Tournament Start

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.