The Africa Cup of Nations Morocco is set to bring the continent’s best football talent together, with the 35th edition taking place over Christmas and New Year for the first time. The tournament begins on 21 December, when hosts Morocco meet Comoros at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
The Atlas Lions, currently Africa’s top-ranked side, are chasing their first title since 1976, while Mohamed Salah hopes to lead Egypt to an unprecedented eighth title. Fans can expect fierce competition, a packed Afcon schedule and venues across Morocco, and several heavyweight clashes during the group phase.
Group Stage Breakdown
Twenty-four teams have been divided into six groups for Afcon 2025, with each featuring a mix of champions, regional rivals, and rising nations.
Group A includes Morocco, 2012 winners Zambia, Mali, and Comoros.
Group F features a major clash as champions Ivory Coast meet five-time winners Cameroon.
Group D offers another thriller with Senegal taking on DR Congo.
Other notable matchups include Egypt vs South Africa in Group B, while Group C features an all-East African contest between Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Tunisia.
The top two teams in each group plus the four best third-placed sides will reach the last 16, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place playoff, and the final.
Afcon 2025 Schedule and Kick-Off Times
The opening day features Morocco vs Comoros at 19:00 GMT. Three matches follow on the next day, launching a hectic festival of football.
From 22–31 December, fans can expect four matches every day, creating a packed and exciting Africa Cup of Nations Morocco calendar. Standard kick-off times are 12:30, 15:00, 17:30, and 20:00 GMT, shifting to 16:00 or 19:00 GMT for the final group fixtures.
The knockout phase starts on 3 January, with most games played at 16:00 or 19:00 GMT. After semi-finals on 14 January, the final takes place on 18 January at 19:00 GMT.
Africa Cup of Nations Venues in Morocco
Morocco has invested heavily in football infrastructure to host the Africa Cup of Nations venues, as well as prepare for its joint 2030 World Cup bid.
Nine stadiums in six cities will host matches, including four in Rabat:
- Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (69,500)
- Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Stadium, Rabat (21,000)
- Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan, Rabat (22,000)
- Stade El Barid, Rabat (18,000)
- Grande Stade d’Agadir, Agadir (45,480)
- Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes (45,000)
- Grande Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech (45,240)
- Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (67,000)
- Grande Stade de Tangier, Tangier (68,000)
These modern facilities underline Morocco’s ambition to deliver a world-class tournament.
Player Release Controversy Before Afcon 2025
With Afcon being played mid-season, tension has emerged between clubs and national teams over player availability.
Fifa set 15 December as the mandatory release date, a week later than usual, prompting criticism from several managers.
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet called the decision “catastrophic,” arguing it shows disrespect toward African football. European clubs may still negotiate late releases, especially for players required for league matches.
Who Are the Afcon 2025 Favourites?
Given their unprecedented form, hosts Morocco enter as favourites.
They are on an 18-match winning run, scoring 50 goals and conceding just four since March 2024. Fans are hopeful the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco can finally deliver a trophy on home soil.
However, dangerous contenders include:
- Senegal, recovering from a loss to Brazil with an 8-0 win over Kenya
- Algeria, Egypt, and Ivory Coast, unbeaten in World Cup qualifying
- DR Congo, high on confidence after eliminating Cameroon and Nigeria
With seven different winners in the last eight editions, unpredictability remains a hallmark of the tournament.
Key Fixtures: Group Stage Highlights (All Times GMT)
21 December
Group A: Morocco vs Comoros, Rabat (19:00)
22 December
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)
23 December
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)
…and the action continues until 31 December, ahead of the knockout rounds.
Fans planning to attend matches can explore host cities and book trips through the official travel partner:
travel.afrikeye.com
Road to the Final
The second round begins on 3 January, leading into quarter-finals on 9–10 January, the semi-finals on 14 January, and the final on 18 January in Rabat.
This story was first reported by BBC Sport Africa. Read the full article here.
