{"id":1435,"date":"2025-12-08T07:05:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T07:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=1435"},"modified":"2025-12-08T07:05:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T07:05:34","slug":"dark-horses-set-for-morocco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=1435","title":{"rendered":"Dark horses set for Morocco"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CASABLANCA <\/strong>\u2013 THE forthcoming TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Morocco promises a tournament filled with suspense, ambition and unpredictable twists.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scheduled from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, the competition will feature 24 national teams divided into six groups of four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lineup brings together a compelling blend of continental giants, rising forces and potential dark horses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire enters the tournament as the defending champion, carrying the confidence and momentum gained from its recent triumph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their experience and winning mentality naturally position them among the favourites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morocco, however, stands out prominently. As hosts, they enjoy home-ground familiarity, passionate local support and a squad brimming with talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With strong qualifying performances behind them, the Atlas Lions are determined to capture a second AFCON title\u2014an ambition fuelled by the energy of playing before their own fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond these two leading contenders, traditional powerhouses such as Egypt, Senegal, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon and DR Congo bring depth, pedigree and competitive edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each possesses the strength to advance deep into the tournament, and none can be dismissed lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I had to pick one winner, I\u2019d 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,\u201d said Shadreck Tonga of Zambia in an interview with CAJ Global News<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite high expectations, not every established side is likely to flourish. Some historically strong yet inconsistent teams\u2014such as Cameroon or Algeria\u2014may struggle to meet their own standards, particularly under pressure from disciplined opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFCON\u2019s history is rich with unexpected storylines, and 2025 may be no different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lower-profile teams could emerge as surprise quarterfinalists or even semifinalists, fueled by cohesion, confidence and momentum rather than pedigree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFCON GROUPINGS<\/strong>
Group A:<\/strong> Comoros, Mali, Morocco, Zambia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group B<\/strong>: Angola, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group C:<\/strong> Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group D:<\/strong> Benin, Botswana, DR Congo, Senegal<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group E:<\/strong> Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group F: <\/strong>Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mozambique<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group stage schedule<\/strong>
All kick-off times are GMT<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday December 21<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group A:<\/strong> Morocco vs Comoros, kick-off 7pm <\/em>– Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday December 22<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group A:<\/strong> Mali vs Zambia, kick-off 2.30pm<\/em> – Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group B:<\/strong> Egypt vs Zimbabwe<\/em>, kick-off 5pm<\/em> – Adrar Stadium, Agadir<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group B<\/strong>: South Africa vs Angola, kick-off 7.30pm<\/em> – Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday December 23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group C: <\/strong>Nigeria vs Tanzania, kick-off 12pm<\/em> – Fez Stadium, Fez<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group C: <\/strong>Tunisia vs Uganda, kick-off 2.30pm<\/em> – Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group D:<\/strong> Senegal vs Botswana, kick-off 5pm – Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group D:<\/strong> DR Congo vs Benin, kick-off 7.30pm<\/em> – Al Barid Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday December 24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group E:<\/strong> Algeria vs Sudan, kick-off 12pm<\/em> – Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group E:<\/strong> Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea, kick-off 2.30pm<\/em> – Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group F:<\/strong> Ivory Coast vs Mozambique, kick-off 5pm<\/em> – Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group F:<\/strong> Cameroon vs Gabon, kick-off 7.30pm <\/em>– Adrar Stadium, Agadir<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday December 26<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group A: <\/strong>Morocco vs Mali, kick-off 12pm –<\/em> Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group A:<\/strong> <\/strong>Zambia vs Comoros, kick-off 2.30pm<\/em> – Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group B: <\/strong>Egypt vs South Africa, kick-off 5pm <\/em>– Adrar Stadium, Agadir<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group B:<\/strong> Angola vs Zimbabwe, kick-off 7.30pm<\/em> – Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday December 27<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group C: <\/strong>Nigeria vs Tunisia, kick-off 12pm <\/em>– Fez Stadium, Fez<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group C:<\/strong> Uganda vs Tanzania, kick-off 2.30pm<\/em> – Al Barid Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group D<\/strong>: Senegal vs DR Congo, kick-off 5pm<\/em> – Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group D: <\/strong>Benin vs Botswana, kick-off 7.30pm<\/em> – Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday December 28<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group E:<\/strong> Algeria vs Burkina Faso, kick-off 12pm<\/em> – Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group E:<\/strong> Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan, kick-off 2.30pm<\/em> – Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group F:<\/strong> Ivory Coast vs Cameroon, kick-off 5pm<\/em> – Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group F:<\/strong> Gabon vs Mozambique, kick-off 7.30pm <\/em>– Adrar Stadium, Agadir<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday December 29<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group A:<\/strong> Comoros vs Mali, kick-off 5.30pm<\/em> – Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group A:<\/strong> Zambia vs Morocco, kick-off 5.30pm<\/em> – Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group B:<\/strong> Angola vs Egypt, kick-off 7.30pm<\/em> – Adrar Stadium, Agadir<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group B:<\/strong> Zimbabwe vs South Africa, kick-off 7.30pm<\/em> – Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday December 30<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group C:<\/strong> Tanzania vs Tunisia, kick-off 5pm<\/em> – Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group C:<\/strong> Uganda vs Nigeria, kick-off 5pm<\/em> – Fez Stadium, Fez<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group D:<\/strong> Benin vs Senegal, kick-off 7.30pm<\/em> – Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group D:<\/strong> <\/strong>Botswana vs DR Congo, kick-off 7.30pm<\/em> – Al Barid Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday December 31<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group E:<\/strong> Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria, kick-off 5pm<\/em> – Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group E:<\/strong> Sudan vs Burkina Faso, kick-off 5pm<\/em> – Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group F:<\/strong> Gabon vs Ivory Coast, kick-off 7.30pm <\/em>– Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Group F: <\/strong>Mozambique vs Cameroon, kick-off 7.30pm<\/em> – Adrar Stadium, Agadir<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dates for later stages of AFCON 2025<\/strong>
Last 16: Saturday January 3 2026 to Tuesday January 6, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quarter-finals:<\/strong> Friday January 9, 2026 and Saturday January 10, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Semi-finals:<\/strong> Wednesday January 14, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third-place play-off: <\/strong>Saturday January 17, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final<\/strong>: Sunday January 18, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– CAJ News<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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