The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, with 24 teams competing in six groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stages, making the tournament highly competitive from the start.
Confirmed Groups and Teams
The tournament draw has resulted in intriguing group-stage matchups:
Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco (host), Gabon, Central African Republic, Lesotho
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin, Libya, Rwanda
Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger
Group G: Ivory Coast (defending champions), Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi
Teams to Watch and Key Performances
Angola: Qualified as the runner-up of Group F, securing its 10th AFCON appearance. Angola’s best performances came in 2008 and 2010, when it reached the quarterfinals
Ivory Coast: The reigning champions from 2023 are aiming to retain their title and further cement their legacy as one of Africa’s football powerhouses
Host Cities and Stadiums
The tournament will be hosted across six Moroccan cities, featuring state-of-the-art venues:
Rabat: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (Capacity: 53,000, expandable to 68,700)
Casablanca: Mohammed V Stadium (45,891)
Tangier: Ibn Batouta Stadium (65,000, expandable to 75,600)
Fez: Fez Sports Complex (45,000, expandable to 55,800)
Marrakech: Marrakech Stadium (45,240)
Agadir: Grand Agadir Stadium (45,480)
Anticipated Intensity and Competitive Edge
This edition of the AFCON promises to be fiercely competitive. With traditional giants like Senegal, Egypt, and Morocco vying for glory, the pressure is on Ivory Coast to defend its crown. Angola also enters the competition with growing momentum, eager to showcase its progress and challenge Africa’s best teams.
The tournament’s knockout format ensures drama, with each group-stage performance crucial to advancing to the next round. Fans can expect thrilling encounters as past champions, including Cameroon, Algeria, and Ghana, aim to reclaim continental dominance.
This AFCON will not only highlight Morocco’s readiness to host major events but will also offer a platform for underdog teams to disrupt the established order. With historic rivalries and breakout stars on display, AFCON 2025 is poised to captivate audiences across the continent.
This edition promises intense competition, with Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, and Ivory Coast entering as strong contenders for the title. Angola has also shown improvement, leveraging growing momentum to assert itself among Africa’s elite. Teams like Nigeria, Algeria, and Cameroon will aim to reclaim past glory and contend for continental dominance.
With the stakes high, the knockout format ensures thrilling encounters, as smaller nations look to upset giants and secure their place in African football history. Morocco, backed by home support, aspires to win its first AFCON title since 1976, making this tournament one to watch for fans across the continent.
