AFCON 2025 Eliminated Teams: Full List and Group Stage Results

AFCON 2025 Eliminated Teams: Full List and Group Stage Results

By Niyi Busari 

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), currently underway in Morocco, continues to deliver drama as the continent’s top national teams compete for Africa’s most prestigious football title, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

As the tournament progresses, however, not every nation’s journey can continue. While one team will ultimately lift the trophy, several others have already seen their campaigns come to an early end following the conclusion of the group stage.

Under the AFCON format, the top two teams from each group qualify automatically for the knockout phase, along with the four best third-placed teams. The remaining sides — including all fourth-placed teams and the lowest-ranked third-place finishers — are eliminated from the competition.

Nations Eliminated From AFCON 2025

Eight countries have been knocked out at the group stage of AFCON 2025:

Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Comoros and Angola.

Botswana became the first team eliminated after losing their opening two group matches, leaving them mathematically unable to advance. Equatorial Guinea and Gabon soon followed, as both sides finished bottom of their respective groups.

Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda also exited the tournament after finishing fourth in their groups, failing to accumulate enough points to challenge for qualification.

Among the third-placed teams, Comoros were the first to be eliminated, finishing below four other third-place sides across the tournament. Angola suffered a similar fate after collecting just two points from three matches, leaving them outside the qualification places.

As a result, Mozambique, Benin, Sudan and Tanzania secured progression as the four best third-placed teams.

AFCON 2025 – Eliminated Teams

Nation FIFA Ranking Group Final Position

Botswana 138 Group D Fourth

Equatorial Guinea 97 Group E Fourth

Gabon 78 Group F Fourth

Zimbabwe 129 Group B Fourth

Zambia 91 Group A Fourth

Uganda 85 Group C Fourth

Comoros 109 Group A Third

Angola 89 Group B Third

With the group phase complete, 16 teams the top two from each group and the four best third-place finishers now advance to the knockout stage, where the competition shifts to a single-elimination format.