CASABLANCA – THE forthcoming TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Morocco promises a tournament filled with suspense, ambition and unpredictable twists.
As fans, administrators, match officials and coaches look ahead to the continental showpiece, one thing is certain: predicting the eventual champion will be no simple task.
Scheduled from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, the competition will feature 24 national teams divided into six groups of four.
The lineup brings together a compelling blend of continental giants, rising forces and potential dark horses.
Morocco, Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia are among the teams expected to make a significant impact.
Côte d’Ivoire enters the tournament as the defending champion, carrying the confidence and momentum gained from its recent triumph.
Their experience and winning mentality naturally position them among the favourites.
Morocco, however, stands out prominently. As hosts, they enjoy home-ground familiarity, passionate local support and a squad brimming with talent.
With strong qualifying performances behind them, the Atlas Lions are determined to capture a second AFCON title—an ambition fuelled by the energy of playing before their own fans.
Beyond these two leading contenders, traditional powerhouses such as Egypt, Senegal, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon and DR Congo bring depth, pedigree and competitive edge.
Each possesses the strength to advance deep into the tournament, and none can be dismissed lightly.
“If I had to pick one winner, I’d lean toward Morocco. The home-field boost could make all the difference, especially in knockout matches where crowd energy and familiar turf often tip tight games,” said Shadreck Tonga of Zambia in an interview with CAJ Global News.
Despite high expectations, not every established side is likely to flourish. Some historically strong yet inconsistent teams—such as Cameroon or Algeria—may struggle to meet their own standards, particularly under pressure from disciplined opponents.
Meanwhile, competitive mid-tier teams like Gabon, Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe may arrive with hopes of causing upsets but could find themselves overwhelmed by the stiff competition.
DR Congo stands out as a potential surprise package. With a talented, often underestimated squad, they have the tools to make a deep run if they find rhythm early.
AFCON’s history is rich with unexpected storylines, and 2025 may be no different.
Lower-profile teams could emerge as surprise quarterfinalists or even semifinalists, fueled by cohesion, confidence and momentum rather than pedigree.
As Côte d’Ivoire seeks to defend its crown, Morocco enters with the advantage of hosting and the hunger to triumph. Yet AFCON remains a tournament defined by unpredictability, where shocks and dramatic turns are almost guaranteed.
AFCON GROUPINGS
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
– CAJ News
