AFCON 2025 Exit List Expands as Contenders Fall Short

Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech, and Senegal’s Sadio Mane are among the African stars who have been eliminated from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament has seen several high-profile upsets in recent weeks, with some top contenders succumbing to injury, poor form, or just plain bad luck. One such team is Tunisia, which was knocked out after a 2-1 loss to Ghana in their group stage match. Other African heavyweights like Cameroon and Ivory Coast have also fallen short of the title. Cameroon’s loss to Burkina Faso was a particularly bitter pill to swallow for the Indomitable Lions fans, who had high hopes for their team to make it all the way to the final. FIFA rankings are now reflecting the teams that have been eliminated from the tournament. Egypt, which finished fourth in 2023, has dropped to number 10 globally, while Morocco, which came second in the previous edition, has slid to number 15. Senegal’s loss to Gabon was a major setback for Aliou Cissé’s men, who were considered among the top contenders going into the tournament. The West Africans will need to regroup and refocus if they hope to make another deep run in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. The road to AFCON 2025 glory is now narrowed down to just two teams – the winners of Group A and B – but it promises to be a thrilling ride nonetheless. Will one of these underdogs rise to the challenge and claim the coveted title, or will it be business as usual for the reigning powerhouses? Only time will tell.