Intriguing matches are expected in the 2025 African Cup of Nations after the CAF draw conducted on Monday, January 27, 2028, produced what is set to be tough duels in the preliminary round.

The draw that was conducted at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat on Monday saw Uganda and their regional rivals Tanzania land in Group C. Tunisia and Nigeria are the other teams in the group.

The event was conducted with the assistance of African legends Serge Aurier, Aliou Cisse, Joseph Yobo, and Mustapha Hadji.

The teams were drawn into six groups, each containing four sides, ahead of the 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 finals tournament that will be spread across six host cities and nine stadia in Morocco.

In Group A, Morocco, the hosts, will take on Mali, Zambia, and Comoros. Record seven-time winners Egypt face a trio of Southern African teams in Group B in the form of last year’s bronze medalists, South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe.

The 2021 AFCON champions, Senegal, go up against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, and Botswana in Group D.

Algeria, winners in 2019, take on Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan in an interesting Group E.

And defending champions Cote d’Ivoire face old rivals and five-time winners Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique in Group F as they look to claim back-to-back titles.

The top two teams in each pool will advance to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed sides.

Groups

Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros

Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe

Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania

Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana

Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan

Group F: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique