African football takes centre stage this Sunday as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) bursts into life in Morocco, marking the first time the continental showpiece will be staged over the Christmas and New Year period.
The four-week tournament kicks off on Sunday, 21 December, with hosts Morocco facing Comoros at Rabat’s iconic Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium at 19:00 GMT. A total of 24 teams will battle it out across nine stadiums in six Moroccan cities over 52 matches.
The group stage runs until 31 December, before the knockout rounds begin on 3 January. The final will be played at the same 69,500-capacity venue on Sunday, 18 January, when Africa will crown its new champions.
All eyes will be on the Atlas Lions, Africa’s highest-ranked nation and currently 11th in the world. Morocco arrive on the back of a remarkable 18-match winning streak, a world record in international football, having scored 50 goals and conceded just four since March 2024.
However, despite their recent dominance, the North Africans have not lifted the AFCON trophy since 1976, and expectations at home will be immense. Morocco headline Group A alongside Mali, former champions Zambia, and Comoros.
The six groups promise fireworks from the outset. Record seven-time champions Egypt, led by Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, headline Group B with South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe. Salah is still chasing his first AFCON title after finishing runner-up in 2017 and 2021.
Group C carries an East African flavour as Uganda and Tanzania take on continental giants Nigeria and Tunisia, while Group D sees 2021 champions Senegal lock horns with DR Congo, alongside Benin and Botswana.
Defending champions Ivory Coast face five-time winners Cameroon in a mouth-watering Group F showdown, joined by Gabon and Mozambique. Group E rounds out the field with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan.
The top two teams in each group, along with the four best third-placed sides, will progress to the round of 16. From there, it is straight knockout football, quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place playoff, and the final. Drawn matches in the knockout stages will be decided by extra time and penalties if necessary.
AFCON 2025 offers fans a festive football bonanza, with up to four matches per day during the group phase. Games will be played at 12:30, 15:00, 17:30, and 20:00 hours, ensuring wall-to-wall action through Christmas and New Year. Following the opening match on Sunday, three fixtures are lined up on Monday, 22 December, as Egypt begin their campaign against Zimbabwe, while South Africa face Angola. The knockout stage begins on Saturday, 3 January, with matches mainly kicking off at 16:00 and 19:00 GMT.
Morocco has invested heavily in infrastructure as it prepares not only for AFCON 2025 but also for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Four venues are located in the capital Rabat, with others spread across Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakech, and Tangier.
Beyond Morocco, several nations arrive in strong form. Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, and Ivory Coast all boast impressive recent records, while DR Congo have turned heads after recent victories over Cameroon and Nigeria in World Cup play-offs.
Yet AFCON’s history suggests unpredictability, seven different nations have won the last eight editions.
As Africa’s biggest sporting event returns, fans across the continent, including here in Lesotho, can look forward to a thrilling festive period filled with passion, drama, and the unmistakable magic of AFCON.
Summary
- African football takes centre stage this Sunday as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) bursts into life in Morocco, marking the first time the continental showpiece will be staged over the Christmas and New Year period.
- Morocco arrive on the back of a remarkable 18-match winning streak, a world record in international football, having scored 50 goals and conceded just four since March 2024.
- Group C carries an East African flavour as Uganda and Tanzania take on continental giants Nigeria and Tunisia, while Group D sees 2021 champions Senegal lock horns with DR Congo, alongside Benin and Botswana.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
