Which teams have been eliminated from AFCON 2025? Updated list, FIFA rankings of nations knocked out of Africa Cup of Nations

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Which teams have been eliminated from AFCON 2025? Updated list, FIFA rankings of nations knocked out of Africa Cup of Nations originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Africa Cup of Nations is taking place in Morocco and will crown the continent's premier international football team.

However, with glory also comes sorrow, as there cannot be light without the darkness. Only one team can cross the finish line at the end of its AFCON journey, with all others falling just short of the goal.

The top two finishers in each group earn automatic passage to the knockout stage, while the top four third-place finishers also advance. However, the bottom two third-place finishers plus all fourth-place finishers are sent home. From there, the knockout stage is single-elimination, with half the participants in each round bounced from the competition.

The Sporting News brings you a look at what teams have been sent packing from the tournament as each stage progresses.

MORE:A full look at the standings, bracket, fixtures, and matchups for AFCON 2025

Teams eliminated from AFCON 2025

The first team eliminated from AFCON 2025 was Botswana, who were mathematically out of reach after two group stage matches. Equatorial Guinea and Gabon followed soon after, making it three nations sent packing after the first two rounds of play at the competition.

Comoros was the first third-place team eliminated, as they finished their third match already below four of the other five third-place teams, putting them on the outside looking in. A similar fate befell Angola, who took two points from three winless matches.

Angola and Comoros' struggles meant the best third-place qualifiers were confirmed as Mozambique, Benin, Sudan and Tanzania.

Nation	FIFA rank	Stage Eliminated	Result
Botswana	138	Group D	Fourth place
Equatorial Guinea	97	Group E	Fourth place
Gabon	78	Group F	Fourth place
Zimbabwe	129	Group B	Fourth place
Zambia	91	Group A	Fourth place
Comoros	109	Group A	Third place
Angola	89	Group B	Third place
Uganda	85	Group C	Fourth place

AFCON 2025 knockout stage schedule, fixtures, results

The top two teams from each group, plus the three best third-place nations, comprise the 16 sides that enter the knockout stage.

Round of 16

Date	Time (CET)	Match	Venue
Jan. 3, 2026	6 p.m.	Senegal vs. Group E 3rd place	Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier
Jan. 3, 2026	8:30 p.m.	Mali (2A) vs. Tunisia (2C)	Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
Jan. 4, 2026	6 p.m.	Morocco (1A) vs. Tanzania (3C)	Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Jan. 4, 2026	8:30 p.m.	South Africa (2B) vs. Group F runners-up	Al Barid Stadium, Rabat
Jan. 5, 2026	6 p.m.	Egypt (1B) vs. Benin (3D)	Adrar Stadium, Agadir
Jan. 5, 2026	8:30 p.m.	Nigeria (1C) vs. Group F 3rd place	Fez Stadium, Fez
Jan. 6, 2026	6 p.m.	Algeria (E1) vs. DR Congo (D2)	Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat
Jan. 6, 2026	8:30 p.m.	Group F winners vs. Group E runners-up	Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh

Quarterfinals

Date	Time (CET)	Match	Venue
Jan. 9, 2026	6 p.m.	Winners RO16 2 vs. Winners RO16 1	Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier
Jan. 9, 2026	8:30 p.m.	Winners RO16 4 vs. Winners RO16 3	Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Jan. 10, 2026	6 p.m.	Winners RO16 7 vs. Winners RO16 6	Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh
Jan. 10, 2026	8:30 p.m.	Winners RO16 5 vs. Winners RO16 8	Adrar Stadium, Agadir

Semifinals

Date	Time (CET)	Match	Venue
Jan. 14, 2026	6 p.m.	Winners QF 1 vs. Winners QF 4	Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier
Jan. 14, 2026	8:30 p.m.	Winners QF 3 vs. Winners QF 2	Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat