Africa Cup of Nations 2025: Tournament Overview and Schedule
The Continent's Top Footballers Gather for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to take place in Morocco, with the tournament scheduled to run over the Christmas and New Year period for the first time. The opening match will feature the host nation, Morocco, facing Comoros on Sunday, December 21, at 19:00 GMT at Rabat's Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
Morocco, currently ranked 11th in the world and the highest-ranked nation in Africa, is under pressure to secure their first AFCON title since 1976. Meanwhile, Egyptian star Mohamed Salah aims to lead his team to a record-extending eighth continental crown after finishing as a runner-up in the 2017 and 2021 tournaments.
For detailed information regarding the group stages, tournament format, match timings, and venues, BBC Sport Africa has compiled all the essential details ahead of this prestigious event.
AFCON 2025 Group Stages
The tournament features 24 teams divided into six groups of four. The groups are as follows:
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 top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will progress to the knockout stage, which includes quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place match, and the final.
AFCON 2025 Schedule and Kick-off Times
The tournament will commence with Morocco versus Comoros at 19:00 GMT, followed by three matches the next day. The group stage will run until December 31, featuring four matches daily at 12:30, 15:00, 17:30, and 20:00 GMT. The knockout phase starts on January 3, with the final scheduled for January 18 at 19:00 GMT.
AFCON 2025 Venues
Morocco has invested significantly in upgrading its stadiums in preparation for AFCON 2025, while also gearing up to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Nine stadiums across six cities will be utilized, including:
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)
Player Availability for AFCON
As AFCON coincides with the European football season, a debate has arisen regarding the release of players by their clubs. FIFA has set the mandatory release date for December 15, a week later than usual. Mali's coach, Tom Saintfiet, criticized this decision, calling it "catastrophic" for team preparations.
AFCON 2025 Favorites
Morocco enters the tournament as the favorite, boasting an impressive record of 18 consecutive victories since March 2024. Senegal, the champions of AFCON 2021, are also strong contenders, showcasing excellent form under coach Pape Thiaw. Other notable teams include Algeria, Egypt, and the defending champions, Ivory Coast, all of whom remain unbeaten in World Cup qualifying.
AFCON 2025 Fixtures
All times GMT
Sunday, December 21
Group A: Morocco vs Comoros, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (19:00)
Monday, December 22
Group A: Mali vs Zambia, Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (14:00)
Group B: South Africa vs Angola, Grande Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech (17:00)
Group B: Egypt vs Zimbabwe, Grande Stade d'Agadir, Agadir (20:00)
Tuesday, December 23
Group D: Senegal vs Botswana, Grande Stade de Tangier, Tangier (12:30)
Group D: DR Congo vs Benin, Stade El Barid, Rabat (15:00)
Group C: Nigeria vs Tanzania, Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes (17:30)
Group C: Tunisia vs Uganda, Olympic Stadium, Rabat (20:00)
Wednesday, December 24
Group E: Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea, Casablanca (12:30)
Group E: Algeria vs Sudan, Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan, Rabat (15:00)
Group F: Ivory Coast vs Mozambique, Marrakech (17:30)
Group F: Cameroon vs Gabon, Agadir (20:00)
Friday, December 26
Group B: Angola vs Zimbabwe, Marrakech (12:30)
Group B: Egypt vs South Africa, Agadir (15:00)
Group A: Zambia vs Comoros, Casablanca (17:30)
Group A: Morocco vs Mali, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (20:00)