The countdown is over.
Africa’s premier football spectacle, the 35th CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025), is set to ignite Morocco in a historic winter edition, running from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
For the first time, the tournament will span the festive Christmas and New Year period, blending holiday cheer with high-stakes drama across nine renovated stadiums in six vibrant cities.
The action explodes into life on December 21 at Rabat’s iconic Prince Moulay AbdellahStadium, where hosts Morocco face Comoros in the opening clash.
Buoyed by world-class infrastructure upgrades and their golden generation’s recent global exploits, the Atlas Lions see this as the perfect dress rehearsal for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Leading the charge is the tournament’s official mascot, Assad, a spirited young Atlas Lion symbolizing strength, pride, and African unity.
Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, the “Elephants”, arrive hungry to retain their crown after a fairy-tale triumph on home soil in 2023.
A fifth title would pull them level with Ghana among the all-time greats.
But in a fiercely competitive field of 24 nations, the gap between giants and rising stars has never been narrower.
Pharaohs primed for glory
All eyes in the Arab world will shift to the record seven-time champions, Egypt, as the Pharaohs launch their campaign on December 22 against Zimbabwe at Agadir’s AdrarStadium (kick-off 9:00 PM Cairo Local Time / 8:00 PM Morocco Time).
The most decorated nation in AFCON history, triumphant as recently as three consecutive wins from 2006-2010, enters with renewed fire, determined to end a 15-year drought and add an eighth star to their crest.
Momentum is surging in the Egyptian camp,after a commanding 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Nigeria in their final warm-up friendly on December 16 at Cairo International Stadium.
Mahmoud Saber struck first with a clinical finish assisted by the dazzling Zizo, before Moustafa Mohamed sealed the win in the 53rd minute, Egypt’s first triumph over the Super Eagles in nearly a decade, despite a brief Nigerian equalizer just before halftime.
This morale-boosting result capped a productive training camp in Cairo, with the squad now settled in Morocco.
In a powerful gesture of national unity ahead of departure, Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi met the players and staff, rallying them: “The entire nation stands behind you … show the fighting spirit and discipline to bring joy to millions”.
Under coach Hossam Hassan, the Pharaohs carry the weight of history and a nation’s burning ambition.
As Assad the Atlas Lion welcomes the continent, Egypt’s stars are ready to reclaim their throne in what promises to be an unforgettable winter festival of African football.
