Your Essential Guide to the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco 🇲🇦

Your Essential Guide to the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco 🇲🇦The biggest sporting event on the continent is almost upon us! For the first time, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will span across Christmas and New Year, turning Morocco into the epicentre of world football.

The 35th edition of the tournament kicks off on Sunday, 21 December, when the hosts, the Atlas Lions of Morocco, take on Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat at 19:00 GMT. Pressure is mounting on Morocco, Africa's highest-ranked nation (11th in the world), to finally lift the trophy they haven't won since 1976. Meanwhile, the legendary Mohamed Salah will be leading the charge for Egypt, hoping to secure his first continental title and extend the Pharaohs' record to an eighth crown. We break down everything you need to know ahead of the AFCON 2025 finals.

groups The AFCON 2025 Groups: Clashes of Titans

The 24 qualifying teams have been drawn into six groups of four. We are set for some mouthwatering contests right from the group stage:

Group A: Morocco (Hosts), Mali, Zambia, Comoros.
- Host nation must navigate a tough path against strong Mali and 2012 winners Zambia.

Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe.

A compelling North vs. South clash between Mohamed Salah's Egypt and the 1996 champions South Africa.

Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania.

East African flair meets West and North African heavyweights.

Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana.

A very tasty fixture between 2021 champions Senegal and a high-flying DR Congo side.

Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan.

Algeria and Burkina Faso will be expected to battle for top spot.

Group F: Ivory Coast (Holders), Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique.

The Group of Death features the defending champions and five-time winners Cameroon.

Tournament Format: The top two teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best-ranked third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16.

🏟️ The Venues: Morocco's Sporting Stage

Morocco has invested heavily in stadium renovations, ready to host AFCON 2025 and co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Nine impressive stadiums across six cities will be used:

City	Stadium Name	Key Events	Capacity
Rabat	Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium	Opening Match & Final	69,500
Rabat	Olympic Stadium	Group Games	21,000
Rabat	Prince Heritier Stadium	Group Games	22,000
Rabat	Stade El Barid	Group Games	18,000
Casablanca	Stade Mohammed V	Group Games	67,000
Tangier	Grande Stade de Tangier	Group Games & Knockouts	68,000
Agadir	Grande Stade d'Agadir	Group Games & Knockouts	45,480
Marrakech	Grande Stade de Marrakech	Group Games & Knockouts	45,240
Fes	Complexe Sportif de Fes	Group Games & Knockouts	45,000

⏳ Schedule and Kick-off Times (All GMT)

The tournament schedule promises a football feast over the holidays, with the group stage running until New Year's Eve.

Group Stage: 21 December - 31 December

Opening Match: Morocco vs Comoros (Sun, 21 Dec, 19:00)
Daily Matches (22-28 Dec): 12:30, 15:00, 17:30, and 20:00.
Final Group Games (29-31 Dec): Simultaneous kick-offs at 16:00 and 19:00.

Key Fixtures to Watch:

Morocco vs Mali (Group A): Friday, 26 December, 20:00
Egypt vs South Africa (Group B): Friday, 26 December, 15:00
Senegal vs DR Congo (Group D): Saturday, 27 December, 15:00
Ivory Coast vs Cameroon (Group F): Sunday, 28 December, 20:00

Knockout Stage: 3 January - 18 January

The elimination rounds largely kick off at 16:00 and 19:00 GMT.

Round of 16: Saturday, 3 January - Tuesday, 6 January
Quarter-finals: Friday, 9 January - Saturday, 10 January
Semi-finals: Wednesday, 14 January (17:00 & 20:00)
Third Place Play-off: Saturday, 17 January (16:00)
The Final: Sunday, 18 January, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (19:00)

🌟 Who Are The Favourites?

While seven different nations have won the trophy in the last eight editions, suggesting an unpredictable tournament, a few teams stand out:

Morocco: The hosts are the overwhelming favourites, boasting a world-record international winning streak of 18 consecutive victories. Their confidence is sky-high.
Senegal: The 2021 champions have looked impressive under coach Pape Thiaw, entering the tournament as formidable contenders.
Algeria & Egypt: Both North African giants were unbeaten in World Cup qualifying and will feel comfortable in the regional conditions, looking to add to their trophy cabinets.
DR Congo: Riding a wave of momentum after seeing off Cameroon and Nigeria in World Cup play-offs, they could be the dark horses.

Player Release Row

Clubs must release players by the mandatory FIFA date of Monday, 15 December. This date, seven days later than usual, has sparked controversy, with coaches like Mali's Tom Saintfiet calling it "catastrophic" for preparation and a "lack of respect" for African football.

AFCON 2025 Agadir Fixtures

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