The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled on Friday the match schedule of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The tournament will kick off with an opening match between Morocco and Comoros on December 21, 2025, in Group A at the newly built Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, which can hold 69,500 spectators, making it “a fitting stage for the grand opening,” according to CAF.
The quarter-finals will be held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, as well as in Tangier, Marrakech, and Agadir. The semi-finals will take place in Rabat and Tangier, while the match for third place will be held at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca. The final will also be played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat.
CAF explained there will be 52 matches over 29 days in “a feast of football for fans that showcases the skill and passion of African football.”
The tournament will be hosted in Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, Al Barid Stadium (18,000 seats), the Olympic Annex Stadium (21,000 seats), and the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Complex (22,000 seats). Other venues include Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca (45,000 seats), Grand Stadium in Agadir (41,144 seats), Grand Stadium in Marrakesh (41,245 seats), Fès Sports Complex (35,468 seats), and Tangier’s Grand Stadium (75,600 seats).
In the next group stage , on December 22, Mali will play Zambia in Group A, while Egypt will meet Zimbabwe in Group B, and South Africa will face Angola, also in Group B.
On December 23, Nigeria will compete against Tanzania in Group C, Tunisia will face Uganda in Group C, Senegal will play Botswana in Group D, and DR Congo will face Benin in Group D.
The matches continue on December 24, with Algeria playing Sudan in Group E, Burkina Faso meeting Equatorial Guinea in Group E, Ivory Coast facing Mozambique in Group F, and Cameroon going up against Gabon in Group F.
On December 26, Morocco will play Mali in Group A, while Zambia will face Comoros in Group A, and Egypt will play South Africa in Group B. Angola will meet Zimbabwe in Group B.
On December 27, Nigeria will take on Tunisia in Group C, Uganda will face Tanzania in Group C, DR Congo will play Senegal in Group D, and Benin will compete against Botswana in Group D.
The following day, December 28, Algeria will face Burkina Faso in Group E, Equatorial Guinea will meet Sudan in Group E, and Cameroon will play Ivory Coast in Group F. Gabon will face Mozambique in Group F.
On December 29, Morocco will play Zambia in Group A, while Comoros faces Mali in Group A. Egypt will meet Angola in Group B, and Zimbabwe will compete against South Africa in Group B.
On December 30, Nigeria will face Uganda in Group C, Tanzania will play Tunisia in Group C, Botswana will compete against DR Congo in Group D, and Benin will meet Senegal in Group D.
The group stage concludes on December 31, with Equatorial Guinea facing Algeria in Group E, Burkina Faso playing Sudan in Group E, Cameroon facing Mozambique in Group F, and Ivory Coast meeting Gabon in Group F.
After the group stage, the tournament will move to the knockout phase. The Round of 16 matches will take place from Saturday, January 3 to Tuesday, January 6.
The quarter-finals will be held on Friday, January 9 and Saturday, January 10. The semi-finals will take place on Wednesday, January 14, followed by the third-place match on Saturday, January 17. The final will be played on Sunday, January 18.