The 35th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is officially underway in Morocco, marking the first time since 1988 that the kingdom has hosted the continent’s premier football event. Running from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, the tournament features 24 national teams competing across six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, Fez, and Agadir.
Tournament Groups and Opening Results
The competition began on Sunday, December 21, with the host nation, Morocco, securing a 2-0 victory over Comoros in Group A at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. In Monday’s early action, Mali and Zambia battled to a 1-1 draw.
The 24 qualified teams are divided into the following six groups:
- 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 (Defending Champions), Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique.
Remaining Group Stage Fixture Schedule
The group stage follows a round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout phase.
Monday, December 22, 2025
- Egypt vs. Zimbabwe: 8:00 PM local time (Adrar Stadium, Agadir).
- South Africa vs. Angola: 5:00 PM local time (Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakech).
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
- DR Congo vs. Benin: 12:30 PM local time (Al Barid Stadium, Rabat).
- Senegal vs. Botswana: 3:00 PM local time (Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier).
- Nigeria vs. Tanzania: 5:30 PM local time (Fez Stadium, Fez).
- Tunisia vs. Uganda: 8:00 PM local time (Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat).
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
- Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea: 12:30 PM local time (Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca).
- Algeria vs. Sudan: 3:00 PM local time (Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat).
- Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique: 5:30 PM local time (Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakech).
- Cameroon vs. Gabon: 8:00 PM local time (Adrar Stadium, Agadir).
Note: All teams will observe a rest day on December 25th.
Matchday 2 Highlights (December 26 – 28)
- Egypt vs. South Africa (Dec 26): A high-stakes Group B clash at the Adrar Stadium.
- Nigeria vs. Tunisia (Dec 27): A renewal of a classic rivalry in Fez.
- Ivory Coast vs. Cameroon (Dec 28): A blockbuster encounter between the defending champions and the five-time winners.
Elite Venues and Infrastructure
Morocco is utilizing nine stadiums across its six host cities, many of which are also being prepared for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Key venues include:
- Ibn Batouta Stadium (Tangier): The largest venue with a capacity of 75,500.
- Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (Rabat): The 68,700-capacity flagship stadium hosting the opening match and the final.
- Stade Mohammed V (Casablanca): An iconic 45,000-seat stadium recently refurbished for this tournament.
The group stages will conclude on December 31, 2025, with the Round of 16 scheduled to begin on January 3, 2026.
