CAF
In six days, one of the largest sporting events on the African continent will kick off, as the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will begin in the capital, Rabat, with a strong opening match in Group A between the host nation, Morocco, and Comoros, signaling the start of a month-long football tournament for the continental title.
The opening match will take place at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium at 8 PM local time, in front of a packed crowd, reflecting the passion of fans surrounding the thirty-fifth edition of the tournament.
Excitement is building as the kickoff approaches, with Morocco hosting the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in 37 years, marking a pivotal moment in the history of African football. CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba confirmed that the Kingdom has provided world-class infrastructure that serves both players and fans, emphasizing the readiness of the organizational arrangements.
Mosengo-Omba explained that CAF has launched a special tour for the cup targeting African communities abroad for the first time, aimed at fostering ownership and encouraging fan attendance, which has been evident in the high ticket sales. He also noted a comprehensive promotional strategy within Morocco, which included government mobilization and new partnerships, as part of a vision to innovate and surpass traditional standards in organizing tournaments.
This edition is expected to surpass the remarkable success of the 2023 tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, which recorded unprecedented figures of over 1.5 billion global television viewers, in addition to 2.4 billion views across digital platforms, solidifying the tournament’s status as one of the premier sporting events worldwide.
The tournament will bring together elite African teams and the brightest football stars from the continent, with matches held in six Moroccan cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Fez, Tangier, Marrakech, and Agadir, across nine modern stadiums meeting the highest international standards.
Morocco’s experience in hosting the tournament is based on its recent success in holding the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2024 and the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, showcasing its high organizational capabilities and the passion of its fans for football.
Fans coming from all over Africa and the world are expected to have a complete experience, encompassing warm hospitality, modern infrastructure, and a vibrant fan atmosphere, leading up to the final match scheduled for January 18, 2026, when the continental champion will be crowned.
The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 represents a new chapter in the historical journey of a competition that began in 1957, continuing to be a showcase of diversity, unity, and African talent, embodying the football passion that unites the continent.
