The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is the first edition of the tournament to be played over the Christmas and New Year period as 24 teams vie for continental glory in Morocco. Find out how the Bundesliga's stars will fare as they battle for the continental crown...
Follow all the latest from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations below. Scroll on for more about the tournament...
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Mali beat Tunisia on penalties
Bochum midfielder Ibrahima Sissoko came on in extra time to help Mali beat Ellyes Skhiri (pictured, r.) and Tunisia in the last 16 on Saturday. Skhiri and Augsburg's Ismaël Gharbi both started for Tunisia, who went 1-0 up in the 88th minute, only for it to be cancelled out in the sixth minute of stoppage time. There were no further goals in extra time, meaning the match went to penalties. Augsburg's Elias Saad scored from the spot in the shoot-out for Tunisia but ultimately Mali triumphed 3-2.
© PAUL ELLIS
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Jackson and Senegal reach quarter-finals
Bayern forward Nicolas Jackson (pictured, top row, 2nd l.) helped Senegal book their place in the last eight on Friday 3 January thanks to a 3-1 victory over Sudan in the round of 16. Jackson started alongside former Bayern attacker Sadio Mané (front row, l.) as The Lions of Teranga fell 1-0 down in the sixth minute. However, they fought back, with Mané and Jackson both providing assists to give Senegal a 2-1 lead at the break. Coach Pape Thiaw's side added another in the closing stages to seal their passage to the next round.
© ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT
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Kofane opens account for Cameroon
Leverkusen teenager Christian Kofane scored a superb first international goal as Cameroon finished second in Group F, despite a comeback win over Mozambique. Their reward is a last-16 showdown with South Africa (4 January).
© FRANCK FIFE
Bazou-mania for Ivory Coast
Hoffenheim's Bazoumana Touré scored a stoppage-time winner as Ivory Coast recovered from 2-0 down in a thrilling game with Gabon. Leipzig counterpart Yan Diomande also had an effort ruled out as the holders progressed as Group F winners on goal difference.
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Tapsoba's Stallions march on
Burkina Faso advanced from Group E behind Algeria after beating Sudan 2-0, with Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba playing from start to finish. Holders Ivory Coast await in the round of 16 (6 January).
© DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images
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Bundesliga duo help Algeria stay perfect
Farès Chaïbi (Frankfurt) and Ibrahim Maza (Leverkusen) were among the goals as Algeria capped a perfect group stage with a 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea. They'll face DR Congo in the last 16 on 6 January.
© IMAGO/Bouhara Hamza/ABACA
Tunisia through
Augsburg's Ismaël Gharbi scored from the spot as Tunisia were held to a 1-1 draw against Tanzania to book their place in the knockout stages. Eintracht Frankfurt's Ellyes Skhiri played the full 90 minutes.
Comoros and Mali play out draw
Bochum's Ibrahima Sissoko was an unused substitute as Mali, who were held by Comoros, booked their place in the knockout stages after finishing runners-up to Morocco.
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Morocco progress
Bayer Leverkusen's Eliesse Ben Seghir played 26 minutes as Morocco booked their place in the knockout stages after a 3-0 win over Zambia. VfB Stuttgart's Bilal El Khannouss was an unused substitute.
© IMAGO/SFSI
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Ivory Coast and Cameroon play out draw
Yan Diomande's Ivory Coast drew 1-1 with a Cameroon side led by Leverkusen's Christian Kofane. Hoffenheim's Bazoumana Toure was an unused substitute for Les Elephants, with both sides still on track to qualify for the last 16 with four points from two games.
© IMAGO/Thor Wegner/DeFodi Images
Algeria advance
Dortmund's Ramy Bensebaini, Leverkusen's Ibrahim Maza and Wolfsburg's Mohamed Amoura started as Algeria booked their place in the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso. Farès Chaïbi (Frankfurt) also got on in the second half, while Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba featured for Burkina, who stay second in Group E.
Watch: Maza aims to shine again
Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Ibrahim Maza netted in Algeria's opening 3-0 win over Sudan and will hope to help his side into the knockout stages with another victory against Burkina Faso in their second Group E encounter.
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Jackson and Essende share spoils
Bayern Munich's Nicolas Jackson started and Augsburg's Samuel Essende remained on the bench as Senegal and DR Congo played out a 1-1 draw. Former Bayern attacker Sadio Mané scored for Senegal.
© IMAGO/Amiir Amedjoua
Tunisian trio suffer setback
Augsburg's Elias Saad and Ismael Gharbi, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt's Ellyes Skhiri suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Group C opponents Nigeria, who booked their place in the last 16 with a victory.
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Moroccan pair held
Stuttgart's Bilal El Khannouss and Leverkusen's Eliesse Ben Seghir were both introduced late from the bench as hosts Morocco were unable to claim a winner in a 1-1 draw with Mali despite hitting 15 shots in Rabat.
© Selim Sudheimer
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Musonda keeps clean sheet
Magdeburg's Lubambo Musonda played the full 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet at left-back as Zambia played out a 0-0 draw with Comoros on 26 December.
© IMAGO/SFSI
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Kofane in the wings
Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane was on the Cameroon bench to see the Indomitable Lions open their Group F account with a 1-0 win against Gabon at Le Grand Stade in Agadir on Wednesday.
© INA FASSBENDER
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Diomande shines
RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande started Ivory Coast's 1-0 victory against Mozambique in the opening round of fixtures in Group F. Hoffenheim's Bazoumana Touré was an unused substitute for Les Éléphants while Stanley Ratifo - who plies his trade at BSG Chemie Leipzig in Germany's fourth tier - was in Mozambique's starting XI.
© IMAGO/Netherlands U21 v Ivory Coast U21 - International Friendly
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Maza magic
Bayer 04's in-form forward Ibrahim Maza scored the third goal in Algeria's 3-0 Group E victory against Sudan. Eintracht's Farès Chaïbi started the game for the north African nation.
© IMAGO/SFSI
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Tapsoba drama
Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba proved the match winner for Burkina Faso in their game against Equatorial Guinea. Tapsoba's crucial contribution arrived eight minutes into added time and came moments after Burkina Faso - for whom Freiburg's Cyriaque Irie received game time - equalised Guinea's 85th minute opener.
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Skhiri on target
Augsburg pair Elias Saad and Ismael Gharbi were involved as Tunisia enjoyed a 3-1 victory against Uganda at the Stade Olympique de Rabat, but it was Eintracht Frankfurt's Ellyes Skhiri who grabbed most attention with the game's opening goal.
© IMAGO/M.Bayoumy/SFSI
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Jackson at the double
Bayern forward Nicolas Jackson put on a man-of-the-match display, scoring a double as Senegal started their Group D challenge with a straightforward 3-0 win against Botswana in Tangier.
© ISSOUF SANOGO
DR Congo win
Ausgburg's Samuel Essende was an unused substitute as DR Congo secured a 1-0 win against Benin.
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Tuesday's Bundesliga representatives
DR Congo open their tournament against Benin, where Augsburg's Samuel Essende has been nominated. Bayern Munich's Nicolas Jackson (pictured) will also look to feature as Senegal play Botswana. In the day's late game, there are no Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2 representatives for Nigeria or Tanzania.
© Alexander Hassenstein
Egypt win
Former Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush scored the equalising goal against Zimbabwe as Egypt went on to secure a 2-1 win in their opening game.
Mali held
Leipzig's Amadou Haidara came on in the 86th minute while Bochum's Ibrahima Sissoko was an unused substitute as Mali conceded a stoppage-time equaliser against Zambia on Monday.
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Morocco beat Comoros in curtain raiser
Stuttgart's Bilal El Khannouss replaced Ismael Saibari in the 76th minute as Morocco secured a 2-0 win. Bayer Leverkusen's Eliesse Ben Seghir (pictured) was an unused substitute alongside former Borussia Dortmund player Achraf Hakimi. Ex-Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui played the full 90 minutes and recorded an assist.
© PAUL ELLIS
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Monday's Bundesliga representatives
Mali kickstart their tournament against Zambia on Monday where RB Leipzig's Amadou Haidara (pictured) and Bochum's Ibrahima Sissoko will hope to feature. In the day's later fixtures, South Africa vs. Angola and Egypt vs. Zimbabwe, there are no Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2 representatives.
© DFL/Getty Images/Boris Streubel
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Morocco host Comoros in curtain raiser
Eyes will be on the Africa Cup of Nations tonight as hosts Morocco open the tournament against Comoros. VfB Stuttgart's Bilal El Khannouss finds himself in excellent form with three goals and three assists in 12 Bundesliga appearances this term. He's included in Morocco's squad alongside Bayer Leverkusen's Eliesse Ben Seghir.
© IMAGO/Ayman Alahmed
Opening round of fixtures: Group F
Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique (24 December, 6.30pm CET), Cameroon vs. Gabon (24 December, 9pm CET)
Opening round of fixtures: Group E
Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea (24 December, 1.30pm CET), Algeria vs. Sudan (24 December, 4pm CET)
Opening round of fixtures: Group D
DR Congo vs. Benin (23 December, 1.30pm CET), Senegal vs. Botswana (23 December, 4pm CET)
Opening round of fixtures: Group C
Nigeria vs. Tanzania (23 December, 6.30pm CET), Tunisia vs. Uganda (23 December, 9pm CET)
Opening round of fixtures: Group B
South Africa vs. Angola (22 December, 6pm CET), Egypt vs. Zimbabwe (22 December, 9pm CET)
Opening round of fixtures: Group A
Morocco vs. Comoros (21 December, 8pm CET), Mali vs. Zambia (22 December, 3pm CET)
Watch: Sébastien Haller crowns comeback with AFCON glory
Former Dortmund striker Sébastien Haller fired Ivory Coast to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, after beating cancer and missing out on the 2022/23 Bundesliga title with BVB. The now Utrecht man is in the holders' current squad, alongside Leipzig's Yan Diomande and Hoffenheim's Bazoumana Touré.
Flying the flag
Bayer Leverkusen have the most players of all German clubs at this year's AFCON, with four. Augsburg, Bayern Munich, Bochum, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, Freiburg, Hoffenheim, Magdeburg, RB Leipzig, VfB Stuttgart and Wolfsburg also have at least one player at the finals. See the full list of representatives below...
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Mohamed Amoura (Algeria/ Wolfsburg)
© Stuart Franklin
Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria/ Borussia Dortmund)
Farès Chaïbi (Algeria/ Eintracht Frankfurt)
Ibrahim Maza (Algeria/ Bayer Leverkusen)
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Cyriaque Irié (Burkina Faso/ Freiburg)
© Imago
Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso/ Bayer Leverkusen)
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Christian Kofane (Cameroon/ Bayer Leverkusen)
© IMAGO/HMB Media
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Samuel Essende (DR Congo/ Augsburg)
© DFL/Getty Images/Sebastian Widmann
Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast/ RB Leipzig)
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Bazoumana Touré (Ivory Coast/ Hoffenheim)
© Daniela Porcelli
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Amadou Haidara (Mali/ RB Leipzig)
© DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze
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Ibrahima Sissoko (Mali/ Bochum)
© IMAGO/Sportfoto Zink / Wolfgang Zink
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Eliesse Ben Seghir (Morocco/ Bayer Leverkusen)
© DFL/Getty Images/Pau Barrena
Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco/ VfB Stuttgart - on loan from Leicester City)
Nicolas Jackson (Senegal/ Bayern Munich - on loan from Chelsea)
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Ismaël Gharbi (Tunisia/ Augsburg)
© IMAGO/FC Augsburg
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Elias Saad (Tunisia/ Eintracht Frankfurt)
© IMAGO/DiZ-PiX
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Ellyes Skhiri (Tunisia/ Eintracht Frankfurt)
© DFL/Getty Images/Pau Barrena
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Lubambo Musonda (Zambia/ Magdeburg)
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Competition format
Nineteen players based in either the Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2 will represent their respective countries at the finals, which will feature six groups of four nations. The top two teams in each section progress to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed teams. The tournament then continues in a knockout format through the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final/third-place play-off, with each match going into extra time and a penalty shootout, if required to determine a winner.
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Busy festive period
While often played from January through to February, this year's edition of the biennial competition runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, partly due to the new UEFA Champions League schedule that sees the final two matchdays of the league phase played at the end of January.
© Imago
Welcome!
There'll be plenty of Bundesliga interest when the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on 21 December 2025. We'll be bringing you all the latest from Morocco as the likes of Ramy Bensebaini, Yan Diomande and Ibrahim Maza battle it out for continental glory.
What is AFCON 2025?
The Africa Cup of Nations – or AFCON for short – is the biennial international men’s football tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to determine the champions of Africa. It is the equivalent of UEFA’s Euros in Europe, the AFC’s Asian Cup, CONCACAF’s Gold Cup and CONMEBOL’s Copa América.
First held in 1957, the 2025 AFCON will be the 35th edition of the tournament, which has been held in odd-numbered years since 2013 to avoid clashes with the FIFA World Cup.
On the eve of the 2025 tournament, it was announced that AFCON will switch to a four-year cycle after the 2027 edition in East Africa and a 2028 edition. A new African Nations League will take place annually from 2029.
Former Bayern Munich man Sadio Mané helped Senegal lift the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021. - SFSI via www.imago-images.de/imago images/Sebastian Frej
When is AFCON 2025?
The AFCON had historically been played in January, but in 2017 CAF approved the decision to move the tournament to the northern hemisphere summer – in line with the European season. However, circumstances such as heat and the new FIFA Club World Cup have led to the 2021, 2023 and now 2025 editions still being played in the northern winter.
Key dates:
Group stage: 21-31 December
Round of 16: 3-6 January
Quarter-finals: 9-10 January
Semi-finals: 14 January
Third-place play-off: 17 January
Final: 18 January
Who is hosting AFCON 2025?
In 2019, Guinea were confirmed as hosts of the 2025 edition following a timetable shift in the wake of Cameroon losing their 2019 rights but being allowed to host the 2021 tournament instead. However, Guinea were then removed as hosts in 2022 due to a lack of progress in preparation. After a new bidding process, Morocco were named the new hosts in September 2023. The North African country will also be one of the three host nations of the 2030 World Cup, which will also feature centenary matches in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
There are nine venues set to host games:
- Adrar Stadium, Agadir (45,000)
- Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (45,000)
- Fez Stadium, Fez (45,000)
- Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh (45,000)
- Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (68,700) – opening match and final
- Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat (22,000)
- Rabat Olympic Stadium, Rabat (21,000)
- Al Barid Stadium, Rabat (18,000)
- Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier (75,000)
The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat will host the 2025 AFCON opening game and final. - ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT
Who will compete at AFCON 2025?
The Cup of Nations is contested by African national teams associated with CAF, with each country only able to select players that are born there or are otherwise eligible through family or citizenship grounds to represent them.
As of the 2019 edition, AFCON was expanded from 16 to 24 teams. A total of 52 teams entered qualifying, which began in March 2024 and ended in November that year, consisting of a preliminary round for the eight lowest ranked teams followed by a group stage (12 groups of four teams), whereby the top two teams in each section qualified for the finals tournament.
As hosts, Morocco had already qualified automatically but still competed in qualifying Group B, winning all six of their games. All 24 qualified teams this year have previously competed at the Cup of Nations, including 12 former champions.
Watch: Goals from the Bundesliga's AFCON 2025 stars
What is the format?
Like most international football tournaments, AFCON begins with a single round robin group stage. With 24 teams, that means six groups of four.
The top two teams in each section progress to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed teams. The tournament then continues in a knockout format through the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final/third-place play-off, with each match going into extra time and a penalty shootout, if required to determine a winner.
The draw for the main tournament was made on 27 January 2025 in Rabat.
Group A: Morocco (hosts), 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: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande has impressed for reigning Champions Ivory Coast. - IMAGO/Yvan Sonh
Will Bundesliga players miss any games?
How many games players could miss depends on how far their team progresses in the tournament.
Given the first game is on Sunday, 21 December, which coincides with Matchday 15 (19-21 December) in the Bundesliga, it can be assumed that any players called up to compete will miss that round of fixtures. There are no midweek games involving German teams in the week leading up to the start.
After Matchday 15, the Bundesliga pauses for its winter break, which reduces the impact of absences compared to England’s Premier League, for example. Domestic action then resumes on Friday, 9 January, the start of the AFCON quarter-finals. Therefore, any players eliminated in the group stage and maybe also the round of 16 – depending on the logistics of returning to Germany – will be available again for their clubs in time for the campaign’s resumption.
Any players reaching the final will therefore miss up to four games, given Matchday 17 is a midweek round (13-15 January) before Matchday 18 (16-18 January) on the weekend of the third-place play-off and final. Matchday 7 in the Champions League (20-21 January) begins two days after the final, making involvement there also unlikely.
Bundesliga 2 participants play their final game of 2025 on Matchday 17 (19-21 December) before returning on 16-18 January.
Borussia Dortmund's Ramy Bensebaini leads a four-strong Bundesliga contingent for Algeria. - IMAGO/SFSI
AFCON history
A total of 15 countries have won the Africa Cup of Nations. The most successful is Egypt with seven titles, most recently in 2010. They last reached the final in 2021.
Ivory Coast are the defending champions after winning as hosts in 2023, beating three-time winners Nigeria 2-1 in the final. Hosts Morocco won their only title in 1976.
AFCON winners: Egypt (7), Cameroon (5), Ghana (4), Nigeria and Ivory Coast (both 3), Algeria and DR Congo (both 2), Zambia, Tunisia, Sudan, Senegal, South Africa, Ethiopia, Morocco and Congo (all 1).
Who are the favourites to win?
Morocco’s hopes of another home triumph will be driven by current Paris Saint-Germain and former Borussia Dortmund full-back Achraf Hakimi, and whether he’s fit after his injury sustained against Bayern Munich, but they also have some exciting Bundesliga talent in El Khannouss and Ben Seghir.
Watch: Achraf Hakimi's best goals and assists for Dortmund
Eyes will obviously be on Egypt and whether Mohammed Salah can lead them to a record eighth title, while Senegal are often contenders with ex-Bayern man Sadio Mané and current Munich forward Jackson.
Nigeria can never be ruled out with a squad including Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. Defending champions Ivory Coast are also not short on talent, such as Leipzig’s Diomande and Amad Diallo of Manchester United.
