The second round of matches at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 produced several exciting encounters, with standout performances across the groups earning multiple players Player of the Match awards for their crucial impacts.
Attention now shifts to the final round of group-stage fixtures at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, which begins on Monday. With qualification still undecided for most teams, the battle for places in the knockout stage is expected to intensify.
Only three nations, Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria, have already booked their spots in the Round of 16 after winning their opening two matches. The remaining qualification places will be determined during the final set of group games.
CAF explained that the concluding matches will decide both the top two teams in each group, who qualify automatically, as well as the best third-placed teams that can also advance to the knockout phase.
This update was contained in a CAF release titled “AFCON 2025: Final group games begin as knockout race tightens in Morocco.” The statement noted that the final round of matches will kick off on Monday, with qualification still on the line and the tournament’s trademark late drama expected.
CAF further confirmed that matches within each group will be played simultaneously to increase the competitive tension and ensure fairness as the group stage reaches its climax.