There are six host cities in Morocco, with nine stadiums set to be used. Matches are scheduled for Tangier, Marrakesh, Fez, Agadi and the 68,700-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, which will host the final.

Africa's best have been divided into six groups of four teams. Hosts Morocco, the highest FIFA-ranked team in the competition, are in Group A with Mali, Zambia and Comoros. Defending champions Ivory Coast are with five-time AFCON winners Cameroon in Group F. Finally, South Africa are in a tough group with seven-time champions Egypt, Angola and Zimbabwe.

Morocco will face minnows Comoros in the highly anticipated tournament opener on 21 December in Rabat. The duo have faced off on four occasions, with Morocco winning three of them and one draw.

The top two teams in each pool guarantee their place in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, the third-place team in each group will be ranked from 1-6 based on points accumulated in the Group Stage. The top four will sneak into the Round of 16, which starts on 3 January.

From there, it's knockout football all the way to the grand final on 18 January in the beautiful Rabat.

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 schedule and dates:

Group Stage: 21-31 December 2025

Round of 16: 3-6 January 2026

Quarterfinals: 9-10 January 2026

Semifinals: 14 January 2026

Third-place play-off: 17 January 2026

Final: 18 January 2026

2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage fixtures and dates

SUNDAY DECEMBER 21

GROUP A: Morocco v Comoros, 8pm (SA 9pm)

MONDAY DECEMBER 22

GROUP A: Mali v Zambia, 3:30pm (SA 4:30pm)

GROUP B: Egypt v Zimbabwe, 6pm (SA 7pm); South Africa v Angola, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm)

TUESDAY DECEMBER 23

GROUP C: Nigeria v Tanzania, 1pm (SA 2pm); Tunisia v Uganda, 3:30pm (SA 4:30pm)

GROUP D: Senegal v Botswana, 6pm (SA 7pm); DR Congo v Benin, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm)

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 24

GROUP E: Algeria v Sudan, 1pm (SA 2pm); Burkina Faso v Equatorial Guinea, 3:30pm (SA 4:30pm)

GROUP F: Ivory Coast v Mozambique, 6pm (SA 7pm); Cameroon v Gabon, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm)

FRIDAY DECEMBER 26

GROUP A: Morocco v Mali, 1pm (SA 2pm); Zambia v Comoros, 3:30pm (SA 4:30pm)

GROUP B: Egypt v South Africa, 6pm (SA 7pm); Angola v Zimbabwe, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm)

SATURDAY DECEMBER 27

GROUP C: Nigeria v Tunisia, 1pm (SA 2pm); Uganda v Tanzania, 3:30pm (SA 4:30pm)

GROUP D: Senegal v DR Congo, 6pm (SA 7pm); Benin v Botswana, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm)

SUNDAY DECEMBER 28

GROUP E: Algeria v Burkina Faso, 1pm (SA 2pm); Equatorial Guinea v Sudan, 3:30pm (SA 4:30pm)

GROUP F: Ivory Coast v Cameroon, 6pm (SA 7pm); Gabon v Mozambique, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm)

MONDAY DECEMBER 29

GROUP A: Zambia v Morocco, 6:30pm (SA 7:30pm); Comoros v Mali, 6:30pm (SA 7:30pm)

GROUP B: Angola v Egypt, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm); Zimbabwe v South Africa, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm)

TUESDAY DECEMBER 30

GROUP C: Uganda v Nigeria, 6pm (SA 7pm); Tanzania v Tunisia, 6pm (SA 7pm)

GROUP D: Benin v Senegal, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm); Botswana v DR Congo, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm)

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 31

GROUP E: Equatorial Guinea v Algeria, 6pm (SA 7pm); Sudan v Burkina Faso, 6pm (SA 7pm)

GROUP F: Gabon v Ivory Coast, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm); Mozambique v Cameroon, 8:30pm (SA 9:30pm)

Steve Barker in awe of current Stellenbosch squad