As the countdown begins, the air across Africa is already thick with anticipation.
Football fans from Cairo to Cape Town are gearing up for a December like no other, as the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) prepares to take over Morocco.
The tournament kicks off Sunday, December 21, 2025. For nearly a month, six Moroccan cities Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Agadir, Marrakech, and Fez—will burst into colour, noise, and national pride until the final whistle on January 18, 2026.
And this year’s lineup? A continental buffet.
Twenty-four nations have secured their spots: Morocco (hosts), Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Algeria, DR Congo, Senegal, Egypt, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, South Africa, Gabon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Zambia, Mali, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Sudan, Benin, Tanzania, Botswana, and Mozambique.
With the stage set, the group fixtures tell their own story—fresh rivalries, old grudges, and a December packed with football drama.
Below is the full journey each team must navigate in the group stage of AFCON 2025.
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AFCON 2025 – Full Group Stage Fixtures
GROUP A – Rabat & Casablanca Set the Tone
| Matchday | Fixture | Date | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco vs Comoros | 21 Dec 2025 | Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah | Rabat |
| 1 | Mali vs Zambia | 21 Dec 2025 | Stade Mohammed V | Casablanca |
| 2 | Morocco vs Mali | 25 Dec 2025 | Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay El Hassan | Rabat |
| 2 | Zambia vs Comoros | 25 Dec 2025 | Stade El Bardi | Rabat |
| 3 | Comoros vs Mali | 29 Dec 2025 | Stade Mohammed V | Casablanca |
| 3 | Morocco vs Zambia | 29 Dec 2025 | Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah | Rabat |
GROUP B – North vs South, Fire vs Flair
| Matchday | Fixture | Date | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa vs Angola | 22 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade de Marrakech | Marrakech |
| 1 | Egypt vs Zimbabwe | 22 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade d’Agadir | Agadir |
| 2 | Angola vs Zimbabwe | 26 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade de Marrakech | Marrakech |
| 2 | Egypt vs South Africa | 26 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade d’Agadir | Agadir |
| 3 | Zimbabwe vs South Africa | 29 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade de Marrakech | Marrakech |
| 3 | Angola vs Egypt | 29 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade d’Agadir | Agadir |
GROUP C – Nigeria’s Road Through Fès and Rabat
| Matchday | Fixture | Date | Stadium | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria vs Tanzania | 23 Dec 2025 | Complexe Sportif de Fès | Fès |
| 1 | Tunisia vs Uganda | 23 Dec 2025 | Stade Annexe – Prince Moulay | Rabat |
| 2 | Uganda vs Tanzania | 27 Dec 2025 | Stade El Bardi | Rabat |
| 2 | Nigeria vs Tunisia | 27 Dec 2025 | Complexe Sportif de Fès | Fès |
| 3 | Uganda vs Nigeria | 30 Dec 2025 | Complexe Sportif de Fès | Fès |
| 3 | Tunisia vs Tanzania | 30 Dec 2025 | Stade Annexe – Prince Moulay | Rabat |
GROUP D – Champions Senegal Begin Their Charge
| Matchday | Fixture | Date | Stadium | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senegal vs Botswana | 23 Dec 2025 | Stade de Tanger | Tangier |
| 1 | DR Congo vs Benin | 23 Dec 2025 | Stade El Barid | Rabat |
| 2 | Benin vs Botswana | 27 Dec 2025 | Stade Annexe Olympique Complexe Prince Moulay Abdellah | Rabat |
| 2 | Senegal vs DR Congo | 27 Dec 2025 | Stade de Tanger | Tangier |
| 3 | Botswana vs DR Congo | 30 Dec 2025 | Stade El Barid | Rabat |
| 3 | Benin vs Senegal | 30 Dec 2025 | Stade de Tanger | Tangier |
GROUP E – A Battle of Giants and Underdogs
| Matchday | Fixture | Date | Stadium | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Algeria vs Sudan | 24 Dec 2025 | Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan | Rabat |
| 1 | Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea | 24 Dec 2025 | Stade Mohammed V | Casablanca |
| 2 | Algeria vs Burkina Faso | 28 Dec 2025 | Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan | Rabat |
| 2 | Sudan vs Equatorial Guinea | 28 Dec 2025 | Stade Mohammed V | Casablanca |
| 3 | Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria | 31 Dec 2025 | Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan | Rabat |
| 3 | Sudan vs Burkina Faso | 31 Dec 2025 | Stade Mohammed V | Casablanca |
GROUP F – Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and a Storm in Marrakech
| Matchday | Fixture | Date | Stadium | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Côte d’Ivoire vs Mozambique | 24 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade de Marrakech | Marrakech |
| 1 | Cameroon vs Gabon | 24 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade d’Agadir | Agadir |
| 2 | Gabon vs Mozambique | 28 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade d’Agadir | Agadir |
| 2 | Côte d’Ivoire vs Cameroon | 28 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade de Marrakech | Marrakech |
| 3 | Mozambique vs Cameroon | 31 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade d’Agadir | Agadir |
| 3 | Côte d’Ivoire vs Gabon | 31 Dec 2025 | Grand Stade de Marrakech | Marrakech |
