Africa’s top footballers are heading to Morocco as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations becomes the first edition staged across Christmas and New Year.
The hosts open the tournament on Sunday, 21 December, facing Comoros at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium at 19:00 GMT.
Morocco are ranked 11th in the world and have not lifted the trophy since 1976, while Egypt captain Mohamed Salah begins another bid to win his first Afcon title after finishing runner-up in 2017 and 2021.
The Athletic NG breaks down the groups, fixtures, venues and release rules for the 35th edition.
How are the groups set?
Twenty-four teams will compete in six groups of four, with the top two in each group plus the four best third-placed sides progressing to the last 16.
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
The headline fixtures include holders Ivory Coast against Cameroon in Group F and Senegal v DR Congo in Group D. Group C offers an all-East African clash between Uganda and Tanzania alongside heavyweights Nigeria and Tunisia.
When does Afcon 2025 kick off?
The opening match starts at 19:00 GMT on 21 December. The group phase runs until 31 December, delivering four matches per day at:12:30 GMT, 15:00 GMT, 17:30 GMT and 20:00 GMT
Final-round games start at 16:00 or 19:00 GMT.
The knockout stage begins on Saturday, 3 January, and the final takes place on Sunday, 18 January at 19:00 GMT.
Where will matches be played?
Morocco has renovated stadiums nationwide in preparation for Afcon 2025 and its role as a 2030 World Cup co-host.
Nine stadiums across six cities will host fixtures, including four in Rabat:
Rabat
• Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (69,500)
• Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Stadium (21,000)
• Complexe Sportif Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan (22,000)
• Stade El Barid (18,000)
• Grande Stade d’Agadir, Agadir (45,480)
• Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes (45,000)
• Grande Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech (45,240)
• Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (67,000)
• Grande Stade de Tangier, Tangier (68,000)
The final will be played in Rabat.
When must clubs release players?
The mid-season timing has again sparked tension between clubs and national teams. Fifa confirmed 15 December as the mandatory release date a week later than usual.
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet labelled the decision “catastrophic”, saying it showed a lack of respect for African football.
Some teams may negotiate extra time with clubs. Manchester United, who face Bournemouth on 15 December, could attempt to keep Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) for an additional day.
Who are the favourites?
Morocco enter as leading contenders.The Atlas Lions have built momentum over the past two years, and home support adds further pressure. Senegal, champions in 2021 under Pape Thiaw, remain strong despite a recent defeat to Brazil. Algeria, Egypt and Ivory Coast all reached this stage unbeaten in World Cup qualifying.
DR Congo arrive in confident mood after eliminating Cameroon and Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup play-offs.
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But Afcon’s unpredictability remains seven nations have won the last eight tournaments.
Full Afcon 2025 fixtures
Sunday, 21 December
Group A: Morocco v Comoros, Rabat (19:00)
Monday, 22 December
Group A: Mali v Zambia, Casablanca (14:00)
Group B: South Africa v Angola, Marrakech (17:00)
Group B: Egypt v Zimbabwe, Agadir (20:00)
Tuesday, 23 December
Group D: Senegal v Botswana, Tangier (12:30)
Group D: DR Congo v Benin, Rabat (15:00)
Group C: Nigeria v Tanzania, Fes (17:30)
Group C: Tunisia v Uganda, Rabat (20:00)
Wednesday, 24 December
Group E: Burkina Faso v Equatorial Guinea, Casablanca (12:30)
Group E: Algeria v Sudan, Rabat (15:00)
Group F: Ivory Coast v Mozambique, Marrakech (17:30)
Group F: Cameroon v Gabon, Agadir (20:00)
Friday, 26 December
Group B: Angola v Zimbabwe, Marrakech (12:30)
Group B: Egypt v South Africa, Agadir (15:00)
Group A: Zambia v Comoros, Casablanca (17:30)
Group A: Morocco v Mali, Rabat (20:00)
Saturday, 27 December
Group D: Benin v Botswana, Rabat (12:30)
Group D: Senegal v DR Congo, Tangier (15:00)
Group C: Uganda v Tanzania, Rabat (17:30)
Group C: Nigeria v Tunisia, Fes (20:00)
Sunday, 28 December
Group F: Gabon v Mozambique, Agadir (12:30)
Group E: Equatorial Guinea v Sudan, Casablanca (15:00)
Group E: Algeria v Burkina Faso, Rabat (17:30)
Group F: Ivory Coast v Cameroon, Marrakech (20:00)
Monday, 29 December
Group B: Angola v Egypt, Agadir (16:00)
Group B: Zimbabwe v South Africa, Marrakech (16:00)
Group A: Comoros v Mali, Casablanca (19:00)
Group A: Zambia v Morocco, Rabat (19:00)
Tuesday, 30 December
Group C: Tanzania v Tunisia, Rabat (16:00)
Group C: Uganda v Nigeria, Fes (16:00)
Group D: Benin v Senegal, Tangier (19:00)
Group D: Botswana v DR Congo, Rabat (19:00)
Wednesday, 31 December
Group E: Equatorial Guinea v Algeria, Rabat (16:00)
Group E: Sudan v Burkina Faso, Casablanca (16:00)
Group F: Gabon v Ivory Coast, Marrakech (19:00)
Group F: Mozambique v Cameroon, Agadir (19:00)
Knockout stage
Round of 16 – 3 to 6 January
Saturday, 3 January
SR1: Group D winner v 3rd place B/E/F, Tangier (16:00)
SR2: Group A runner-up v Group C runner-up, Casablanca (19:00)
Sunday, 4 January
SR3: Group A winner v 3rd place C/D/E, Rabat (16:00)
SR4: Group B runner-up v Group F runner-up, Rabat (19:00)
Monday, 5 January
SR5: Group B winner v 3rd place A/C/D, Agadir (16:00)
SR6: Group C winner v 3rd place A/B/F, Fes (19:00)
Tuesday, 6 January
SR7: Group E winner v Group D runner-up, Rabat (16:00)
SR8: Group F winner v Group E runner-up, Marrakech (19:00)
Quarter-finals – 9 & 10 January
Friday, 9 January
QF1: Winner SR2 v Winner SR1, Tangier (16:00)
QF2: Winner SR4 v Winner SR3, Rabat (19:00)
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Saturday, 10 January
QF3: Winner SR7 v Winner SR6, Marrakech (16:00)
QF4: Winner SR5 v Winner SR8, Agadir (19:00)
Semi-finals – 14 January
SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF4, Tangier (17:00)
SF2: Winner QF3 v Winner QF2, Rabat (20:00)
Third-place match – 17 January
Casablanca (16:00)
Final – 18 January
Rabat (19:00)
