Teams participating in the AFCON 2025 tournament have begun preparations for the competition, which will be hosted by Morocco, with top players from various European leagues already arriving to train and represent their countries.
The tournament is scheduled to begin on Sunday, December 21, 2025, and is expected to conclude on January 18, 2026.
Some of the notable players expected to feature in the tournament include Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian forward who stars for Liverpool. They will lead his national team’s attack, joined by Omar Marmoush of Manchester City.
Morocco’s squad boasts standout talent, including Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain, Brahim Díaz of Real Madrid, and Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United.
Nigeria will be spearheaded by Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, alongside midfielders Ademola Lookman of Atalanta, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze of Fulham.
The opening match will feature the host nation, Morocco, against Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. A total of 24 teams are expected to participate in the tournament.
Initially designed for 16 teams, the tournament expanded to 24 teams starting with the 2019 edition, a format that has been maintained since.
AFCON 2025 Prize Money Distribution
The qualified nations have been drawn into six groups of four teams each.
Group A features Morocco, Mali, Zambia, and Comoros, while Group B includes Egypt, South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe. Group C comprises Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Other Groups Include:
- Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
- Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
- Group F: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
At the heart of the tournament is the coveted AFCON trophy. Morocco, the host nation, seeks to win its second AFCON title, having last won in 1976.
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They aim to dethrone the defending champions, Ivory Coast, who won the 2023 AFCON on their soil in February 2024, defeating Nigeria 2–1 in the final.
A total of USD 32,000,000 (KSh 4.1 billion) will be distributed across the tournament. In January 2024, CAF announced a 40% increase in prize money. The distribution is as follows:
- Champion: USD 7 million (KSh 903,000,000)
- Runner-up: USD 4 million (KSh 516,000,000)
- Semifinalists: USD 2.5 million each (KSh 322,500,000)
- Quarterfinalists: USD 1.3 million each (KSh 167,700,000)
- Round of 16: USD 800,000 (KSh 103,200,000)
- Best third-placed teams: USD 700,000 (KSh 90,300,000)
- Fourth place in each group: USD 500,000 (KSh 64,500,000)
Teams That Have Won the Tournament Previously
Since its inception in 1957, several national teams have won the Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt leads with seven titles, followed by Cameroon and Ghana, each with four titles.
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Nigeria and the Ivory Coast have won three times, while Algeria, DR Congo, and Zaire have each secured two titles. Other nations, including Sudan, Morocco, and Tunisia, have claimed the trophy once.
Zambia, South Africa, Senegal, and Ethiopia have also won the tournament once.
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