The Africa Cup of Nations returns in late 2025, and this time the continent’s biggest football festival lands in Morocco. The tournament kicks off on December 21, with the hosts facing Comoros in Rabat, and it wraps up on January 18, 2026, at the same stadium – a full month of intensity, rivalry, and raw African football energy.
A New Chapter for a Familiar Host
Morocco steps back into the spotlight after being awarded the hosting rights in September 2023, taking over from Guinea, who were stripped of the role. The country last hosted AFCON in 1988, and now, with upgraded infrastructure and world-class venues, they’re set to deliver one of the most polished editions yet.
The timing of the tournament was originally supposed to be in the summer, but changes around the expanded Club World Cup forced CAF to shift AFCON back to its traditional winter window.
The Format Stays the Same
Just like recent editions, AFCON 2025 features 24 teams, split into six groups of four. The top two teams from each group move on, joined by the four best third-placed teams, making the Round of 16 a mix of favourites and dark horses. From there, everything is single-leg knockout football – extra time if needed, and penalties if things get too tight.
Build Your Dream Team With Sofascore Fantasy
And for fans who like to test their football knowledge, Sofascore will also launch a global Fantasy competition during AFCON 2025. Football lovers around the world will pick their dream squads, track player performances in real time, and compete for bragging rights through every move on the pitch. A perfect way to follow the tournament more closely, feel every match, and put your analysis skills to the test through the entire competition.
Where the Action Happens
Six host cities and nine stadiums will bring this tournament to life, but Rabat sits at the heart of it all. The Complex Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, a 68,700-seater, will host both the opener and the final. Rabat will be the busiest city with four different venues in use, while the remaining five cities each offer one stadium.
The biggest arena of the tournament is Tanger’s Ibn Batouta Stadium, with a massive 75,000 capacity. Other key venues include Casablanca’s historic Mohammed V Stadium, Marrakech’s vibrant Marrakesh Stadium, the Fez Stadium in Fes, and the Adrar Stadium in Agadir.
Full Stadium List:
- Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier (75,000)
- Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (68,700)
- Adrar Stadium, Agadir (45,480)
- Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca (45,000)
- Fez Stadium, Fez (45,000)
- Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh (45,240)
- Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat (22,000)
- Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat (21,000)
- Al Barid Stadium, Rabat (18,000)
Who Comes in as the Team to Beat?
That honour belongs to Ivory Coast, the reigning champions. They completed one of the most dramatic AFCON runs in 2024, coming from behind to beat Nigeria in Abidjan and lifting their third continental title. They’re back in the mix again, drawn into a stacked Group F.
How the Groups Look
AFCON 2025 isn’t short of heavyweight clashes or potential upsets:
- Group A: Morocco, Comoros, Mali, Zambia
- Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
- Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda
- Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
- Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
- Group F: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
From Day 1, the schedule delivers blockbuster fixtures — Egypt vs Zimbabwe, Nigeria vs Tanzania, Senegal vs Botswana, Ivory Coast vs Mozambique — and that’s just the opening round.
Key Dates to Mark
- Group Stage: Dec 21 – Dec 31
- Round of 16: Jan 3 – Jan 6
- Quarter-finals: Jan 9 – Jan 10
- Semi-finals: Jan 14
- Third-place Playoff: Jan 17
- Final: Jan 18
Expect the knockout rounds to be fierce. With giants like Nigeria, Egypt, Senegal, Algeria, and Morocco all in the mix, the margins will be razor thin.
Why This Tournament Matters
AFCON 2025 lands in an interesting moment for African football. Morocco has emerged as a power in global football infrastructure, and hosting the continent’s biggest tournament feels like the perfect stage to showcase its ambitions — especially after their historic 2022 World Cup run.
At the same time, Africa’s traditional giants are hungry. Nigeria wants redemption after losing the 2024 final. Egypt wants to chase their eighth title. Senegal is still in their golden era. Algeria wants to bounce back. And Ivory Coast will fight to defend their crown.
Add in underdogs like Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, and Tanzania — who’ve shocked bigger sides before — and you’ve got a tournament that has “chaos potential” written all over it.
Final Word
AFCON is never predictable. It’s passionate, dramatic, and emotional — the kind of tournament where tournament favourites fall early and unlikely heroes rise out of nowhere. With Morocco hosting and a festive December atmosphere across six cities, AFCON 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting editions yet. Football’s biggest African celebration is almost here.