All you need to know about Afcon 2025

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All you need to know about Afcon 2025

January 4, 2026

A colourful image showing the Africa Cup of Nations trophy, the Moroccan flag, Achraf Hakimi celebrating a goal, two fans of Ivory Coast and a South Africa supporter — The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will be the 35th edition of Africa’s biggest tournament [BBC Sport]

The last 16 of the the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is well under way at a tournament being held across Christmas and New Year for the first time.

Host nation Morocco are bidding to secure a first continental title since 1976, although their world-record 19-match winning run in international football came to an end with a draw against Mali in their second match of an enthralling group stage.

The pressure is on the Atlas Lions, who are Africa’s highest-ranked nation at 11th in the world and came through a scare or two in their first knockout game, beating a Tanzania side 101 places below them.

Meanwhile, five-time champions Cameroon, 2021 winners Senegal and Mali have all booked their place in the last eight.

Next up, Mohamed Salah – still seeking his first title – will hope to captain Egypt to victory over Benin as they pursue a record-extending eighth continental crown, having been runners-up at the 2017 and 2021 editions.

But when are the other knockout fixtures? Where are matches being played and when do they kick off?

BBC Sport Africa provides you with all the information on the 35th edition of Africa’s biggest sporting event.

Who has made it through?

The 24 teams at the finals were split into six groups of four, with the top two in each group and the four best-ranked third-placed teams advancing to the last 16.

Group A: Morocco (Q), Mali (Q), Zambia, Comoros

Group B: Egypt (Q), South Africa (Q), Angola, Zimbabwe

Group C: Nigeria (Q), Tunisia (Q), Tanzania (Q), Uganda

Group D: Senegal (Q), DR Congo (Q), Benin (Q), Botswana

Group E: Algeria (Q), Burkina Faso (Q), Sudan (Q), Equatorial Guinea

Group F: Ivory Coast (Q), Cameroon (Q), Mozambique (Q) Gabon

What are the last-16 ties?

Senegal came from behind to beat Sudan in the first tie of the round of 16 on Saturday, followed by Mali knocking out 2004 champions Tunisia on penalties despite being reduced to 10 players early on, conceding the first goal in the 88th minute and falling behind in the shootout.

Reigning African Footballer of the Year Hakimi then made his much-anticipated full return from injury to set up Brahim Diaz’s winner against the Taifa Stars, booking a quarter-final against Cameroon, who ousted South Africa.

On Monday, four more teams will be vying to join them as Salah’s side take on the Cheetahs and three-time champions Nigeria look to build upon their perfect group-stage record when they meet Mozambique.

The last-16 ties culminate on Tuesday when the other country with a flawless record so far, Algeria, encounter DR Congo and holders Ivory Coast play Burkina Faso.

Who has impressed – and who hasn’t?

Christian Kofane, wearing a green Cameroon shirt, makes a heart shape with his hands as he celebrates a goal — Teenager Christian Kofane (right) has helped Cameroon to a place in the last eight [Getty Images]

Morocco remain favourites and have Real Madrid playmaker Diaz in formidable form, making history as their first player to score in four successive Afcon games, alongside three for Ayoub El Kaabi during the group stage.

A Champions League winner last season, inspirational Hakimi’s creative presence and productivity on the flank against Tanzania will give coach Walid Regragui added confidence that the best is yet to come from his squad.

Cameroon only appointed coach David Pagou last month as part of an uncertain build-up, but the Indomitable Lions held Ivory Coast in their second game and saw off South Africa in the last 16, helped by a forward line featuring Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo and 19-year-old newcomer Christian Kofane, scorer of two goals so far.

Senegal have been playing impressive football this year under Pape Thiaw and have shown their considerable squad depth, with two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane contributing one goal and three assists.

Former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez scored three goals as Algeria won Group E, although they face a tough last-16 tie against DR Congo, who beat Cameroon and Nigeria in Africa’s 2026 World Cup play-offs and led before drawing with Senegal in their second group game.

Egypt and Salah are yet to hit peak form, the forward netting an added-time winner after the Pharaohs had been behind in their opener against Zimbabwe, then scoring the only goal from the spot as they held on to beat South Africa with 10 players.

Ivory Coast went unbeaten through World Cup qualifying but only won Group F with a late comeback against eliminated Gabon – a performance they will want to improve upon to beat a Burkina Faso side featuring the likes of Brentford forward Dango Ouattara.

Nigeria’s fortunes dipped sharply in World Cup qualifying without Victor Osimhen, and the striker’s goal in their win against Tunisia will fuel belief that the talisman can lead the Super Eagles through the tougher-looking half of the draw.

With seven different winners in the past eight editions, the tournament is likely to have more surprises on the way.

Who has been called up for Afcon 2025?

Afcon 2025 schedule and kick-off times

The round of 16 concludes on 5 and 6 January, followed by four quarter-final matches on 9 and 10 January, starting at 16:00 and 19:00.

Both semi-finals are on Wednesday, 14 January, starting at 17:00 and 20:00, with the third-placed play-off on Saturday, 17 January at 16:00.

The final on Sunday, 18 January will kick off at 19:00.

Who is the Afcon 2025 top scorer?

Brahim Diaz, visible from the waist up wearing a red Morocco shirt with green trim and the number 10 in gold on the front, screams in celebration and points his left hand in front of his body after scoring — Brahim Diaz was Morocco’s top scorer in Afcon 2025 qualifying last year, netting seven goals [Getty Images]

Morocco playmaker Diaz leads the scoring charts after strikes against Comoros, Mali, Zambia and Tanzania.

4 goals: Brahim Diaz (Morocco)

3 goals: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco), Lassine Sinayoko (Mali)

Afcon 2025 venues: Where is it being played?

Morocco has pumped vast sums of money into renovating stadiums to host Afcon 2025 while also preparing to co-host the 2030 Fifa World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

Nine stadiums are being used in six host cities, with four venues in the capital Rabat.

Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (capacity 69,500)
Olympic Stadium, Rabat (capacity 21,000)
Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat (capacity 22,000)
Stade El Barid, Rabat (capacity 18,000)
Grand Stade d’Agadir, Agadir (capacity 45,480)
Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes (capacity 45,000)
Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech (capacity 45,240)
Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (capacity 67,000)
Grand Stade de Tangier, Tangier (capacity 75,600)

The exterior of the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium is lit up at night in the colours of the Moroccan flag, with a red base colour and two green five-point stars. The stadium towers over a nearby road lined by street lamps, on which several cars are coming towards the camera with their headlights shining — The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat hosted Morocco’s group games and will stage the final [Getty Images]

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 fixtures

All times GMT

Sunday, 21 December

Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat

Monday, 22 December

Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia, Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca

Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola, Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech

Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe, Grand Stade d’Agadir, Agadir

Tuesday, 23 December

Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana, Grand Stade de Tangier, Tangier

Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin, Stade El Barid, Rabat

Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania, Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes

Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda, Olympic Stadium, Rabat

Wednesday, 24 December

Group E: Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea, Casablanca

Group E: Algeria 3-0 Sudan, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat

Group F: Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique, Marrakech

Group F: Cameroon 1-0 Gabon, Agadir

Friday, 26 December

Group B: Angola 1-1 Zimbabwe, Marrakech

Group B: Egypt 1-0 South Africa, Agadir

Group A: Zambia 0-0 Comoros, Casablanca

Group A: Morocco 1-1 Mali, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

Saturday, 27 December

Group D: Benin 1-0 Botswana, Olympic Stadium

Group D: Senegal 1-1 DR Congo, Tangier

Group C: Uganda 1-1 Tanzania, Stade El Barid

Group C: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia, Fes

Sunday, 28 December

Group F: Gabon 2-3 Mozambique, Agadir

Group E: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Sudan, Casablanca

Group E: Algeria 1-0 Burkina Faso, Moulay El Hassan Stadium

Group F: Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon, Marrakech

Victor Osimhen celebrates a goal for Nigeria — Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen (right) helped Nigeria into a 3-0 lead against Tunisia, but the Super Eagles were forced to hold on for victory late on [Getty Images]

Monday, 29 December

Group B: Angola 0-0 Egypt, Agadir

Group B: Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa, Marrakech

Group A: Comoros 0-0 Mali, Casablanca

Group A: Zambia 0-3 Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

Tuesday, 30 December

Group C: Tanzania 1-1 Tunisia, Olympic Stadium

Group C: Uganda 1-3 Nigeria, Fes

Group D: Benin 0-3 Senegal, Tangier

Group D: Botswana 0-3 DR Congo, Stade El Barid

Wednesday, 31 December

Group E: Equatorial Guinea 1-3 Algeria, Moulay El Hassan Stadium

Group E: Sudan 0-2 Burkina Faso, Casablanca

Group F: Gabon 2-3 Ivory Coast, Marrakech

Group F: Mozambique 1-2 Cameroon, Agadir

Afcon 2025 second round schedule

A picture taken from a ground-level angle inside a goal shows Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra saving a penalty from Tunisia's Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Diarra, who is seen from behind, is in all-blue kit with his name and number 16 written in yellow. He is partially on the floor, with one leg touching the turf and the other raised, while his upper body is raised with arms spread wide. The ball is visible in the gap between his raised leg and one of his arms. Ben Romdhane can be seen in all-white an animated pose, having just kicked the ball. A large, full stand of the Casablanca stadium can be seen in the background, with bright floodlights on the top — Djigui Diarra stuck out a strong left hand to save Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane’s fifth attempt for Tunisia [Getty Images]

Saturday, 3 January

SR1: Senegal 3-1 Sudan, Tangier

SR2: Mali 1-1 Tunisia (3-2 on pens), Casablanca

Sunday, 4 January

SR3: Morocco 1-0 Tanzania, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

SR4: South Africa 1-2 Cameroon, Stade El Barid

Monday, 5 January

SR5: Egypt vs Benin, Agadir (16:00)

SR6: Nigeria vs Mozambique, Fes (19:00)

Tuesday, 6 January

SR7: Algeria vs DR Congo, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat (16:00)

SR8: Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso, Marrakech (19:00)

Afcon 2025 quarter-finals

Emilio Nsue, wearing a red Equatorial Guinea shirt with a 10 on the chest, stretches his heavily-tattooed arms out and runs towards the camera in celebration. Nsue has a bald head and thick black beard. A disconsolate Guinea-Bissau player in all-green kit appears blurred in the background along with an empty stand filled with green and white seats — Emilio Nsue won the golden boot with five goals at the 2023 Afcon – despite his Equatorial Guinea side being knocked out in the last 16 [Getty Images]

Friday, 9 January

QF1: Mali vs Senegal, Tangier (16:00)

QF2: Cameroon vs Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (19:00)

Saturday, 10 January

QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner SR6, Marrakech (16:00)

QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8, Agadir (19:00)

Semi-finals

Wednesday, 14 January

SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4, Tangier (17:00)

SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (20:00)

Third place play-off

Saturday, 17 January

SF1 vs SF2 losers, Casablanca (16:00)

William Troost-Ekong viewed from chest up, wearing a white Nigeria shirt with black and green trim, runs towards the camera pointing his right index finger out in front of him. He occupies the right side of the image while the space on the left is a heavily blurred view of the stand during a match — Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong was named player of the tournament at the 2023 Afcon, but the defender has recently retired from international duty [Getty Images]

Afcon 2025 final

Sunday, 18 January

SF1 vs SF2 winners, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (19:00)

Simon Adingra and Max-Alain Gradel seen from chest up, both wearing bright orange Ivory Coast football shirts with medals around their necks, hold the golden Africa Cup of Nations trophy between them and kiss the top of it. Adingra is looking directly into the camera while Gradel casts his eyes to the left of the screen — Ivory Coast won the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil after a dramatic run to the final which included sacking their manager mid-tournament [Getty Images]

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