The excitement is building for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025, the premier football tournament for African nations, set to kick off in Morocco on December 21st, 2025, and run until January 18th, 2026. This strategic shift ensures a smooth running of the competition by avoiding scheduling conflicts with FIFA’s inaugural Club World Cup and the crucial European club seasons.

AFCON 2025: A Month of Top-Tier Football in Morocco

AFCON 2025 will now take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. The best football teams from all over Africa will be playing in Morocco during this time, giving football fans a whole month of top-level games.

Several factors contributed to the shift from June to December. The need for another date arose because FIFA’s inaugural Club World Cup, also scheduled for June 2025, would clash with it. Also, it was not practically possible to hold it within January–February since it seemed unacceptable, as many European club sides never liked allowing African players off during their peak campaigns.

Impact on Clubs and Players

European clubs play a significant role in the timing of AFCON. Many African players are key members of European teams, and their absence during the season can impact club performances. The December-January schedule aims to balance national and club commitments, ensuring minimal disruption.

The Road to Morocco: Qualifiers and Groups

The qualifiers for AFCON 2025 will follow this schedule:

• First and Second Days: September 2 to 10, 2024
• Third and Fourth Days: October 7 to 15, 2024
• Fifth and Sixth Days: November 11 to 19, 2024

The AFCON 2025 Qualifiers draw was conducted in Johannesburg this Thursday, unveiling the 12 groups.

In this qualifying round, 48 teams have been sorted into 12 groups with four teams in each group.

Only the top two teams from each group will earn a ticket to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Morocco, with the host nation already securing their place.

Groups:

Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco, Gabon,Central Africa Republic, Lesotho 
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin Libya, Rwanda 
Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger
Group G: Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi

Don’t Miss Out on the AFCON Spectacle!

Now AFCON will take place from December 21st, 2025, until January 18th, and this year it will be played in Morocco. During that period, top football teams across Africa will play their matches in Morocco, giving football lovers an entire month of top-class games.