Everything You Need to Know About Afcon 2025

Overview of the Tournament

The top football talent from the continent is gearing up to gather in Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), marking the first time the finals will occur during the Christmas and New Year period.

The tournament is set to begin on Sunday, December 21, featuring the host nation taking on Comoros at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The kickoff is scheduled for 19:00 GMT.

As Africa’s top-ranked nation, the pressure is on the Atlas Lions, currently positioned 11th globally, who last claimed the Afcon title in 1976. On the other hand, Mohamed Salah will strive to lead Egypt to a record eighth championship, seeking redemption after falling short in the 2017 and 2021 finals.

This guide offers insights on group stage match-ups, tournament structure, and schedules.

What Are the Afcon 2025 Groups?

The tournament will feature 24 teams divided into six groups of four. The host nation, Morocco, is placed in Group A, accompanied by Mali, Zambia (2012 champions), and Comoros.

Highlighted matches in the groups include:

• Group F sees the defending champions, Ivory Coast, going up against five-time winners Cameroon.
• Group D includes a thrilling matchup between Senegal and DR Congo.

Other notable match-ups feature Egypt challenging South Africa in Group B and Group C showcasing an East African rivalry between Uganda and Tanzania, alongside Nigeria and Tunisia.

Group Assignments

• 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.

The two top teams from each group, along with four of the highest-ranked third-placed teams, will progress to the knockout stage, which includes quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place playoff, and the final.

Afcon 2025 Schedule and Kick-off Times

The opening encounter features Morocco against Comoros at 19:00 GMT, with a total of three matches to follow the next day.

Throughout the group stage, which will last until December 31, football fans can anticipate four matches daily, broadcast at 12:30, 15:00, 17:30, and 20:00 GMT. The final group matches will show at either 16:00 or 19:00.

Knockout Phase Details

The knockout stage predominantly features matches at 16:00 and 19:00, beginning on January 3. The final showdown is scheduled for Sunday, January 18, at 19:00.

Afcon 2025 Venues: Where Will the Matches Be Held?

Morocco has invested significantly in upgrading facilities for Afcon 2025 and is also bracing to co-host the FIFA World Cup in 2030 with Spain and Portugal.

Nine stadiums across six cities will serve as venues, with four located in the capital, Rabat:

• Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (Capacity: 69,500)
• Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Stadium, Rabat (Capacity: 21,000)
• Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan, Rabat (Capacity: 22,000)
• Stade El Barid, Rabat (Capacity: 18,000)
• Grande Stade d’Agadir, Agadir (Capacity: 45,480)
• Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes (Capacity: 45,000)
• Grande Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech (Capacity: 45,240)
• Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (Capacity: 67,000)
• Grande Stade de Tangier, Tangier (Capacity: 68,000)

When Are Players Being Released for Afcon?

As the tournament occurs mid-season across Europe, discussions have emerged regarding player availability from clubs to national teams. FIFA has mandated that players be released by Monday, December 15—one week later than usual prior to major tournaments.

Mali’s coach, Tom Saintfiet, criticized this decision as detrimental to team preparations, expressing his frustration over the perceived undervaluing of African football.

Possible Club Responses

Some clubs may negotiate unique arrangements with federations to retain players longer—for instance, Manchester United might seek to keep their African players, including Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) for an extra day amid fixture commitments.

Who Are the Afcon Favourites?

Morocco stands out as the pre-tournament favorite, riding high with an unprecedented streak of 18 consecutive victories. They’ve netted 50 goals while conceding only four during this period, a world record for international football.

Other strong competitors include:

• Senegal: The defending champions are renowned for their dynamic play under coach Pape Thiaw, having recently tallied an 8-0 victory against Kenya.
• Algeria and Egypt: Both nations went unbeaten during World Cup qualifying, likely leveraging the North African conditions.
• DR Congo: Their momentum stems from their recent triumph against both Cameroon and Nigeria in the World Cup qualifiers.

Given the history of diverse winners in recent tournaments, unpredictability is to be expected.

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Fixtures

Match Schedule

All times are in GMT

Sunday, December 21

• Group A: Morocco vs Comoros, Rabat (19:00)

Monday, December 22

• Group A: Mali vs Zambia, Casablanca (14:00)
• Group B: South Africa vs Angola, Marrakech (17:00)
• Group B: Egypt vs Zimbabwe, Agadir (20:00)

Tuesday, December 23

• Group D: Senegal vs Botswana, Tangier (12:30)
• Group D: DR Congo vs Benin, Rabat (15:00)
• Group C: Nigeria vs Tanzania, Fes (17:30)
• Group C: Tunisia vs Uganda, Rabat (20:00)

Wednesday, December 24

• Group E: Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea, Casablanca (12:30)
• Group E: Algeria vs Sudan, Rabat (15:00)
• Group F: Ivory Coast vs Mozambique, Marrakech (17:30)
• Group F: Cameroon vs Gabon, Agadir (20:00)

Subsequent Days

As the tournament progresses, matches will continue to unfold daily, culminating in the knockout stages starting January 3, leading up to the final on January 18.