AFCON 2025: Groups, Fixtures, Venues, & Schedule

The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to take place in Morocco, with the tournament running from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.

This winter scheduling is unusual for AFCON, which is typically held around January/February or mid-year, but the shift was necessary to avoid a clash with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup.12

A total of 24 national teams will compete. Morocco, the country that was crowned the host,  aims to leverage both home soil and high expectations. Among the favourites are traditional powers such as Côte d’Ivoire national football team (defending champions), Egypt national football team, Nigeria national football team, Senegal national football team, and of course the hosts themselves.

Fans will get a full month of football action across six Moroccan cities. The final, and grand culmination YUIW is scheduled for 18 January 2026 in the Moroccan capital.

Groups and Group-stage Format

The 24 teams are divided into six groups (A to F), each containing four teams. From each group, the top two teams plus four of the best third-placed teams will advance to the knockout stage.

Here is the full list of groups for AFCON 2025:

• 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: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique

Venues & Host Cities

AFCON 2025 will be spread across several Moroccan cities, using modern stadiums to host group-stage matches, knockout rounds, and the final.

Key host cities and stadiums include:

• Rabat, the capital city hosts several fixtures, including at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (opening match and more).
• Casablanca, via the Mohammed V Stadium, a major venue for group matches and one of the traditional football hotspots of Morocco.
• Agadir, on the Atlantic coast, hosting several Group B matches at the Grand Stade d’Agadir (sometimes referred to as Adrar Stadium).
• Marrakech, cultural city and host city via the Grand Stade de Marrakech.
• Fès, city in Morocco’s interior, hosting several matches (especially for Group C) at the Fès Sports Complex Stadium.
• Tangier, northern port city near the Mediterranean, hosting Group D matches at the Grand Stade de Tanger (Ibn Batouta Stadium).

This geographic spread reflects a balance between Morocco’s major urban centres and cultural/touristic cities, offering fans not only football but also exposure to Morocco’s diverse landscapes and heritage.

Full Fixtures – Group Stage Highlights

Below is a summary of key group-stage fixtures (selected dates /matches). For the full fixtures, please refer to the official schedules.

Group A

• 21 Dec 2025 — Morocco vs Comoros (Rabat)
• 22 Dec 2025 — Mali vs Zambia (Casablanca)
• 26 Dec 2025 — Morocco vs Mali (Rabat) & Zambia vs Comoros (Casablanca)
• 29 Dec 2025 — Morocco vs Zambia (Rabat) & Comoros vs Mali (Casablanca)

Group B

• 22 Dec 2025 — Egypt vs Zimbabwe (Agadir); South Africa vs Angola (Marrakech)
• 26 Dec 2025 — Egypt vs South Africa (Agadir); Angola vs Zimbabwe (Marrakech)
• 29 Dec 2025 — Egypt vs Angola (Agadir); Zimbabwe vs South Africa (Marrakech)

Group C

• 23 Dec 2025 — Nigeria vs Tanzania (Fès); Tunisia vs Uganda (Rabat)
• 27 Dec 2025 — Nigeria vs Tunisia (Fès); Uganda vs Tanzania (Rabat)
• 30 Dec 2025 — Nigeria vs Uganda (Fès); Tanzania vs Tunisia (Rabat)

Group D

• 23 Dec 2025 — Senegal vs Botswana (Tangier); DR Congo vs Benin (Rabat)
• 27 Dec 2025 — DR Congo vs Senegal (Tangier); Benin vs Botswana (Rabat)
• 30 Dec 2025 — Botswana vs DR Congo (Rabat); Benin vs Senegal (Tangier)

Group E

• 24 Dec 2025 — Algeria vs Sudan (Rabat); Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea (Casablanca)
• 28 Dec 2025 — Algeria vs Burkina Faso (Rabat); Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan (Casablanca)
• 31 Dec 2025 — Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria (Rabat); Burkina Faso vs Sudan (Casablanca)

Group F

• 24 Dec 2025 — Côte d’Ivoire vs Mozambique (Marrakech); Cameroon vs Gabon (Agadir)
• 28 Dec 2025 — Cameroon vs Côte d’Ivoire (Marrakech); Gabon vs Mozambique (Agadir)
• 31 Dec 2025 — Cameroon vs Mozambique (Agadir); Côte d’Ivoire vs Gabon (Marrakech)

Group stages will run from 21 to 31 December 2025.

What Happens After Group Stage:  Knockout Phase Preview

After the group stage, the tournament moves to the knockout rounds, starting with the Round of 16, then quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the final on 18 January 2026.

The knockout fixtures will be held across the Moroccan venues previously used in the group stage.

The mix of established football hubs (such as Casablanca and Rabat) and culturally rich cities (such as Marrakech, Fès, and Tangier) offers a blend of sporting spectacle and Moroccan heritage, potentially attracting fans keen to combine football with travel experiences.

Why AFCON 2025 Is Significant: Key Storylines

• Home advantage for Morocco: As hosts, Morocco will have the full backing of home crowds and familiarity with venues, which is always a factor in tournament football.
• Winter scheduling: The December–January timeframe represents a shift from traditional AFCON timings, a move driven by calendar pressures (notably the expanded FIFA Club World Cup).
• Balanced representation: With six groups and 24 teams, the tournament offers wide continental representations from North Africa to West, East, Central, and Southern Africa, boosting continental interest and diversity.
• Cultural and geographical spread: By staging games across multiple Moroccan cities, each with distinct cultural and geographic identities, AFCON 2025 will be a showcase of Morocco’s heritage and tourist potential.
• Potential for surprises: AFCON is always unpredictable. Defending champions, underdogs, emerging teams, plus the best third-place qualifiers, open the door for unexpected breakthroughs.