The excitement surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) draw ceremony is palpable as teams prepare to find out their fates on January 27, 2025. Set to take place at the iconic Theatre National Mohammed V in Rabat, Morocco, the event will kick off at 19:00 local time, providing football fans across the continent with the opportunity to witness this highly anticipated moment live.
Morocco, which is not only the host but also a formidable contender, will welcome 23 other qualifying teams to compete for the prestigious title. The tournament is set to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, and this draw will officially launch the competition. With the defending champions, Côte d'Ivoire, among the qualifying teams, the stakes are expected to be high.
The draw will be conducted with the presence of several football legends from across Africa, including the likes of Essam El Hadary, Patrick Mboma, Aymen Mathlouthi, Momo Sissoko, and Gervinho. Their participation not only honors the heritage of African football but also adds prestige to the occasion, as they will help draw the teams from pots numbering one to four.
According to CAF, the draw will be broadcast live on various platforms, including beIN Sports 4 and the CAF's official YouTube channel, ensuring fans do not miss any moment of the action.
The teams will be divided among four pots based on FIFA rankings, creating intriguing matchups and potentially challenging groups. The first pot includes Morocco (ranked 14th), Senegal (17th), Egypt (33rd), Algeria (37th), Nigeria (44th), and Côte d'Ivoire (46th), the latter being the reigning champions. This pot features teams with significant past successes, making it incredibly competitive.
Chapeau 2 (Pot 2) consists of Cameroon (49th), Mali (51st), Tunisia (52nd), South Africa (57th), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (61st), and Burkina Faso (66th), each aiming to upset the balance of the established teams above them.
Further down, Pot 3 features Gabon, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, and Benin, all eager to make their mark. Meanwhile, Pot 4 holds Mozambique, Comoros, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, representing the underdogs who could shake things up as they vie for progression beyond the group stage.
The anticipation for the draw is not just about the matchups; it’s about national pride and the desire to succeed on this grand stage. The Moroccan officials are exuding confidence, with one stating emphatically, "The Cup will stay here," reflecting the high hopes of hosting the event. Morocco's historical prowess and recent football developments lend weight to these aspirations.
Interestingly, the dynamics of previous tournaments remind all involved of the unpredictability of football. Recent events have shown the significant competition among nations, as evidenced by the prior CAN tournament, where even highly-ranked teams faced surprising exits.
After the draw, the 24 teams will be allocated to six groups of four, and from these, the top two teams from each group along with the four best third-placed teams will advance to the knockout stages. This format ensures thrilling matches and keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
The Theatre Mohammed V itself embodies the country's cultural and architectural beauty, described by CAF as "a jewel of the past," enhancing the overall allure of the draw ceremony. This venue, which has witnessed countless memorable football moments, is bound to add to the atmosphere of anticipation as teams gather.
With Morocco set to take center stage, they look forward to embracing the challenge of hosting this prestigious tournament, serving as both players and fans prepare for what promises to be unforgettable sporting moments. The ambitious plans set for Morocco signal not just readiness for the CAN but also for the world event five years later. The entire nation is poised to rally behind their team, as the magical world of the Africa Cup of Nations is primed for another spellbinding chapter.