Things to know as AFCON 2025 kicks off with Morocco, Comoros clash

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations begins on Sunday with the opening fixture between host nation, Morocco, and Comoros.

The match, scheduled for 19:00 GMT at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, marks the start of the 35th edition of Africa’s premier football tournament, which runs through January 18, 2026.

This is the first time the competition will be held over the Christmas and New Year period.

On Sunday, the Confederation of African Football announced the officiating team for the Morocco-Comoros opener, signalling readiness for the tournament.

PUNCH Online compiles important information for the AFCON 2025.

AFCON 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

Tough competition

Group F has been labelled the “group of death,” featuring defending champions Ivory Coast, Cameroon with its five-title legacy and stars like Bryan Mbeumo, and Gabon, powered by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

In Group C, Nigeria’s Super Eagles face a challenging group that includes Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Nigeria must improve its recent poor form in World Cup qualifiers.

Past AFCON winners

AFCON has been held 34 times, with 14 different nations lifting the trophy. Egypt leads with seven titles, followed by Cameroon (five) and Ghana (four).

Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire are tied in fourth with three titles each, with Nigeria winning in 1980, 1994, and 2013.

The Super Eagles finished as runners-up four times and third on eight occasions.

Where to watch

All 54 matches of AFCON 2025 will be broadcast live and free-to-air on the British channel, Channel 4 and can also be watched on SuperSport and beIN.

Prize money
CAF announced that the winner will receive $10 million, runners-up $4 million, and the two semi-finalists $2.5 million each.

AFCON 2025 full match schedule

Group stage

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

Things to know as AFCON 2025 kicks off with Morocco, Comoros clash December 21, 2025 12:54 pm AFCON 2025 By Saheed Oyelakin

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations begins on Sunday with the opening fixture between host nation, Morocco, and Comoros.

The match, scheduled for 19:00 GMT at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, marks the start of the 35th edition of Africa’s premier football tournament, which runs through January 18, 2026.

This is the first time the competition will be held over the Christmas and New Year period.

On Sunday, the Confederation of African Football announced the officiating team for the Morocco-Comoros opener, signalling readiness for the tournament.

PUNCH Online compiles important information for the AFCON 2025.

AFCON 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

Tough competition

Group F has been labelled the “group of death,” featuring defending champions Ivory Coast, Cameroon with its five-title legacy and stars like Bryan Mbeumo, and Gabon, powered by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

In Group C, Nigeria’s Super Eagles face a challenging group that includes Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Nigeria must improve its recent poor form in World Cup qualifiers.

Past AFCON winners

AFCON has been held 34 times, with 14 different nations lifting the trophy. Egypt leads with seven titles, followed by Cameroon (five) and Ghana (four).

Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire are tied in fourth with three titles each, with Nigeria winning in 1980, 1994, and 2013.

The Super Eagles finished as runners-up four times and third on eight occasions.

Where to watch

All 54 matches of AFCON 2025 will be broadcast live and free-to-air on the British channel, Channel 4 and can also be watched on SuperSport and beIN.

Prize money

CAF announced that the winner will receive $10 million, runners-up $4 million, and the two semi-finalists $2.5 million each.

AFCON 2025 full match schedule Group stage 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

Knockout stage

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