The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is taking place in Morocco, bringing together 24 national teams for Africa’s premier football tournament. As the continent’s most prestigious sporting event, AFCON 2025 is showcasing elite talent, fierce rivalries, and growing international attention.
Morocco is hosting the tournament for the first time since 1988, marking a significant moment in its football history. The country has invested heavily in stadium upgrades, transport infrastructure, and event organization, aiming to deliver a modern and globally competitive championship.
The tournament officially began on 21 December 2025 with the opening match between host nation Morocco and Comoros, played in front of a packed stadium and a vibrant home crowd. Morocco secured a composed victory in the curtain-raiser, easing early pressure on the hosts and setting a confident tone for their campaign.
Group Stage and Team Groupings
AFCON 2025 opened with a group stage featuring six groups of four teams each. Group A includes Morocco, Mali, Zambia, and Comoros, with the opening match placing immediate focus on the hosts’ title ambitions.
Group B consists of Egypt, South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe, a group combining experience and physical intensity. Group C brings together Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, widely viewed as one of the most competitive sections due to the tactical strength of its leading teams.
In Group D, Senegal face opposition from DR Congo, Benin, and Botswana. Group E features Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan, while Group F includes defending champions Côte d’Ivoire alongside Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique.
Tournament Stages and Knockout Path
The group stage, played from 21 to 31 December, determines which teams progress to the knockout phase. The top two teams from each group, together with the four best third-placed teams, advance to the Round of 16.
From the Round of 16 onward, the tournament adopts a single-elimination format, where matches are decided by extra time and penalties if necessary. These stages demand tactical discipline, squad depth, and psychological resilience.
Traditional heavyweights such as Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, and Côte d’Ivoire are expected to grow stronger as the tournament progresses. Nevertheless, AFCON’s history suggests that emerging teams remain capable of producing major upsets.
Title Race and Wider Impact
The competition advances to the quarter-finals and semi-finals in early to mid-January, before culminating in the final on 18 January 2026 in Rabat. These decisive matches traditionally deliver the tournament’s most intense and memorable moments.
Beyond the battle for the trophy, AFCON 2025 plays a broader role in African football development. The tournament enhances global visibility, strengthens commercial partnerships, and supports CAF’s long-term reforms, including its planned transition to a four-year AFCON cycle after 2027.
As the tournament unfolds from the opening match between Morocco and Comoros through the group stage and into the knockout rounds, AFCON 2025 continues to reflect Africa’s footballing depth, competitive spirit, and growing influence on the world stage.
