The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament is set to begin Dec. 21 in Morocco, with the host nation facing Comoros in the opening match.
The biennial continental championship, organized by the Confederation of African Football, will feature 24 teams competing in 52 matches across nine venues in six cities. The final is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2026, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, which has a capacity of 69,500 following recent renovations.
This marks the first time all participating teams will be accommodated in five-star hotels, a detail highlighted by organizers as part of Morocco’s preparations to host the event.
Ivory Coast enters as the defending champion after winning the 2023 tournament, which was played in early 2024. Egypt holds the record with seven titles, though its last victory came in 2010.
Participating Teams and Groups
The 24 qualified teams have been divided into six groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 16, along with the four best third-place finishers.
Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Morocco, which reached the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup, includes players such as Achraf Hakimi and is considered one of the contenders on home soil.
Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Egypt features Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and remains a consistent performer in the competition.
Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Nigeria and Tunisia, both former champions, are grouped together in this section.
Group D: Senegal, Congo DR, Benin, Botswana
Senegal, winner in 2021, fields a squad transitioning after the international retirement of forward Sadio Mane.
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
Algeria, champion in 2019, headlines this group.
Group F: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
Ivory Coast and Cameroon, which has won the tournament five times, will meet in the group stage.
Tournament Format
The group stage will run from Dec. 21 through Dec. 31, followed by rest days on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2.
The round of 16 is set for Jan. 3-6, quarterfinals for Jan. 9-10, and semifinals for Jan. 14. The third-place match will take place Jan. 17, ahead of the final on Jan. 18.
In knockout-round games, matches tied after 90 minutes will proceed to 30 minutes of extra time. If necessary, penalty kicks will decide the winner.
Complete Group Stage Schedule
(All times GMT)
Dec. 21
Morocco vs. Comoros — Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (7 p.m.)
Dec. 22
Mali vs. Zambia — Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (2:30 p.m.)
Egypt vs. Zimbabwe — Adrar Stadium, Agadir (5 p.m.)
South Africa vs. Angola — Marrakesh Stadium (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 23
Nigeria vs. Tanzania — Fez Stadium (noon)
Tunisia vs. Uganda — Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (2:30 p.m.)
Senegal vs. Botswana — Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier (5 p.m.)
Congo DR vs. Benin — Al Barid Stadium (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 24
Algeria vs. Sudan — Moulay Hassan Stadium (noon)
Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea — Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (2:30 p.m.)
Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique — Marrakesh Stadium (5 p.m.)
Cameroon vs. Gabon — Adrar Stadium, Agadir (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 25 — No matches scheduled
Dec. 26
Morocco vs. Mali — Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (noon)
Zambia vs. Comoros — Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (2:30 p.m.)
Egypt vs. South Africa — Adrar Stadium, Agadir (5 p.m.)
Angola vs. Zimbabwe — Marrakesh Stadium (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 27
Nigeria vs. Tunisia — Fez Stadium (noon)
Uganda vs. Tanzania — Al Barid Stadium (2:30 p.m.)
Senegal vs. Congo DR — Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier (5 p.m.)
Benin vs. Botswana — Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 28
Algeria vs. Burkina Faso — Moulay Hassan Stadium (noon)
Equatorial Guinea vs. Sudan — Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (2:30 p.m.)
Ivory Coast vs. Cameroon — Marrakesh Stadium (5 p.m.)
Gabon vs. Mozambique — Adrar Stadium, Agadir (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 29
Comoros vs. Mali — Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (5:30 p.m.)
Zambia vs. Morocco — Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (5:30 p.m.)
Angola vs. Egypt — Adrar Stadium, Agadir (7:30 p.m.)
Zimbabwe vs. South Africa — Marrakesh Stadium (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 30
Tanzania vs. Tunisia — Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (5 p.m.)
Uganda vs. Nigeria — Fez Stadium (5 p.m.)
Benin vs. Senegal — Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier (7:30 p.m.)
Botswana vs. Congo DR — Al Barid Stadium (7:30 p.m.)
Dec. 31
Equatorial Guinea vs. Algeria — Moulay Hassan Stadium (5 p.m.)
Sudan vs. Burkina Faso — Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (5 p.m.)
Gabon vs. Ivory Coast — Marrakesh Stadium (7:30 p.m.)
Mozambique vs. Cameroon — Adrar Stadium, Agadir (7:30 p.m.)
Knockout Stage Fixtures
Round of 16
Jan. 3-6 at various venues
Specific matchups:
Jan. 3: Winner Group D vs. third-place Group B/E/F — Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier (5 p.m.)
Runner-up Group A vs. runner-up Group C — Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (7:30 p.m.)
Jan. 4: Winner Group A vs. third-place Group C/D/E — Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (5 p.m.)
Runner-up Group B vs. runner-up Group F — Al Barid Stadium (7:30 p.m.)
Jan. 5: Winner Group B vs. third-place Group A/C/D — Adrar Stadium, Agadir (5 p.m.)
Winner Group C vs. third-place Group A/B/F — Fez Stadium (7:30 p.m.)
Jan. 6: Winner Group E vs. runner-up Group D — Moulay Hassan Stadium (5 p.m.)
Winner Group F vs. runner-up Group E — Marrakesh Stadium (7:30 p.m.)
Quarterfinals
Jan. 9-10 at various venues
Semifinals
Jan. 14 at Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier, and Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Third-place match
Jan. 17 — Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (7 p.m.)
Final
Jan. 18 — Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (7 p.m.)
With teams finalizing squads and arriving in Morocco ahead of the opening matches, the tournament is poised to showcase Africa’s top soccer talent over the coming weeks.
