The highly anticipated draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) took place in Rabat, Morocco, on Monday, setting the stage for thrilling group-stage clashes in Africa’s premier football competition.
The Nigerian Super Eagles, led by their star-studded attacking force featuring African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman and prolific scorer Victor Osimhen, have been drawn into Group C. They will face Tunisia, making a record 17th consecutive AFCON appearance, alongside East African teams Uganda and Tanzania.
Group Highlights
- Group A: Hosts Morocco will take on Mali, Zambia, and Comoros in the tournament’s opening match on December 21.
- Group B: Mohamed Salah’s Egypt will battle South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
- Group D: Defending champions Senegal are set to clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, and Botswana.
- Group F: Holders Ivory Coast will face tough competition from Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique.
Key Storylines
- Morocco, buoyed by home advantage and European-based talents like Achraf Hakimi, will aim to become the fourth host nation in the 21st century to lift the trophy.
- Nigeria seeks redemption after narrowly losing the 2024 final to Ivory Coast, as they target their fourth AFCON title.
- Legendary forward Mohamed Salah will be hoping to claim his first AFCON title after previous near-misses in 2017 and 2022.
Tournament Schedule
- Group Stage: December 21–31 (excluding Christmas Day).
- Knockouts: January 3–18, 2026.
- Final: January 18, 2026.
Venues
Matches will be held across six cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakesh, Fes, and Tangier.
CAF President Patrick Motsepe expressed confidence in the success of the tournament, stating: “Ivory Coast raised the bar last year, and now Morocco must take it even higher. This AFCON will showcase Africa’s exceptional football talent.”
With its new schedule avoiding conflicts with FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup, the AFCON promises to captivate fans worldwide as Morocco prepares for its co-hosting role in the 2030 FIFA World Cup.