Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-20 03:22:30
The draw for the preliminary round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco, is set to take place this afternoon in Cairo, Egypt.
Notably, Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Ghana, and 36 other highly-rated teams will not be participating in the preliminary round of the qualifying series. According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the preliminary round for Morocco 2025 will consist of the eight lowest-ranked teams based on the FIFA ranking. These teams include Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome, Chad, Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia, and Eswatini.
The matches for the preliminary round will be played on a home and away basis during the FIFA Window from March 18 to 26, 2024. The four winners from the preliminary round will then join the 44 exempted teams for the group stage of the tournament.
CAF has outlined that the preliminary round will be decided through a knockout format, with the four winners from the preliminary round joining the 44 exempted teams in the group stage. Furthermore, the eight lower-ranked teams have been divided into two pots according to their ranking. The four lowest-ranked teams: Somalia, Djibouti, Sao Tome, and Chad are in pot 1, while the four highest-ranked teams: Mauritius, South Sudan, Liberia, and Eswatini will be in pot 2.
CAF has also elaborated on the format of the preliminary round, stating that the matches will be decided on a home and away basis. This means that each team will have a chance to play one match at home and one match away, with the aggregate score determining the winner.
The draw for the preliminary round signifies the beginning of the journey for the lower-ranked teams as they aim to secure a spot in the main tournament. It also marks the start of the qualifying process for the highly-rated teams that have been exempted from the preliminary round.
The anticipation and excitement around the draw highlight the significance of the Africa Cup of Nations, as teams from across the continent aim to showcase their talent and compete for the prestigious title. The draw will also serve as a crucial moment for the participating teams, as they learn who their opponents will be in the preliminary round, and begin preparations for the upcoming matches.
Overall, the draw for the preliminary round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is a significant event that will set the stage for the qualifying process and determine which teams will ultimately earn a place in the main tournament hosted by Morocco.
