African soccer’s most interesting groups and brightest stars will take centre stage in Morocco when the continent’s premier showpiece, the Africa Cup of Nations, kicks off on Sunday.
Ivory Coast will look to defend the title they received in 2023, whereas Morocco, Egypt and Senegal are additionally among the many pretournament favourites.
With high-profile gamers reminiscent of Mohamed Salah, Achraf Hakimi and Victor Osimhen set to characteristic, the 2025 version is predicted to ship top-tier soccer and storylines that stretch properly past the pitch.
Right here’s what you might want to know in regards to the upcoming AFCON:
What are the important thing dates and the place will the AFCON ultimate be performed?
The CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 will start on Sunday, as host nation Morocco play Comoros within the opening recreation.
The ultimate can be performed on January 18 on the 69,500-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, marking the conclusion of the 52-match event.
- Group stage: December 21 to 31
- Spherical of 16: January 3 to six
- Quarterfinals: January 9 and 10
- Semifinals: January 14
- Third-place playoff: January 17
- Closing: January 18
Why is AFCON 2025 beginning in December?
The event in Morocco was as a consequence of be performed in June, however that clashed with the expanded 32-team FIFA Membership World Cup, which was held in the USA on the time.
It marks the primary time AFCON will happen over the Christmas and New 12 months interval.
The place is the event being held?
Morocco is internet hosting the thirty fifth version of AFCON throughout 9 venues in six cities – essentially the most ever for an AFCON.
Guinea was initially as a consequence of host this version, however the West African nation, which is among the many poorest on the continent, was stripped of internet hosting rights as a consequence of issues about its readiness.
The 2025 version marks the second time Morocco has hosted the African championships, having first completed so in 1988.
Right here’s an inventory of the venues and cities:
⚽ Agadir: Adrar Stadium (capability: 45,480)
⚽ Casablanca: Stade Mohammed V (capability: 67,000)
⚽ Fez: Fez Stadium (capability: 45,000)
⚽ Marrakesh: Marrakesh Stadium (capability: 45,240)
⚽ Rabat: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (capability: 69,500)
⚽ Rabat: Moulay Hassan Stadium (capability: 22,000)
⚽ Rabat: Rabat Olympic Stadium (capability: 21,000)
⚽ Rabat: Al Barid Stadium (capability: 18,000)
⚽ Tangier: Ibn Batouta Stadium (capability: 75,600)
What number of groups are participating?
Twenty-four groups from the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) will play within the event.
Defending champions Ivory Coast, file seven-time winners Egypt, giants Morocco and Nigeria are among the many members.
The nations have been divided into six teams:
⚽ 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
What’s the event format?
The groups will play in a round-robin format, with the highest two from every group, together with the most effective 4 third-placed groups, advancing to the knockout stage, which begins with the spherical of 16.
That’s adopted by the quarterfinals, semifinals and the ultimate. There may be additionally a third-place playoff between the 2 dropping semifinalists.
Within the knockout phases, if a match is stage on the finish of regular taking part in time, it would go to half-hour of additional time and, if required, penalties.
A full AFCON 2025 match schedule is out there here.
When had been the gamers launched for AFCON?
FIFA introduced in early December that golf equipment would solely be obliged to launch gamers from December 15 – every week later than the usual worldwide window. The choice left AFCON groups lower than every week to arrange as soon as all gamers had been out there, posing a logistical problem for coaches and organisers.
FIFA mentioned the shortened launch interval, the identical method used for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was agreed after consultations with CAF and different stakeholders to “scale back the influence on numerous events”, with out elaborating.
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet mentioned it confirmed an absence of respect for African soccer and that European golf equipment got a better precedence by FIFA. “Everybody in Europe thinks African soccer will not be vital,” he added. “It exhibits an absence of respect, and I’m offended.”
The late notification was additionally criticised by the coaches, provided that the dates for the AFCON finals had been introduced in June final yr, giving FIFA ample time to make its ruling.
Who’re the earlier AFCON champions?
Egypt are essentially the most profitable African nation with seven AFCON titles. Nevertheless, the Pharaohs haven’t received the title since 2010.
Cameroon are the second-most profitable group with 5 titles, adopted by Ghana with 4, although they are going to be absent from this yr’s version after failing to qualify.
Nigeria and the Ivory Coast have received three every, with the latter beating the previous within the final version’s ultimate.
As many as 15 nations have received the championship because the event began in 1957.
Why is the AFCON vital?
The Africa Cup of Nations brings collectively among the strongest groups on the continent, together with a number of able to making deep runs on the worldwide stage at occasions just like the FIFA World Cup.
Seven groups that includes at AFCON 2025 – Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia – have additionally certified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which can be co-hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada.
“AFCON is particular as a result of it displays the wealthy cultures of our continent. Each version has its personal id – from the followers to the rhythm of the matches,” ex-Zambia Christopher Katongo, who led them to the title in 2012, informed CAFOnline.
“It’s not nearly soccer; it’s about delight, historical past, and representing your folks. The extent of competitors retains rising as a result of African soccer is continually enhancing, and that makes each event a recent problem.
“AFCON has turn into a world showcase for African expertise,” he added.
For host nation Morocco, this event doubles up as a possibility to establish areas for enchancment and a well timed warm-up earlier than the 2030 World Cup, which they may co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Who’re the favourites to win AFCON 2025?
Host nation Morocco and defending champions Ivory Coast are among the many frontrunners for the title.
Morocco, Africa’s highest-ranked nation at eleventh on the planet, are in nice type, having prolonged their record-breaking run of successive victories to 18 final month.
The North Africans, whose squad is extensively considered a golden era and was the shock package deal on the 2022 Qatar World Cup with a semifinal achievement, may also benefit from the benefit of taking part in in entrance of residence crowds as they intention for his or her first title in 50 years.
After beautiful Nigeria within the 2023 ultimate on residence soil, title holders Ivory Coast enter the event this yr in excessive spirits. The Elephants sealed their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in exceptional style, ending high of their group within the qualifying stage, with out conceding a aim of their 10 video games.
Egypt, spearheaded by Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, may be one to observe. Senegal, Tunisia and Algeria are among the many different fancied groups.
What’s the prize cash for AFCON?
The prize cash stays the identical because the final version, with the winner receiving $7m, whereas the runner-up takes residence $4m.
The full prize pot for the event is $32m.
The place to purchase tickets and watch the event?
Tickets went reside on CAF’s official platform in mid-October, with the federation saying 298,000 tickets had been bought throughout the first two phases, with patrons in 106 nations worldwide. A 3rd section was introduced in mid-November.
Tickets for the ultimate, ranging from about $43, had been bought out within the third section. Total, the most affordable ticket out there for a recreation is priced at a bit of over $10.
Regional broadcasters, together with Channel 4, beIN Sport, SuperSport and Canal+, will telecast the event.
Al Jazeera Sport will present live text updates and game-time commentary of select matches at AFCON 2025, together with the semifinals and ultimate.
