Africa Cup of Nations 2025: Everything you need to know ahead of AFCON

The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off this Sunday, so here is everything you need to know ahead of the tournament.

When is the Africa Cup of Nations?

AFCON kicks off on Sunday 21 December with matches every day, except Christmas Day, until the group phase concludes on New Year's Eve.

The knockout stages commence on 3 January, with the final scheduled for 18 January.

Where is the Africa Cup of Nations being hosted?

Morocco is hosting AFCON for the second time, previously doing so back in 1988.

All matches will take place at nine venues across six cities, as documented below:

Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Morocco | Anadolu/GettyImages

Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabāṭ. Capacity: 68,700 - newly opened.

Ibn Batouta Stadium, Ṭangier. Capacity: 75,600 - newly renovated.

Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh. Capacity: 45,240.

Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca. Capacity: 45,000 - newly renovated.

Fez Stadium, Fez. Capacity: 45,000.

Grand Stade d'Agadir, Agādīr. Capacity: 45,000 - newly renovated.

Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabāṭ. Capacity: 22,000.

Rabāṭ Olympic Stadium, Rabāṭ. Capacity: 21,000 - newly opened.

Al Medina Stadium, Rabāṭ. Capacity: 18,000 - newly opened.

What is the draw for the Africa Cup of Nations?

The 24 qualified nations have been drawn into six groups of four teams, as documented below:

FBL-AFR-AFCON-2025-DRAW | ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT/GettyImages

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.

The full group stage fixtures list can be found at the bottom of this article.

Are there any noteworthy teams who failed to qualified for AFCON?

Of the nine African teams already guaranteed a spot at next summer's World Cup, two remarkably failed to qualify for this year's edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mohamed Kudus — Egypt v Ghana - TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations | DeFodi Images/GettyImages

This includes four-times winners and nine-times finalists Ghana, who failed to win any of their six qualifiers, thereby ending their streak of ten successive AFCON appearances.

Meanwhile, next summer, Cape Verde will become the third smallest nation, by population, to feature at the World Cup, but they missed out on a spot at AFCON, despite featuring at four of the previous six editions.

The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Namibia also did not make it, having featured at the 2024 tournament.

Africa Cup of Nations favourites: Morocco - the hosts

After reaching the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, most make Morocco favourites to win this tournament.

Achraf Hakimi — Morocco v South Africa: Round of 16 - TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations | DeFodi Images/GettyImages

The Atlas Lions have only ever won the Cup of Nations once, hoisting the trophy aloft in 1976, getting no further than the quarter-finals since being runners-up in 2004.

Nevertheless, Walid Regragui's side are hoping to make home advantage count, albeit only one of the nine AFCON tournaments since 2006 have been won by the hosts.

Africa Cup of Nations favourites: Ivory Coast - the holders

The sole host nation to claim AFCON glory in the last two decades is Ivory Coast, defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the final in Abidjan back in February 2024.

Sebastien Haller — Nigeria v Ivory Coast - TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Final | Visionhaus/GettyImages

Fair to say, les Éléphants enjoyed an eventful tournament, sacking manager Jean-Louis Gasset after a 4-0 group stage defeat against Equatorial Guinea seemingly saw them eliminated, only to sneak through a best-ranked fourth place team, ultimately taking the title under Emerse Faé.

Sébastien Haller, a year after being given the all-clear for testicular cancer, scoring the winner in the final.

That was Côte d'Ivoire's third AFCON title, after 1992 and 2015, so can they go back-to-back?

Africa Cup of Nations favourites: Egypt - record winners

Egypt are the record seven-times winners of the Africa Cup of Nations, including an unprecedented three-peat between 2006 and 2010, but that remains their most-recent triumph.

So, manager Hossam Hassan, and in particular captain Mohamed Salah, are under enormous pressure to deliver Cup of Nations glory, after the Pharaohs were beaten in the 2017 and 2022 finals.

Africa Cup of Nations favourites: Senegal - 2022 champions

15 different nations have won this competition, the most-recent first-time winners being Senegal, defeating Egypt on penalties in Yaoundé back in February 2022.

Sadio Mane — Brazil v Senegal - International Friendly | Jacques Feeney/Offside/GettyImages

Now led by Pape Thiaw, one could argue that the Lions of Téranga are even stronger these days, notably beating England in a friendly back in June, so they have to be among the front-runners.

Africa Cup of Nations other contenders

One of the best aspects of the Cup of Nations is the fact that numerous teams are genuine contenders; by our count, at least nine countries are bona fide potential winners.

South Africa are a team on the rise, reaching the semi-finals of last year's AFCON, while next summer Bafana Bafana will feature at a first World Cup since hosting in 2010.

South Africa v DR Congo - TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations | Visionhaus/GettyImages

Three-times winners Nigeria boast a star-studded attack, with the Super Eagles determined to go one better, having been runners-up in 2024.

Algeria won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, but have suffered back-to-back group stage exits since then, failing to win a single match, but far better is expected of the Dessert Foxes.

Tunisia too are expected to take plenty of supporters to a North African neighbour, while Cameroon, DR Congo, Burkina Faso, Gabon and others boast plenty of high-profile players.

How can I watch the Africa Cup of Nations on TV?

UK: Channel 4 have the rights, with all matches available on E4 or 4seven as well as Channel 4 Sport YouTube and All 4 online.

USA, Canada & Australia: beIN SPORTS.

All other TV information for other territories can be found here.

What is the complete Africa Cup of Nations group stage fixture list?

Sunday 21 December

Group A: Morocco vs Comoros. Kick off 19:00 (GMT), 14:00 (ET) & 11:00 (PT).

Youssef En Nesyri — Croatia v Morocco -World Cup | Soccrates Images/GettyImages

Monday 22 December

Group A: Mali vs Zambia. Kick off 14:00 (GMT), 9:00 (ET) & 6:00 (PT).

Group B: South Africa vs Angola. Kick off 17:00 (GMT), 12:00 (ET) & 9:00 (PT).

Group B: Egypt vs Zimbabwe: Kick off 20:00 (GMT), 15:00 (ET) & 9:00 (PT).

Yves Bissouma — Mali v Ivory Coast: Quarter-final - TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations | DeFodi Images/GettyImages

Tuesday 23 December

Group D: DR Congo vs Benin. Kick off 12:30 (GMT), 7:30 (ET) & 4:30 (PT).

Group D: Senegal vs Botswana. Kick off 15:00 (GMT), 10:00 (ET) & 7:00 (PT).

Group C: Nigeria vs Tanzania. Kick off 17:30 (GMT), 12:30 (ET) & 9:30 (PT).

Group C: Tunisia vs Uganda. Kick off 20:00 (GMT), 15:00 (ET) & 12:00 (PT).

Victor Osimhen — Nigeria v Ivory Coast - TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Final | Visionhaus/GettyImages

Wednesday 24 December

Group E: Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea. Kick off 12:30 (GMT), 7:30 (ET) & 4:30 (PT).

Group E: Algeria vs Sudan. Kick off 15:00 (GMT), 10:00 (ET) & 7:00 (PT).

Group F: Côte d'Ivoire vs Mozambique. Kick off 17:30 (GMT), 12:30 (ET) & 9:30 (PT).

Group F: Cameroon vs Gabon. Kick off 20:00 (GMT), 15:00 (ET) & 12:00 (PT).

Riyad Karim Mahrez — Algeria v Burkina Faso - TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations | DeFodi Images/GettyImages

Friday 26 December

Group B: Angola vs Zimbabwe. Kick off 12:30 (GMT), 7:30 (ET) & 4:30 (PT).

Group B: Egypt vs South Africa. Kick off 15:00 (GMT), 10:00 (ET) & 7:00 (PT).

Group A: Zambia vs Comoros. Kick off 17:30 (GMT), 12:30 (ET) & 9:30 (PT).

Group A: Morocco vs Mali. Kick off 20:00 (GMT), 15:00 (ET) & 12:00 (PT).

Saturday 27 December

Group D: Benin vs Botswana. Kick off 12:30 (GMT), 7:30 (ET) & 4:30 (PT).

Group D: Senegal vs DR Congo. Kick off 15:00 (GMT), 10:00 (ET) & 7:00 (PT).

Group C: Uganda vs Tanzania. Kick off 17:30 (GMT), 12:30 (ET) & 9:30 (PT).

Group C: Nigeria vs Tunisia. Kick off 20:00 (GMT), 15:00 (ET) & 12:00 (PT).

Iliman Ndiaye — Brazil v Senegal - International Friendly | Neal Simpson/Allstar/GettyImages

Sunday 28 December

Group F: Gabon vs Mozambique. Kick off 12:30 (GMT), 7:30 (ET) & 4:30 (PT).

Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan. Kick off 15:00 (GMT), 10:00 (ET) & 7:00 (PT).

Group E: Algeria vs Burkina Faso. Kick off 17:30 (GMT), 12:30 (ET) & 9:30 (PT).

Group F: Côte d'Ivoire vs Cameroon. Kick off 20:00 (GMT), 15:00 (ET) & 12:00 (PT).

TOPSHOT-FBL-WC-2026-QUALIFIER-KEN-GAB | SIMON MAINA/GettyImages

Monday 29 December

Group B: Angola vs Egypt. Kick off 16:00 (GMT), 11:00 (ET) & 8:00 (PT).

Group B: Zimbabwe vs South Africa. Kick off 16:00 (GMT), 11:00 (ET) & 8:00 (PT).

Group A: Zambia vs Morocco. Kick off 19:00 (GMT), 14:00 (ET) & 11:00 (PT).

Group A: Comoros vs Mali. Kick off 19:00 (GMT), 14:00 (ET) & 11:00 (PT).

Noussair Mazraoui — France v Morocco: Semi Final - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 | Fantasista/GettyImages

Tuesday 30 December

Group C: Uganda vs Nigeria. Kick off 16:00 (GMT), 11:00 (ET) & 8:00 (PT).

Group C: Tanzania vs Tunisia. Kick off 16:00 (GMT), 11:00 (ET) & 8:00 (PT).

Group D: Benin vs Senegal. Kick off 19:00 (GMT), 14:00 (ET) & 11:00 (PT).

Group D: Botswana vs DR Congo. Kick off 19:00 (GMT), 14:00 (ET) & 11:00 (PT).

Chancel Mangulu Mbemba — Ivory Coast v DR Congo - TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations | DeFodi Images/GettyImages

Wednesday 31 December

Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria. Kick off 16:00 (GMT), 11:00 (ET) & 8:00 (PT).

Group E: Sudan vs Burkina Faso. Kick off 16:00 (GMT), 11:00 (ET) & 8:00 (PT).

Group F: Gabon vs Côte d'Ivoire. Kick off 19:00 (GMT), 14:00 (ET) & 11:00 (PT).

Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon. Kick off 19:00 (GMT), 14:00 (ET) & 11:00 (PT).