their title in 2010, which was their third in succession and seventh in total – making them the competitions most successful nation. Preceding The Pharaohs’ three successive titles was Tunisia’s 2004 win on home soil – a feat that Morocco will be looking at drawing inspiration from when they host the finals in a few months’ time.
In addition to being hosts, the Atlas Lions are currently the highest ranked African nation and with the backing of the highly vocal Moroccan fans across the six host cities, the hosts’ wait could potentially come to an end if the football gods favour them to end what stands to be a five decade wait.
Morocco’s start to the title ambitions begins in a dicey Group A consisting of West African powerhouse Mali, former champions Zambia as well as the unpredictable Comoros who make their second appearance.
The Egyptians on the other hand find themselves in a tough battle against Southern African opposition in Group B.
They will be looking at avenging their 2019 heartache caused by South Africa when they face off against the 1996 champions who make up the group along with Angola and Zimbabwe.
In Group C, Tunisia take on the Super Eagles who came short in Cote d’Ivoire last year, as well as the 2027 co-hosts, Uganda and Tanzania who will be flying the East African region’s flag at this year’s finals. The Dessert Foxes, who eye a third African title must first overcome the Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea as well as a plucky Sudan side in a highly unpredictable Group E.
North Africa’s TotalEnergies CAF AFCON titles since inception:
Egypt holds the record for the most TotalEnergies CAF AFCON titles with seven, followed by Algeria with two. Morocco and Tunisia have a title each.
Southern African nations TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Group Stages:
Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
Group F: Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
