Africa’s biggest football event is back this Dec. as Morocco hosts the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). For the first time, the tournament will take place over Christmas and New Year, offering fans a festive football experience across the continent.
The tournament kicks off on Sunday, 21 Dec. with the Atlas Lions playing Comoros at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Morocco, ranked 11th in the world, is under pressure as the host but hasn’t won the trophy since 1976. Egypt’s captain Mohamed Salah is also aiming for his first continental title, hoping to guide the Pharaohs to a record eighth win after coming close in 2017 and 2021.
Group Stage Draw
Twenty-four nations have been divided into six groups of four:
- 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 format is the same as before. The top two teams from each group, plus the four best third-placed teams, move on to the round of 16. After that, the tournament continues with quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place match, and the final.
Tournament Favourites
Morocco enters as a frontrunner, riding an extra. Morocco comes in as the favorite, with an impressive streak of 18 straight wins since March 2024, a world record in international football.
In that time, they have scored 50 goals and allowed only four. They are contender under coach Pape Thiaw. Despite a recent setback against Brazil, the Teranga Lions bounced back emphatically with an 8–0 win over Kenya. Algeria, Egypt, and the Ivory Coast all impressed in World Cup qualifying, while DR Congo arrived buoyed by victories over Cameroon and Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup play-offs.
There have been seven different winners in the last eight editions, so surprises and upsets are almost certain at Afcon.
Match Schedule & Kick-Off Times
- Opening match: Morocco vs Comoros, 21 Dec. at 19:00 GMT
- Group stage: 22–31 December, with four matches daily at 12:30, 15:00, 17:30, and 20:00 GMT
- Knockout stage: begins 3 January, with most games at 16:00 and 19:00 GMT
- Final: Sunday, 18 January at 19:00 GMT
Fans can expect wall-to-wall football during the festive season, with almost 50 group stage matches packed into just 10 days across six cities, which will host the tournament, with Rabat providing four venues:
- Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (69,500)
- Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Stadium, Rabat (21,000)
- Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan, Rabat (22 000)
- Stade El Barid, Rabat (18,000)
- Grande Stade d’Agadir, Agadir (45 480)
- Complexe Sportif de Fès, Fès (45 000)
- Grande Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech (45,240)
- Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (67 000)
- Grande Stade de Tangier, Tangier (68,000)
The Stage is Set
Morocco’s strong form, Egypt’s drive for victory, and many other teams hoping to surprise make Afcon 2025 one of the most exciting tournaments in years. With the festive timing and busy schedule, fans can expect a unique celebration of African football.