In 2025, African sports will include history-marking events, thrilling competition, and milestones. From world-class sports to football contests, the best athletes and teams across the region are ready to showcase their skills. Here is your guide to the key highlights.

Football Fever: Tournaments and Triumphs

• Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon)

The postponed 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will have all eyes in Morocco from 5–26 July 2025. South Africa will be defending their championship; however, Morocco, Zambia, and Nigeria tend to provide solid opposition. Making their second tournament participation, Botswana and Tanzania will also want to impress.

• 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon)

From December 21, 2025, until January 18, 2026, Morocco will host the 2025 men’s Africa Cup of Nations. Hosts Morocco enters the competition with high expectations for their first championship since 1976. Ivory Coast, the present holders, would be eager to defend their title as top-ranked African sides fight for glory.

• FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

With six rounds of qualifiers remaining for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the competition is expected to be fierce, with group winners earning direct qualification and one more African team through the play-offs in November for the expanded tournament to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Teams like Comoros and Rwanda are pushing for historic first appearances.

• Club Football Highlights

African powerhouses Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca will be included in the first 32-team Club World Cup (15 June–13 July) held in the United States. Meanwhile, from 1-11 May, the Seychelles will host the Beach Soccer World Cup for the first time on African soil.

Athletics: Records and Rivalries

• World Athletics Championships

Top athletes will meet in Tokyo for the World Athletics Championships between September 13 and 21, 2025. Among those aiming for records are Letsile Tebogo from Botswana, Faith Kipyegon from Kenya, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi. Key storylines will be Tebogo’s search for a senior global gold and Wanyonyi’s hunt of David Rudisha’s 800m world record.

• Marathon Majors

East Africa’s marathoners could break the elusive two-hour barrier, with Sydney debuting as a major on 31 August 2025. Kelvin Kiptum’s near-record marathon in 2023 suggests this might be the year.

• Cycling’s African Debut

Hosting the Road World Championships (21–28 September) Rwanda will make history. With Tour de France green jersey champion Biniam Girmay among the expected competitors, Eritrea, a major force in African cycling, wants to shine internationally.

Basketball, Rugby, and More

• AfroBasket Championships

The Nigerian women’s team will defend their AfroBasket title in Ivory Coast with competition running from 25 July – 3 August. The biggest rivals will include Senegal and Mali.  For the men, Angola will host the tournament from 12-24 August, with Tunisia aiming for a third consecutive win.

• Rugby and Cricket

Africa’s only delegates to the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England (22 August–27 September) are South Africa’s Springboks. In September, the women’s cricket team will also take part in the Women’s Cricket World Cup, trying to outperform their most recent semi-final exits.

Breaking Barriers and Making History

• Para Sports and Inclusivity

From 26 September to 5 October, the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi will display para-athletic prowess from Africa. Egypt will also stage the World Para-Powerlifting Championships from October 11–18.

• Kirsty Coventry’s IOC Presidency Bid

A historic event for African sports leadership, the May elections will see Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry seeking to be the first African president of the International Olympic Committee.

• CAF Leadership Continuity

The second term of Patrice Motsepe’s presidency of the Confederation of African Football will be confirmed in March, so determining the course of African game going forward.

African Sports 2025: A Season of Excellence and Historic Firsts

African sports in 2025 will be a real treat for audiences around the world, with athletes pushing the limits and nations hosting historic events. Whether you are a football fanatic, athletics enthusiast, or simply love great stories of triumph, this is a year to celebrate Africa’s extraordinary talent. Stay tuned for a season of unmissable action!