The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Morocco between December 21 2025 and January 18 2026; Ivory Coast are reigning champions after a stunning comeback to beat Nigeria in February 2024; AFCON 2023 was pushed back after concerns over weather conditions

Where is the tournament and when does it start?

Guinea were initially set to host the tournament, but Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe announced in September 2022 the West African nation would be stripped of the right.

"CAF is going to ask to receive new bids because the infrastructure and facilities are not appropriate or ready for CAF to host the 2025 Nations Cup in Guinea."

Morocco were awarded the hosting rights on September 27 2023. They last hosted the tournament in 1988.

The 2025 edition was originally planned to take place during the summer in order to avoid club impact, but the expansion and re-scheduling of the Club World Cup meant it was pushed back.

It will now take place between Sunday December 21 2025 and Sunday January 18 2026, marking the first time the tournament has taken place over the Christmas and New Year period.

Which stadiums will be used?

Six host cities have been chosen, with the tournament to be played in nine stadiums those those cities.

Adrar Stadium, Agadir (capacity 45,480)
Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca (capacity 45,000)
Fez Stadium, Fez (capacity 45,000)
Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh (capacity 45,240)
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (capacity 68,700)
Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat (capacity 22,000)
Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat (capacity 21,000)
Al Barid Stadium, Rabat (capacity 18,000)
Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier (capacity 75,000)

Who are the reigning champions?

Hosts Ivory Coast completed one of Africa Cup of Nations' most memorable comebacks to be crowned champions of Africa for a third time as Nigeria were beaten 2-1 in Abidjan.

Which nations are in which groups?

Group A: Comoros, Mali, Morocco, Zambia.

Group B: Angola, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe.

Group C: Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda.

Group D: Benin, Botswana, DR Congo, Senegal.

Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan.

Group F: Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mozambique.

Group stage schedule

All kick-off times are GMT

Sunday December 21

Group A: Morocco vs Comoros, kick-off 7pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat

Monday December 22

Group A: Mali vs Zambia, kick-off 2.30pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca

Group B: Egypt vs Zimbabwe, kick-off 5pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir

Group B: South Africa vs Angola, kick-off 7.30pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh

Tuesday December 23

Group C: Nigeria vs Tanzania, kick-off 12pm - Fez Stadium, Fez

Group C: Tunisia vs Uganda, kick-off 2.30pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat

Group D: Senegal vs Botswana, kick-off 5pm - Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier

Group D: DR Congo vs Benin, kick-off 7.30pm - Al Barid Stadium, Rabat

Wednesday December 24

Group E: Algeria vs Sudan, kick-off 12pm - Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat

Group E: Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea, kick-off 2.30pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca

Group F: Ivory Coast vs Mozambique, kick-off 5pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh

Group F: Cameroon vs Gabon, kick-off 7.30pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir

Friday December 26

Group A: Morocco vs Mali, kick-off 12pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat

Group A: Zambia vs Comoros, kick-off 2.30pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca

Group B: Egypt vs South Africa, kick-off 5pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir

Group B: Angola vs Zimbabwe, kick-off 7.30pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh

Saturday December 27

Group C: Nigeria vs Tunisia, kick-off 12pm - Fez Stadium, Fez

Group C: Uganda vs Tanzania, kick-off 2.30pm - Al Barid Stadium, Rabat

Group D: Senegal vs DR Congo, kick-off 5pm - Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier

Group D: Benin vs Botswana, kick-off 7.30pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat

Sunday December 28

Group E: Algeria vs Burkina Faso, kick-off 12pm - Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat

Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan, kick-off 2.30pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca

Group F: Ivory Coast vs Cameroon, kick-off 5pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh

Group F: Gabon vs Mozambique, kick-off 7.30pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir

Monday December 29

Group A: Comoros vs Mali, kick-off 5.30pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca

Group A: Zambia vs Morocco, kick-off 5.30pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat

Group B: Angola vs Egypt, kick-off 7.30pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir

Group B: Zimbabwe vs South Africa, kick-off 7.30pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh

Tuesday December 30

Group C: Tanzania vs Tunisia, kick-off 5pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat

Group C: Uganda vs Nigeria, kick-off 5pm - Fez Stadium, Fez

Group D: Benin vs Senegal, kick-off 7.30pm - Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier

Group D: Botswana vs DR Congo, kick-off 7.30pm - Al Barid Stadium, Rabat

Wednesday December 31

Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria, kick-off 5pm - Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat

Group E: Sudan vs Burkina Faso, kick-off 5pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca

Group F: Gabon vs Ivory Coast, kick-off 7.30pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh

Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon, kick-off 7.30pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir

Dates for later stages of AFCON 2025

Last 16: Saturday January 3 2026 to Tuesday January 6 2026

Quarter-finals: Friday January 9 2026 and Saturday January 10 2026

Semi-finals: Wednesday January 14 2026

Third-place play-off: Saturday January 17 2026

Final: Sunday January 18 2026 (SKY NEWS)

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