Frank Christian
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was celebrated as one of the most thrilling editions in recent times.
The month-long event in Ivory Coast wrapped up on February 10, 2024, with the host nation battling Nigeria in the final held in Abidjan. After going down by a goal, the Ivorians rallied back to secure a 2-1 victory, with Sebastien Haller, who had returned from a cancer battle, scoring the winning goal.
As we look forward, focus shifts to the upcoming AFCON. Given its impact on major European football schedules, proper planning for the event is essential.
This article from The Sporting News provides key information regarding the next Africa Cup of Nations, including crucial dates, host cities, and the venues for the matches.
Next AFCON Details
The following Africa Cup of Nations is set to kick off in December 2025 in Morocco.
This will be Morocco’s second time hosting the finals; they previously welcomed the tournament in 1988. Although Morocco was initially slated to host again in 2015, that event was moved to Equatorial Guinea due to an Ebola outbreak.
On June 21, 2024, it was officially announced that the tournament would run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. This decision was made despite earlier suggestions to hold it in the summer months of June and July, which typically coincide with key European club competitions. The scheduling change for the 2023 event to early 2024 was enacted to avoid the rainy season in Ivory Coast.
Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the CAF president, expressed his optimism that the AFCON in Morocco will be a landmark event in the tournament’s history.
Initially, Guinea was awarded hosting duties for 2025, but those were rescinded due to concerns regarding their preparations. Morocco was elected as the new host in a vote held in September 2023.
AFCON 2025 Schedule
Confirmed in June 2024, the next AFCON tournament will commence on Sunday, December 21, 2025, concluding with the final on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Originally, the tournament was planned for June and July 2025.
Motsepe had noted that the new FIFA Club World Cup could clash with the 2025 AFCON schedule, as that event is set from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
“We want the Cup of Nations to occur at the most opportune time,” he said, indicating ongoing discussions with FIFA about scheduling.
Motsepe has acknowledged the intricate and at times complicated negotiations with various stakeholders concerning the AFCON schedule.
AFCON 2025 Venues and Host Cities
The 2025 AFCON will feature matches across six cities in Morocco.
Matches will be hosted in Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakesh, and Fez, many of which are being renovated to increase capacity, especially in light of Morocco co-hosting the World Cup in 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal.
| Stadium | City | Capacity |
| Ibn Batouta Stadium | Tangier | 65,000 (expanding to 75,000) |
| Moulay Abdellah Stadium | Rabat | 50,000 (expanding to 69,500) |
| Mohammed V Stadium | Casablanca | 45,891 |
| Adrar Stadium | Agadir | 45,480 (expanding to 70,000) |
| Marrakesh Stadium | Marrakesh | 45,240 |
| Fez Stadium | Fez | 45,000 |
Qualified Teams for AFCON 2025
A total of 24 teams will compete in the group stage of AFCON 2025.
As of November 14, 2024, 10 teams have already secured their spots.
Confirmed Teams for AFCON 2025
| Team | Qualification method |
| Morocco | Host nation |
| Burkina Faso | Group L winners or runners-up |
| Cameroon | Group J winners or runners-up |
| Algeria | Group E winners or runners-up |
| DR Congo | Group H winners or runners-up |
| Senegal | Group L winners or runners-up |
| Egypt | Group C winners or runners-up |
| Angola | Group F winners or runners-up |
| Equatorial Guinea | Group E winners or runners-up |
| Ivory Coast | Group G winners or runners-up |
Qualification for AFCON 2025 kicked off in 2024 and is ongoing until November. The preliminary round included lower-ranked nations before entering the main group stage in September.
Qualification Timeline for AFCON 2025
- Preliminary round: March 18-26, 2024
- Group stage days 1 and 2: September 2-10, 2024
- Group stage days 3 and 4: October 7-15, 2024
- Group stage days 5 and 6: November 11-19, 2024
AFCON Championship History
Egypt holds the record for the most AFCON titles, having won the tournament seven times since it began in 1957.
In total, 15 different nations have lifted the trophy, with six countries securing multiple victories.
| Rank | Nation | AFCON titles | Years won |
| 1. | Egypt | 7 | 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010 |
| 2. | Cameroon | 5 | 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017 |
| 3. | Ghana | 4 | 1963, 1965, 1978, 1982 |
| 4. | Ivory Coast | 3 | 1992, 2015, 2023 |
| = | Nigeria | 3 | 1980, 1994, 2013 |
| = | Algeria | 2 | 1990, 2019 |
| = | DR Congo | 2 | 1968, 1974 |
| 8. | Zambia | 1 | 2012 |
| = | Tunisia | 1 | 2004 |
| = | Sudan | 1 | 1970 |
| = | Senegal | 1 | 2021 |
| = | Ethiopia | 1 | 1962 |
| = | Morocco | 1 | 1976 |
| = | South Africa | 1 | 1996 |
| = | Congo | 1 | 1972 |
