AFCON 2025 Fixtures: Africa’s Premier Football Tournament Reaches Critical Stage
Introduction: Africa’s Football Showcase in Morocco
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is officially underway, with 24 national teams converging on Morocco, running from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. This year’s tournament marks the 35th edition of the competition and is staged across nine stadiums in six host cities for a month of high-stakes football. It is the first time that the tournament is played over the Christmas and New Year period. This historic scheduling change has captured global attention, bringing African football’s premier competition into a unique festive period slot that coincides with major European league schedules.
Current Tournament Status: Quarter-Finals Underway
The tournament has reached its most thrilling phase. Quarter-finals take place on Friday January 9 2026 and Saturday January 10 2026, with Mali vs Senegal and Cameroon vs Morocco on Friday, followed by Algeria vs Nigeria and Egypt vs Ivory Coast on Saturday. After Senegal and Morocco booked their places in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the identities of the remaining two semi-finalists will be revealed this Saturday, January 10, 2026.
The match between Algeria and Nigeria pits the tournament’s best defense—Algeria, with just one goal conceded in four matches—against the most prolific attack, Nigeria, whose players have netted 12 goals in four outings. Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen are among the Super Eagles’ key weapons and will be up against Luka Zidane, who boasts three clean sheets. Côte d’Ivoire will now face Egypt in a highly anticipated quarter-final clash on Saturday in Agadir, as they continue their bid for back-to-back AFCON titles.
Tournament Format and Structure
The competition begins with a group stage featuring six groups (A to F), each made up of four teams. After the group stage, the top two teams from each group, along with four of the best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage. The semi-finals take place on January 14 and the final on January 18.
Conclusion: High Stakes and Continental Glory
The AFCON 2025 fixtures have delivered exceptional football drama, with world-class talent including Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, Achraf Hakimi, and Sadio Mané competing for continental supremacy. Ivory Coast are the defending champions and face stiff competition from host nation Morocco, who are favourites to claim their first title since 1976. As the tournament enters its decisive phase, millions of fans across Africa and the world are following every fixture, with the remaining matches set to determine who will lift the prestigious trophy on 18 January 2026. The competition continues to showcase African football’s quality, passion, and unpredictability on the global stage.