The 35th Africa Cup of Nations will commence in Morocco on 21 December 2025, after being rescheduled from mid-2025. The change in schedule was required to avoid clash with the expanded Club World Cup, shifting the tournament to the December-January period. A total of 24 nations will take part, with the final scheduled for 18 January 2026.
Qualification was divided into a preliminary round (20–26 March 2024) followed by a group stage (September–November 2024). Final qualification was based on standard group format, with 24 nations advancing to the finals.
Most of the expected favourites qualified comfortably; however, some traditional powers missed out while others returned after absences.
The defending champions are Ivory Coast national football team, while Egypt hold the record for most AFCON championships with 7 titles.
2025 AFCON Groups
The tournament is split into six groups of four teams. Group winners, runners-up and the four best third-placed teams qualify for the knockout stage.
Group A
Morocco (hosts), 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
2025 AFCON Full Schedule
Below you can find a complete list of all AFCON fixtures to be played in the months of December and January:
Sat, 3 Jan |
Sat, 3 Jan 4 |
Sun, 4 Jan |
Sun, 4 Jan |
Mon, 5 Jan |
Mon, 5 Jan |
Tue, 6 Jan |
Tue, 6 Jan |
Fri, 9 Jan 0 |
Fri, 9 Jan |
Sat, 10 Jan |
Sat, 10 Jan |
Wed, 14 Jan |
Wed, 14 Jan |
Sat, 17 Jan |
Sun, 18 Jan |
Round of 16
Saturday 3rd January 2026
(8 matches – fixtures TBD)
Quarter-Finals
Friday 9th January 2026
(4 matches – fixtures TBD)
Semi-Finals
Wednesday 14th January 2026
(2 matches – fixtures TBD)
Match for 3rd Place
Saturday 17th January 2026
Final
Sunday 18th January 2026
If you want to learn more about betting sites you can use to bet AFCON, check our detailed guides on how to bet on AFCON with Supabets, Boylesports or Betway.
AFCON 2025 FAQ
If you’re looking for quick answers to commonly asked questions about AFCON 2025, read the section below.
When does the AFCON 2025 begin?
The tournament will start on 21st December 2025 and will run until 18th January 2026.
Who are the defending champions?
The defending champions are Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), who lifted the title at the most recent edition.
How many teams will qualify for the knockout round?
A total of 16 teams will advance to the knockout stage:
- Group winners (6)
- Group runners-up (6)
- The four best third-placed teams