As the countdown begins, the air across Africa is already thick with anticipation.
Football fans from Cairo to Cape Town are gearing up for a December like no other, as the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) prepares to take over Morocco.
Africa Awaits: AFCON 2025 Group Stage Fixtures Ignite Morocco
The tournament kicks off Sunday, December 21, 2025. For nearly a month, six Moroccan cities Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Agadir, Marrakech, and Fez—will burst into colour, noise, and national pride until the final whistle on January 18, 2026.
And this year’s lineup? A continental buffet. Twenty-four nations have secured their spots: Morocco (hosts), Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Algeria, DR Congo, Senegal, Egypt, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, South Africa, Gabon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Zambia, Mali, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Sudan, Benin, Tanzania, Botswana, and Mozambique.
With the stage set, the group fixtures tell their own story—fresh rivalries, old grudges, and a December packed with football drama.
Below is the full journey each team must navigate in the group stage of AFCON 2025.
AFCON 2025 – Full Group Stage Fixtures
GROUP A – Rabat & Casablanca Set the Tone
Matchday
Fixture
Date
Venue
City
1
Morocco vs Comoros
21 Dec 2025
Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah
Rabat
1
Mali vs Zambia
21 Dec 2025
Stade Mohammed V
Casablanca
2
Morocco vs Mali
25 Dec 2025
Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay El Hassan
Rabat
2
Zambia vs Comoros
25 Dec 2025
Stade El Bardi
Rabat
3
Comoros vs Mali
29 Dec 2025
Stade Mohammed V
Casablanca
3
Morocco vs Zambia
29 Dec 2025
Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah
Rabat
GROUP B – North vs South, Fire vs Flair
Matchday
Fixture
Date
Venue
City
1
South Africa vs Angola
22 Dec 2025
Grand Stade de Marrakech
Marrakech
1
Egypt vs Zimbabwe
22 Dec 2025
Grand Stade d’Agadir
Agadir
2
Angola vs Zimbabwe
26 Dec 2025
Grand Stade de Marrakech
Marrakech
2
Egypt vs South Africa
26 Dec 2025
Grand Stade d’Agadir
Agadir
3
Zimbabwe vs South Africa
29 Dec 2025
Grand Stade de Marrakech
Marrakech
3
Angola vs Egypt
29 Dec 2025
Grand Stade d’Agadir
Agadir
GROUP C – Nigeria’s Road Through Fès and Rabat
Matchday
Fixture
Date
Stadium
City
1
Nigeria vs Tanzania
23 Dec 2025
Complexe Sportif de Fès
Fès
1
Tunisia vs Uganda
23 Dec 2025
Stade Annexe – Prince Moulay
Rabat
2
Uganda vs Tanzania
27 Dec 2025
Stade El Bardi
Rabat
2
Nigeria vs Tunisia
27 Dec 2025
Complexe Sportif de Fès
Fès
3
Uganda vs Nigeria
30 Dec 2025
Complexe Sportif de Fès
Fès
3
Tunisia vs Tanzania
30 Dec 2025
Stade Annexe – Prince Moulay
Rabat
GROUP D – Champions Senegal Begin Their Charge
Matchday
Fixture
Date
Stadium
City
1
Senegal vs Botswana
23 Dec 2025
Stade de Tanger
Tangier
1
DR Congo vs Benin
23 Dec 2025
Stade El Barid
Rabat
2
Benin vs Botswana
27 Dec 2025
Stade Annexe Olympique Complexe Prince Moulay Abdellah
Rabat
2
Senegal vs DR Congo
27 Dec 2025
Stade de Tanger
Tangier
3
Botswana vs DR Congo
30 Dec 2025
Stade El Barid
Rabat
3
Benin vs Senegal
30 Dec 2025
Stade de Tanger
Tangier
GROUP E – A Battle of Giants and Underdogs
Matchday
Fixture
Date
Stadium
City
1
Algeria vs Sudan
24 Dec 2025
Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan
Rabat
1
Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea
24 Dec 2025
Stade Mohammed V
Casablanca
2
Algeria vs Burkina Faso
28 Dec 2025
Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan
Rabat
2
Sudan vs Equatorial Guinea
28 Dec 2025
Stade Mohammed V
Casablanca
3
Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria
31 Dec 2025
Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan
Rabat
3
Sudan vs Burkina Faso
31 Dec 2025
Stade Mohammed V
Casablanca
GROUP F – Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and a Storm in Marrakech
