AFCON 2025 kicks off: Morocco ready to host the continent
Baku, December 22, AZERTAC
After months of anticipation, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finally kicks off in Morocco, according to EuroNews. Twenty-four teams, six host cities, nine stadiums and a football-mad nation are ready to welcome the continent for Africa's biggest tournament.
The four-week tournament has been framed as a high-visibility dress rehearsal for the World Cup in 2030, when Morocco will be one of the main co-hosts, and the kingdom has embarked on one of the most aggressive infrastructure programs in African sporting history to prepare.
Defending champion Ivory Coast enjoyed a hardly believable run to the title as host last time out, and Nigeria will hope to go one better after losing the final.
Sadio Mané’s Senegal is back again after winning the 2021 edition, and Egypt will hope speculation over Mohamed Salah's future does not distract the team from claiming a record-extending eighth continental crown.
The groups
Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
Group F: Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast and Mozambique
The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 takes place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
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