The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco has already claimed its first major casualties, with five countries officially eliminated from the t
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco has already claimed its first major casualties, with five countries officially eliminated from the tournament following the conclusion of key group-stage fixtures.
Zimbabwe became the latest nation to crash out after a dramatic end to Group B matches on Monday.
The Warriors’ hopes of extending their stay in the competition were dashed after a narrow 3–2 defeat to South Africa.
That loss left Zimbabwe rooted to the bottom of the group with just one point, sealing their early exit from the continental showpiece.
Their elimination came as Angola and Egypt played out a draw in the other Group B fixture, a result that further confirmed Zimbabwe’s fate.
Angola finished the group with two points, while Egypt advanced, leaving no mathematical chance for the southern African side to progress.
Zimbabwe’s exit adds to a growing list of early departures at this year’s tournament, which has already witnessed several surprising outcomes.
Botswana, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea were among the first teams to be knocked out after failing to register a single point from their opening two group matches.
Their struggles were compounded by heavy defeats, including Zambia’s emphatic 3–0 loss to host nation Morocco in a Group A encounter that underlined the hosts’ dominance.
The early elimination of these five nations reflects the intense competition at this year’s AFCON, where traditional powerhouses and emerging teams alike have found the margins between progress and exit increasingly narrow.
For countries such as Zimbabwe and Botswana, the tournament ends in disappointment, while others continue to push for continental glory as the knockout stages approach.
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