Morocco began the defense of Ivory Coast's Africa Cup of Nations title with a 2-0 win over Comoros in the tournament's opening match on December 21, 2025, in Rabat. Mali and Zambia played to a 1-1 draw the following day in Casablanca, setting the stage for further group stage action across Morocco's host cities. The 24-team competition runs until January 18, 2026, featuring stars like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in Morocco on December 21, 2025, with the hosts securing a convincing 2-0 victory against Comoros at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat. This marks Morocco's return as hosts since 1988, with the tournament shifted to the winter period due to scheduling conflicts like the expanded Club World Cup.
On December 22, Mali drew 1-1 with Zambia in Casablanca's Complexe Sportif Mohammed V, as both teams seek strong starts in Group A alongside Comoros. Upcoming fixtures include South Africa versus Angola and Egypt versus Zimbabwe in Group B on the same day, highlighting contenders like Mohamed Salah's Egypt and Sadio Mane's Senegal.
The 24 qualified nations are divided into six groups:
- Group A: Comoros, Morocco, Mali, Zambia
- Group B: Angola, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe
- Group C: Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda
- Group D: Benin, Botswana, DR Congo, Senegal
- Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
- Group F: Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Mozambique
The top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed sides advance to the round of 16, starting January 3, 2026. Host cities include Agadir, Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech, Rabat, and Tangier, with the final returning to Rabat's Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium.
Premier League players add intrigue, with Egypt's Salah (Liverpool), Senegal's Mane (though not listed in squads here), Nigeria's Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, but Premier League context), and others like Fulham's Alex Iwobi potentially missing domestic games. Nigeria's squad features Premier League talents Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham), and Frank Onyeka (Brentford), as they prepare for their Group C opener against Tanzania on December 23 in Fes.
Coverage in the UK is on Channel 4, and in the USA on beIN Sports.
