Sports

Africa Cup of Nations 2025: Dates, Fixtures & Everything To Expect In Morocco

Published

9 months ago

December 12, 2025

The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, will return with a historic twist.

The biggest football event on the continent will take place throughout Christmas and New Year’s for the first time, making for a memorable month-long football extravaganza.

Morocco, the host country, will play Comoros in the first game on December 21 at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

The competition is the Atlas Lions’ greatest opportunity in decades to snap a title drought that dates back to 1976.

With a strong roster and fervent home support, Morocco, ranked as Africa’s top team going into the competition, are overwhelming favorites.

Former hosts Cote d’Ivoire currently hold the championship, having won it at home in 2023.

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Groups

All six groups had interesting matchups as a result of the group-stage draw.

Morocco leads Group A, which also includes Comoros and Zambia. Group F, which includes traditional giants Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Togo, and reigning champions Ivory Coast, stands out as one of the hardest groups.

With Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania vying for knockout berths, Group C also guarantees fireworks.

The top two teams in each pool and the top four third-place teams move on to the round of 16, according to the tournament’s standard format of 24 teams divided into six groups.

Nine stadiums in six upgraded host cities—Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, and Fes—will host games. Through the end of December, fans can anticipate four games nearly every day, making this one of the busiest Afcon schedules ever.

The player release dates have generated the most debate in the run-up to the tournament. A number of African coaches, like Tom Saintfiet of Mali, voiced their dissatisfaction as AFCON once again conflicts with the European season, claiming that FIFA’s obligatory release date of December 15 denies national teams enough time to prepare.

The football game promises to be exciting despite the schedule conflict. Morocco is the favorite going into the game because of both home advantage and their strong performance since 2024.

Senegal, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria and DR Congo also enter as strong contenders in what is always an unpredictable tournament.

Agadir ready to embrace the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 spirit 🇲🇦

December 22. Mark your calendars ✅

pic.twitter.com/X32rwhkF9A
— TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 (@TotalAFCON2025) December 12, 2025

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Full fixtures

Group A

Morocco vs Comoros – 21 December 2025

Mali vs Zambia – 22 December 2025

Morocco vs Zambia – 26 December 2025

Mali vs Comoros – 27 December 2025

Morocco vs Mali – 31 December 2025

Zambia vs Comoros – 31 December 2025

Group B

Senegal vs Namibia – 22 December 2025

Burkina Faso vs South Africa – 23 December 2025

Senegal vs South Africa – 27 December 2025

Burkina Faso vs Namibia – 28 December 2025

Senegal vs Burkina Faso – 1 January 2026

South Africa vs Namibia – 1 January 2026

Group C

Nigeria vs Uganda – 23 December 2025

Tunisia vs Tanzania – 24 December 2025

Nigeria vs Tanzania – 28 December 2025

Tunisia vs Uganda – 29 December 2025

Nigeria vs Tunisia – 2 January 2026

Uganda vs Tanzania – 2 January 2026

Group D

Egypt vs Cape Verde – 24 December 2025

Algeria vs Mauritania – 25 December 2025

Egypt vs Mauritania – 29 December 2025

Algeria vs Cape Verde – 30 December 2025

Egypt vs Algeria – 3 January 2026

Cape Verde vs Mauritania – 3 January 2026

Group E

DR Congo vs Guinea – 25 December 2025

Ghana vs Equatorial Guinea – 26 December 2025

DR Congo vs Equatorial Guinea – 30 December 2025

Ghana vs Guinea – 31 December 2025

DR Congo vs Ghana – 4 January 2026

Guinea vs Equatorial Guinea – 4 January 2026

Group F

Ivory Coast vs Togo – 26 December 2025

Cameroon vs Sierra Leone – 27 December 2025

Ivory Coast vs Sierra Leone – 31 December 2025

Cameroon vs Togo – 1 January 2026

Ivory Coast vs Cameroon – 5 January 2026

Sierra Leone vs Togo – 5 January 2026

match_schedule_totalenergies-caf-africa-cup-of-nations_morocco-25 Download

Football

Timeless Messi: Four-Goal Haul, Solo Wonder Goal And 7-1 Rout

Published

4 days ago

August 30, 2026

AladdynKing

Inter Miami ended their slump with an emphatic 7-1 thrashing of Montreal. Lionel Messi stole the show with a sensational four-goal haul, including a breathtaking solo strike after slaloming past three defenders.

The Argentine maestro, who also weighed in with an assist, delivered a performance for the ages. He got his first strike after his curling free-kick took a heavy deflection off Petrasso.

The No. 10’s second goal was a pure work of art. Collecting the ball from Luis Suarez on the edge of the ‘D’, the forward danced past three defenders in tight quarters before finishing clinically on his right foot. His third arrived via a trademark chipped finish after being slipped clean through on the goalkeeper. Finally, at 6-1, Lionel Messi capped the rout with a signature masterpiece: a sublime free-kick from the edge of the area.

Inter Miami brought an emphatic end to their recent slump ahead of Kily Gonzalez taking the managerial reins. In contrast, Messi, the leading marksman in MLS, took another step towards the landmark of 1,000 career goals, lifting his elite-level tally to 927.

besoccer.com

Football

BREAKING: Barcelona Reach Agreement With Arsenal For Gabriel Jesus

Published

4 days ago

August 30, 2026

AladdynKing

According to Fabrizio Romano, Barca have struck a deal with Arsenal to sign Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian will bolster the Blaugrana attack following the collapsed move for Julian Alvarez.

According to the report, both clubs have settled on a transfer fee of €10 million plus add-ons for the Brazil international.

The Italian journalist claims the transfer is fully sealed, with Gabriel Jesus scheduled to fly to Barcelona on Monday for a medical after receiving the green light from Arsenal.

At 29 years of age, the Brazilian striker departs the Gunners following four injury-hit seasons, during which he tallied 32 goals in 123 appearances. He is set to join Hansi Flick’s FC Barcelona, finally providing the German manager with a proven reinforcement in the No. 9 position after the exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

🚨🔵🔴 BREAKING: Barcelona agree deal to sign Gabriel Jesus from Arsenal, here we go!

Exclusive details: medical booked on Monday, #AFC to receive €10m package plus add-ons for permament deal.

Gabriel Jesus will travel for medical as authorized by Arsenal. pic.twitter.com/Y4nFKERn3y
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 30, 2026

besoccer.com

Football

Real Madrid To Sign Marc Cucurella From Chelsea

Published

3 months ago

June 14, 2026

AladdynKing

According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid and Chelsea have verbally agreed to sign Marc Cucurella. All parties, including the player, are believed to have agreed on the transaction; just the final details are still pending.

It is anticipated that the transaction will be completed for about 50 million euros. Romano claims that Jose Mourinho has made a special request to bolster the left-back position. Cucurella will join the Spanish powerhouses ahead of the upcoming season after leaving Chelsea following the World Cup.

The La Masia graduate is expected to make a significant transfer to the Catalan team’s fiercest rivals. Cucurella earned La Liga experience while playing for Eibar and Getafe before joining the Premier League.

Because of his performances, he was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion, where he made an impression before landing a job at Chelsea. He made 50 appearances for the London team in 2025–2026, including 34 in the Premier League, and recorded one goal and four assists.