Africa’s biggest football tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, kicks off this Sunday in Morocco, with 24 teams battling for continental glory.
The opening match will see host nation Morocco face Comoros in Rabat, setting the stage for a four-week tournament that will end on January 18.
Ivory Coast will be defending the title they won in 2023, while record champions Egypt return aiming to lift the trophy for the first time since 2010.
Venues and timeline
The tournament will be hosted across nine stadiums in six cities.
The group stage runs until December 31, with knockout matches starting on January 3.
The final will be played at the 69,500-seat Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
In total, 52 matches will be played.
Groups
The 24 teams have been drawn into six groups:
- 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
Tournament format
The top two teams from each group, plus the best four third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16.
From there, the tournament moves to:
- Round of 16
- Quarterfinals
- Semifinals
- Third-place playoff
- Final
If a knockout match ends level after 90 minutes, teams will play extra time, followed by penalties if needed.
Key dates
- Group stage: December 21 – December 31
- Round of 16: January 3 – January 6
- Quarterfinals: January 9 – January 10
- Semifinals: January 14
- Third-place playoff: January 17
- Final: January 18
AFCON 2025 promises high-stakes football, fierce rivalries and a celebration of African talent on one of the continent’s biggest sporting stages.
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