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Harambee Stars are set to feature in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 Qualifiers after missing out on the 2023 edition.

The Kenyan team did not participate in the 2023 edition due to an indefinite ban from FIFA, imposed on February 25, 2022, citing alleged government interference in the running of their football federation.

Harambee Stars to learn

The draw for the AFCON 2025 qualifiers will take place on July 4, 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Eight teams from the CECAFA Zone, including South Sudan who advanced through the preliminary round, will be drawn into the 12 groups. The qualifiers will begin in September 2024, determining the 24 nations that will compete in the event to be held in Morocco.

Only Tanzania from the CECAFA Zone participated in the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast. In the 2021 edition held in Cameroon, Sudan and Ethiopia represented the CECAFA Zone.

The eight CECAFA teams for the 2025 qualifiers include South Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Burundi.

Other teams in the draw for the qualifiers include Chad, Eswatini, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Morocco as hosts

Morocco will host the AFCON 2025, the second time since 1988. The tournament, scheduled for July and August 2025, was originally to be hosted by Guinea, but their hosting rights were revoked due to inadequate preparations. Morocco was confirmed as the new host on September 27, 2023.

This edition will be the second, after 2019, to take place during the northern hemisphere’s summer to avoid scheduling conflicts with European club teams and competitions.

The previous 2023 edition was moved to January and February 2024 due to adverse summer weather conditions in Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast are the defending champions.