Historic Tournament Timing and Significance
The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 takes place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. The latest edition of AFCON marks the first time the tournament has taken place over the Christmas and New Year period. This scheduling decision was made due to FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup being scheduled for June and July 2025, forcing a shift from the traditional summer dates for the African continental championship.
The tournament is the 35th edition of the biennial Africa Cup of Nations organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and is the second edition hosted by Morocco after 1988. The competition has brought together 24 African nations competing across nine stadiums in six Moroccan cities, making it one of the continent’s most significant sporting events.
Tournament Format and Key Fixtures
The competition began with a group stage where the top two teams of each group, along with the best four third-placed teams, advanced to the round of 16. The knockout phase ran from Saturday, January 3, to Tuesday, January 6, with two matches played daily at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The quarter-finals delivered dramatic moments as Africa’s traditional powerhouses battled for supremacy. Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco and Senegal sealed their places in the last four after the quarter-finals matches were concluded on Saturday night. Egypt edged Côte d’Ivoire 3–2 on Saturday night in a thrilling quarter-final, eliminating the defending champions and confirming their return to the last four.
Semi-Finals and Road to the Final
The semi-finals were played on Wednesday 14 January, with Senegal facing Egypt and Morocco taking on Nigeria. Senegal booked their return to the AFCON final with a narrow 1–0 victory over Egypt. In the second semi-final, Morocco sealed their place in Sunday’s showpiece in Rabat by edging Nigeria 4–2 on penalties after a goalless draw following extra time.
The AFCON 2025 Final between Morocco and Senegal will be played on Sunday, January 18, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Egypt and Nigeria will contest the third-place play-off on Saturday, 17 January, at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
Significance for African Football
The tournament has showcased exceptional talent and provided memorable moments for African football fans. Morocco are 90 minutes away from ending a 50-year wait for an Africa Cup of Nations title, with the final being played on home soil. Meanwhile, Senegal, after hoisting their first AFCON title in 2021, are back in the final, having now reached the grand stage of the competition in three of the last four tournaments.
The AFCON 2025 fixtures have delivered high-quality football, intense rivalries, and dramatic moments, cementing the tournament’s position as one of the world’s premier international football competitions. The culmination in Rabat promises to be a fitting finale to this historic edition.
