The annual Superbowl may be the most popular sporting event in the USA. But in Africa, where a different type of football (SOCCER) reigns king, it’s all about the AFCON. AFCON (short for the Africa Cup of Nations) is Africa’s most popular and prestigious football tournament and it’s a lively and fun time to be in the host city.
The AFCON (also called the CAN) was first held in 1957, with only Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia participating. Since then the numbers have swelled, with 52 African countries participating. Qualifying games are held the year before and the top 24 advance to the tournament. The next AFCON is in host country Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. If you plan to attend, here’s what you need to know.
QUALIFIED TEAMS
The group stage consists of 24 teams, including AFCON 2023 winner and host country Ivory Coast, who qualified for the 2025 games. The 24 teams compete with six groups of four teams in each group. The top two teams from each group progress to the next Round of 16, while the four 3rd-place teams with the best record also make it into the final 16. The final 16 move forward to the knockout rounds, with quarter-finals, semi-finals and the AFCON final. The games are played almost daily over the course of one month.
GAME DATES & LOCATIONS
The games will be played in six cities in nine stadiums across the country, with seating for nearly 370,000. Tickets have not yet been released but are expected to be available in June 2025.
GROUP STAGE
December 21
Morocco vs. Comoros, Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat (Group A)
December 22
Mali vs. Zambia, Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca (Group A)
Egypt vs. Zimbabwe, Grand Stadium of Agadir (Group B)
South Africa vs. Angola, Grand Stadium of Marrakech (Group B)
December 23
Nigeria vs. Tanzania, Fès Sports Complex (Group C)
Tunisia vs. Uganda, Olympic Annex Stadium at Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat (Group C)
Senegal vs. Botswana, Grand Stadium of Tangier (Group D)
DR Congo vs. Benin, El Barid Stadium in Rabat (Group D)
December 24
Algeria vs. Sudan, Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex in Rabat (Group E)
Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea, Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca (Group E)
Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique, Grand Stadium of Marrakech (Group F)
Cameroon vs. Gabon, Grand Stadium of Agadir (Group F)
December 26
Morocco vs. Mali, Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat (Group A)
Zambia vs. Comoros, Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca (Group A)
Egypt vs. South Africa, Grand Stadium of Agadir (Group B)
Angola vs. Zimbabwe, Grand Stadium of Marrakech (Group B)
December 27
Nigeria vs. Tunisia, Fès Sports Complex (Group C)
Uganda vs. Tanzania, El Barid Stadium in Rabat (Group C)
DR Congo vs. Senegal, Grand Stadium of Tangier (Group D)
Benin vs. Botswana, Olympic Annex Stadium at Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat (Group D)
December 28
Algeria vs. Burkina Faso, Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex in Rabat (Group E)
Equatorial Guinea vs. Sudan, Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca (Group E)
Cameroon vs. Ivory Coast, Grand Stadium of Marrakech (Group F)
Gabon vs. Mozambique, Grand Stadium of Agadir (Group F)
December 29
Morocco vs. Zambia, Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat (Group A)
Comoros vs. Mali, Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca (Group A)
Egypt vs. Angola, Grand Stadium of Agadir (Group B)
Zimbabwe vs. South Africa, Grand Stadium of Marrakech (Group B)
December 30
Nigeria vs. Uganda, Fès Sports Complex (Group C)
Tanzania vs. Tunisia, Olympic Annex Stadium at Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat (Group C)
Botswana vs. DR Congo, El Barid Stadium in Rabat (Group D)
Benin vs. Senegal, Grand Stadium of Tangier (Group D)
December 31
Equatorial Guinea vs. Algeria, Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex in Rabat (Group E)
Burkina Faso vs. Sudan, Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca (Group E)
Cameroon vs. Mozambique, Grand Stadium of Agadir (Group F)
Ivory Coast vs. Gabon, Grand Stadium of Marrakech (Group F)
ROUND OF 16
January 3, 2026
1st Group D – 3rd Group B/E/F at Grand Stadium of Tangier
2nd Group A – 2nd Group C at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca
January 4, 2026
2nd Group B – 2nd Group F at Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat
1st Group A – 3rd Group C/D/E at El Barid Stadium in Rabat
January 5, 2026
1st Group B – 3rd Group A/C/D at Grand Stadium of Agadir
1st Group C – 3rd Group B/F at Fès Sports Complex
January 6, 2026
1st Group F – 2nd Group E at Grand Stadium of Marrakech
1st Group E – 2nd Group D at Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex in Rabat
QUARTER-FINALS
January 9, 2026
Winner H1 – Winner H2 at Grand Stadium of Tangier
Winner H3 – Winner H4 at Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat
January 10, 2026
Winner H5 – Winner H7 at Grand Stadium of Marrakech
Winner H8 – Winner H6 at Grand Stadium of Agadir
SEMI-FINALS
January 14, 2026
Winner Q1 – Winner Q3 at Grand Stadium of Tangier
Winner Q4 – Winner Q2 at Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat
THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF
January 17, 2026
Third Place Match at Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca
FINAL
January 18, 2026
Final Match at Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat
HOST HOTELS
Each team is hosted in a different hotel, which will be ground central for their players and officials. Team fans typically like to stay in or close to their favorite team(s) hotel. The announced host hotels are below:
- Algeria: Dawliz Rabat Art and Spa (Rabat)
- Angola: Fairmont Marrakech (Marrakech)
- Benin : Marriott de Rabat (Rabat)
- Botswana: Fairmont La Marina (Rabat)
- Burkina Faso : Marriott Courtyard (Casablanca)
- Cameroon: Hyatt Taghazout Bay (Agadir)
- Comoros: Barcelo Anfa (Casablanca)
- DR Congo : The Ritz Carlton (Rabat)
- Egypt: Fairmont Taghazout (Agadir)
- Equatorial Guinea: Radisson Blu (Casablanca)
- Gabon: Hilton Taghazout (Agadir)
- Ivory Coast: Hyatt Park (Marrakech)
- Mali: Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche (Casablanca)
- Morocco: Mohamed VI Football Complex (Rabat/
- Mozambique: Hyatt Park (Marrakech)
- Nigeria: Hotel Sahrai (Fes)
- Senegal: Fairmont Tazi Palace (Tangier)
- South Africa: Four Season Marrakech (Marrakech)
- Sudan: Marriott de Casablanca (Casablanca)
- Tanzania: La Tour Hassan Palace (Rabat)
- Tunisia: Conrad Rabat Arzana (Rabat)
- Uganda: The View of Rabat (Rabat)
- Zambia: Hotel le Casablanca (Casablanca)
- Zimbabwe: Selman Hôtel (Marrakech)
With just under nine months until the games begin, now is the time to start planning since airfares and hotel prices greatly increase as it gets closer to the events. As you can see in the below videos from AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast, AFCON is a time of great enjoyment, excitement and revelry for sports lovers and non-lovers alike.
If you don’t want to plan your own trip, you’re welcome to join the Travel Africa Movement as we descend upon Morocco for the end of the AFCON, January 13-20. For more information about the trip, click here. But whether you join us or travel on your own, you’re sure to have a fun-filled time Morocco. We hope to see you there!
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