The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Africa’s premier international football tournament, will take place in Morocco, bringing together the continent’s best national teams for four weeks of high-stakes competition.
The tournament officially kicks off in Rabat on Sunday, with host nation Morocco facing Comoros in the opening match. The final will be played on January 18, 2026, at the 69,500-seat Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, also located in the Moroccan capital.
A total of 24 teams, nine stadiums, and six host cities will feature in AFCON 2025, with 68 matches scheduled across the group and knockout stages.
Defending champions Ivory Coast return after lifting the trophy in 2023, while traditional powerhouses such as Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, Algeria and Cameroon aim to reclaim continental dominance.
AFCON 2025 Key Dates at a Glance
- Opening match: December 21, 2025
- Group stage ends: December 31, 2025
- Round of 16 begins: January 3, 2026
- Final: January 18, 2026
- Host nation: Morocco
AFCON 2025 Groups and Teams
The 24 qualified nations have been drawn into six groups of four teams:
⚽ Group A
- Morocco
- Mali
- Zambia
- Comoros
⚽ Group B
- Egypt
- South Africa
- Angola
- Zimbabwe
⚽ Group C
- Nigeria
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Tanzania
⚽ Group D
- Senegal
- DR Congo
- Benin
- Botswana
⚽ Group E
- Algeria
- Burkina Faso
- Equatorial Guinea
- Sudan
⚽ Group F
- Ivory Coast
- Cameroon
- Gabon
- Mozambique
AFCON 2025 Tournament Format Explained
- The top two teams from each group qualify automatically for the knockout stage
- The four best third-placed teams also advance
- A total of 16 teams move into the Round of 16
The knockout rounds consist of:
- Round of 16
- Quarterfinals
- Semifinals
- Third-place playoff
- Final
If a knockout match is tied after 90 minutes, teams play 30 minutes of extra time, followed by a penalty shootout if needed.
AFCON 2025 Match Schedule – Group Stage Highlights
🗓 Opening Match – December 21
- Morocco vs Comoros
- Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (Rabat)
- Kickoff: 8:00pm local / 19:00 GMT
🗓 Group Stage Runs: December 21 – December 31
- Matches played daily across Rabat, Marrakesh, Fez, Tangier, Agadir and Casablanca
- Christmas Day is a rest day
- Final group matches on December 29–31 will kick off simultaneously within each group to ensure fairness
AFCON 2025 Knockout Stage Schedule
⚽ Round of 16
- January 3 – January 6
⚽ Quarterfinals
- January 9 – January 10
⚽ Semifinals
- January 14
⚽ Third-Place Playoff
- January 17
⚽ Final
- January 18
- Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
- Kickoff: 8:00pm local / 19:00 GMT
AFCON 2025 Venues and Host Cities
AFCON 2025 will be staged across nine stadiums in six Moroccan cities, including:
- Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium – Rabat (Final venue)
- Stade Mohammed V – Casablanca
- Marrakesh Stadium – Marrakesh
- Adrar Stadium – Agadir
- Ibn Batouta Stadium – Tangier
- Fez Stadium – Fez
- Moulay Hassan Stadium – Rabat
- Al Barid Stadium – Rabat
Teams to Watch at AFCON 2025
- Ivory Coast – Defending champions
- Egypt – Record seven-time AFCON winners
- Senegal – 2021 champions and tournament favourites
- Morocco – Hosts with strong recent World Cup pedigree
- Nigeria – Three-time winners seeking redemption
Why AFCON 2025 Matters
AFCON 2025 is expected to be one of the most competitive editions in recent history, combining:
- World-class talent from Europe’s top leagues
- Rising African football nations
- State-of-the-art stadiums
- A critical buildup toward World Cup 2026 qualification cycles
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