Which Teams Have Been Eliminated from AFCON 2025? Updated List of Knocked-Out Nations

Xenio

Jan 9, 2026

Overview of the Africa Cup of Nations

The Africa Cup of Nations is currently being held in Morocco, offering a stage for the continent's top football teams to compete for the title of champions. While the tournament celebrates the triumphs of successful teams, it also marks the end of the journey for those who fall short. Only one team will ultimately be crowned as the winner, while others face heartbreak and the painful reality of elimination.

The structure of the competition ensures that only the most resilient teams progress through each stage. The top two teams from each group automatically qualify for the knockout stage, along with the four best third-place finishers. Conversely, the bottom two third-place teams and all fourth-place finishers are eliminated. From this point on, the competition becomes single-elimination, with half of the participants being knocked out in each round.

Teams Eliminated from AFCON 2025

As the tournament progresses, several teams have been sent home, marking the end of their AFCON journey. The first team to be eliminated was Botswana, who were mathematically out of contention after just two group stage matches. Equatorial Guinea and Gabon followed soon after, making it three nations eliminated after the initial rounds.

Comoros was the first third-place team to be eliminated, as they finished their third match already below four of the other five third-place teams. This placed them outside the qualification zone. Similarly, Angola struggled throughout the group stage, earning only two points from three winless matches.

These challenges allowed the best third-place qualifiers to be confirmed: Mozambique, Benin, Sudan, and Tanzania.

Round of 16: Heartbreak and Thrillers

The Round of 16 saw some intense matches that left several teams heartbroken. Tunisia faced a last-gasp equalizer against Mali, which eventually led to their elimination in a penalty shootout. Meanwhile, Benin fell to Egypt in extra-time, adding to the drama of the stage.

Below is a list of teams that were eliminated in the Round of 16:

Botswana – FIFA rank 138, eliminated in Group D, finishing fourth
Equatorial Guinea – FIFA rank 97, eliminated in Group E, finishing fourth
Gabon – FIFA rank 78, eliminated in Group F, finishing fourth
Zimbabwe – FIFA rank 129, eliminated in Group B, finishing fourth
Zambia – FIFA rank 91, eliminated in Group A, finishing fourth
Comoros – FIFA rank 109, eliminated in Group A, finishing third
Angola – FIFA rank 89, eliminated in Group B, finishing third
Uganda – FIFA rank 85, eliminated in Group C, finishing fourth
Sudan – FIFA rank 117, eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 3-1 loss to Senegal
Tunisia – FIFA rank 41, eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 1-1 draw with Mali, losing on penalties
South Africa – FIFA rank 61, eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 2-1 loss to Cameroon
Benin – FIFA rank 92, eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 3-1 loss to Egypt in extra-time
Mozambique – FIFA rank 102, eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 3-0 loss to Nigeria
DR Congo – FIFA rank 56, eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 1-0 loss to Algeria in extra-time
Burkina Faso – FIFA rank 62, eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 3-0 loss to Ivory Coast

AFCON 2025 Knockout Stage Schedule

The knockout stage features the top two teams from each group, along with the three best third-place finishers, forming a total of 16 teams. Here is a detailed schedule of the upcoming fixtures:

Round of 16

January 3, 2026
5 p.m. – Senegal (1D) vs. Sudan (3E) at Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier
8 p.m. – Mali (2A) vs. Tunisia (2C) at Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
January 4, 2026
5 p.m. – Morocco (1A) vs. Tanzania (3C) at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
8 p.m. – South Africa (2B) vs. Cameroon (2F) at Al Barid Stadium, Rabat
January 5, 2026
5 p.m. – Egypt (1B) vs. Benin (3D) at Adrar Stadium, Agadir
8 p.m. – Nigeria (1C) vs. Mozambique (3F) at Fez Stadium, Fez
January 6, 2026
5 p.m. – Algeria (1E) vs. DR Congo (2D) at Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat
8 p.m. – Ivory Coast (1F) vs. Burkina Faso (2E) at Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh