World football governing body, FIFA has released the complete match schedule, teams, groups, format for AFCON 2025
According to the comprehensive overview of the scheduling, groups, venues, and kickoff times as released by FIFA for Africa’s top football tournament, set to take place in Morocco.
The defending champions Ivory Coast will aim to defend their title from 2023 during this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
According to FIFA, the tournament will commence in Morocco’s capital, Rabat, on Sunday, with the host nation facing Comoros in the opening match.
The final is slated for January 18 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, which has a capacity of 69,500.
A total of nine venues across six cities have been chosen for this prestigious event.
Twenty-four teams will compete, divided into six groups, with a total of 68 matches scheduled.
The group stage will conclude on December 31, followed by the knockout phase starting on January 3.
Here are the details regarding the teams, groups, format, match schedules, kickoff times, and venues for AFCON 2025:
Teams and Groups are as follows: Group A; Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros, Group B; Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe , Group C; Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania and Group D; Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana.
Additionally, Group E; Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan and Group F; Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique.
The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will progress to the knockout stage, which begins with the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. There will also be a third-place playoff between the two semifinal losers.
In the knockout rounds, if a match ends in a draw after regulation time, teams will play 30 minutes of extra time, and if necessary, a penalty shootout will determine the winner.
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In the Group Stage Matches which will be played on December 21 conceived the following groups: Group A Morocco vs Comoros (Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, 8pm/19:00 GMT).
Matches for December 22 includes:
Group A; Mali vs Zambia (Stade Mohammed V, 3:30pm/14:30 GMT),
Group B; Egypt vs Zimbabwe (Adrar Stadium, 6pm/17:00 GMT) and
Group B; South Africa vs Angola (Marrakesh Stadium, 8:30pm/19:30 GMT).
In December 23 Group C: Nigeria will play against Tanzania (Fez Stadium, 1pm/12:00 GMT), Group C; Tunisia will take on Uganda (Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, 3:30pm/14:30 GMT),
Group D; Senegal against Botswana (Ibn Batouta Stadium, 6pm/17:00 GMT) and
Group D; DR Congo to battle Benin (Al Barid Stadium, 8:30pm/19:30 GMT).
In another encounter for December 24,
Algeria will play against Sudan in group E (Moulay Hassan Stadium, 1pm/12:00 GMT), Group E saw Burkina Faso taking on Equatorial Guinea (Stade Mohammed V, 3:30pm/14:30 GMT) while
Group F Ivory Coast against Mozambique (Marrakesh Stadium, 6pm/17:00 GMT) and
Group F: Cameroon vs Gabon (Adrar Stadium).
