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Morocco host the 24-nation tournament as Ivory Coast return to defend their crown
Lawrence OstlereFriday 21 November 2025 15:41 GMTComments
open image in galleryThe Africa Cup of Nations trophy (EPA-EFE)
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The 24 teams have been split into six groups of four, with the winners and runners-up progressing to the knockout phase, along with the best four third-placed nations.
The holders Ivory Coast face a testing Group F with Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique. Nigeria, the beaten finalists last time, will meet Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in Group C.
Morocco stepped up to host after Guinea was stripped of staging rights over concerns about infrastructure and facilities in the country.
The host cities are the capital Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier, with the tournament playing out in nine different stadiums.
Morocco will kick-off the tournament against Comoros at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah on 21 December.
open image in galleryIvory Coast won the tournament two years ago (AFP via Getty Images)Afcon 2025 groups and full fixture schedule
- Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
- Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
- Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
- Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
- Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
- Group F: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Morocco v Comoros 7:00 PM Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat, Morocco
Monday, December 22, 2025
Mali v Zambia 2:00 PM Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
South Africa v Angola 5:00 PM Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Egypt v Zimbabwe 8:00 PM Le Grand Stade Agadir, Agadir, Morocco
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Congo DR v Benin 12:30 PM Stade El Barid, Rabat, Morocco
Senegal v Botswana 3:00 PM Stade Ibn-Batouta, Tanger, Morocco
Nigeria v Tanzania 5:30 PM Complexe Sportif de Fès, Fès, Morocco
Tunisia v Uganda 8:00 PM Stade Olympique de Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Burkina Faso v Equatorial Guinea 12:30 PM Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Algeria v Sudan 3:00 PM Stade Prince Moulay Al Hassan, Rabat, Morocco
Ivory Coast v Mozambique 5:30 PM Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Cameroon v Gabon 8:00 PM Le Grand Stade Agadir, Agadir, Morocco
Friday, December 26, 2025
Angola v Zimbabwe 12:30 PM Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Egypt v South Africa 3:00 PM Le Grand Stade Agadir, Agadir, Morocco
Zambia v Comoros 5:30 PM Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Morocco v Mali 8:00 PM Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat, Morocco
Saturday, December 27, 2025
Benin v Botswana 12:30 PM Stade Olympique de Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
Senegal v Congo DR 3:00 PM Stade Ibn-Batouta, Tanger, Morocco
Uganda v Tanzania 5:30 PM Stade El Barid, Rabat, Morocco
Nigeria v Tunisia 8:00 PM Complexe Sportif de Fès, Fès, Morocco
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Gabon v Mozambique 12:30 PM Le Grand Stade Agadir, Agadir, Morocco
Equatorial Guinea v Sudan 3:00 PM Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Algeria v Burkina Faso 5:30 PM Stade Prince Moulay Al Hassan, Rabat, Morocco
Ivory Coast v Cameroon 8:00 PM Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Monday, December 29, 2025
Angola v Egypt 4:00 PM Le Grand Stade Agadir, Agadir, Morocco
Zimbabwe v South Africa 4:00 PM Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Comoros v Mali 7:00 PM Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Zambia v Morocco 7:00 PM Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat, Morocco
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Tanzania v Tunisia 4:00 PM Stade Olympique de Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
Uganda v Nigeria 4:00 PM Complexe Sportif de Fès, Fès, Morocco
Benin v Senegal 7:00 PM Stade Ibn-Batouta, Tanger, Morocco
Botswana v Congo DR 7:00 PM Stade El Barid, Rabat, Morocco
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Equatorial Guinea v Algeria 4:00 PM Stade Prince Moulay Al Hassan, Rabat, Morocco
Sudan v Burkina Faso 4:00 PM Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Gabon v Ivory Coast 7:00 PM Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Mozambique v Cameroon 7:00 PM Le Grand Stade Agadir, Agadir, Morocco
Saturday, January 3, 2026
1D v 3rd Place Group B/E/F 4:00 PM Stade Ibn-Batouta, Tanger, Morocco
2A v 2C 7:00 PM Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Sunday, January 4, 2026
1A v 3rd Place Group C/D/E 4:00 PM Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat, Morocco
2B v 2F 7:00 PM Stade El Barid, Rabat, Morocco
Monday, January 5, 2026
1B v 3rd Place Group A/C/D 4:00 PM Le Grand Stade Agadir, Agadir, Morocco
1C v 3rd Place Group A/B/F 7:00 PM Complexe Sportif de Fès, Fès, Morocco
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
1E v 2D 4:00 PM Stade Prince Moulay Al Hassan, Rabat, Morocco
1F v 2E 7:00 PM Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Friday, January 9, 2026
Round of 16 2 Winner v Round of 16 1 Winner 4:00 PM Stade Ibn-Batouta, Tanger, Morocco
Round of 16 4 Winner v Round of 16 3 Winner 7:00 PM Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat, Morocco
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Round of 16 7 Winner v Round of 16 6 Winner 4:00 PM Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Round of 16 5 Winner v Round of 16 8 Winner 7:00 PM Le Grand Stade Agadir, Agadir, Morocco
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Quarterfinal 1 Winner v Quarterfinal 4 Winner 5:00 PM Stade Ibn-Batouta, Tanger, Morocco
Quarterfinal 3 Winner v Quarterfinal 2 Winner 8:00 PM Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat, Morocco
Saturday, January 17, 2026
Semifinal 1 Loser v Semifinal 2 Loser 4:00 PM Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Semifinal 1 Winner v Semifinal 2 Winner 7:00 PM Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat, Morocco
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