CAN-2025 Qualifiers: Morocco’s Head Coach Unveils 26-Man Squad

 President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe was re-elected to his position on Wednesday in Cairo, at CAF’s 14th Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA).

Motsepe, the only candidate to stand for re-election, was re-appointed for a second term of office, which runs until 2029.

The agenda of this EGM mainly includes the election of some members of the CAF Executive Committee and the six African representatives on the FIFA Council.

The EGA is attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the presidents of CAF member associations and other high-level figures from the international football realm.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Friday released the full match schedule for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN), set to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

   The tournament will kick off with host nation Morocco facing Comoros on December 21 in Rabat, part of Group A, CAF announced on its official website. The match will be played at the newly expanded Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, a 69,500-seat venue that will also host the tournament’s final on January 18.

  A total of 52 matches will be played over 29 days across six host cities and nine stadiums, showcasing the best of African football.

   The quarter-finals will be staged in Rabat, Tangier, Marrakech, and Agadir, while semi-final matches will take place in Rabat and Tangier. The third-place playoff will be held at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Stadium.

Full Match Schedule:

Group Stage:

December 21

Morocco vs Comoros (Group A)

December 22

Mali vs Zambia (Group A)

Egypt vs Zimbabwe (Group B)

South Africa vs Angola (Group B)

December 23

Nigeria vs Tanzania (Group C)

Tunisia vs Uganda (Group C)

Senegal vs Botswana (Group D)

DR Congo vs Benin (Group D)

December 24

Algeria vs Sudan (Group E)

Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea (Group E)

Côte d’Ivoire vs Mozambique (Group F)

Cameroon vs Gabon (Group F)

December 26

Morocco vs Mali (Group A)

Zambia vs Comoros (Group A)

Egypt vs South Africa (Group B)

Angola vs Zimbabwe (Group B)

December 27

Nigeria vs Tunisia (Group C)

Uganda vs Tanzania (Group C)

DR Congo vs Senegal (Group D)

Benin vs Botswana (Group D)

December 28

Algeria vs Burkina Faso (Group E)

Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan (Group E)

Cameroon vs Côte d’Ivoire (Group F)

Gabon vs Mozambique (Group F)

December 29

Morocco vs Zambia (Group A)

Comoros vs Mali (Group A)

Egypt vs Angola (Group B)

Zimbabwe vs South Africa (Group B)

December 30

Nigeria vs Uganda (Group C)

Tanzania vs Tunisia (Group C)

Botswana vs DR Congo (Group D)

Benin vs Senegal (Group D)

December 31

Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria (Group E)

Burkina Faso vs Sudan (Group E)

Cameroon vs Mozambique (Group F)

Côte d’Ivoire vs Gabon (Group F)

Knockout Stage Schedule

Quarter-finals: January 9-10

Semi-finals: January 14

Third-place playoff: January 17

Final: January 18

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations promises a spectacular month of football, bringing together the continent’s top talent in what CAF describes as “a grand celebration of African football.”

The Moroccan soccer team has been drawn in Group A of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025), alongside Mali, Zambia and the Comoros, following the draw held on Monday at Rabat’s Mohammed V Theater.

The official logo of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 was unveiled on Saturday, marking an important milestone in the countdown to Africa’s biggest event, says the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

“The new logo, a modern and iconic symbol of African football, celebrates the heritage and unity of the African continent,” CAF writes in a statement published on its website.

The final tournament of the AFCON, scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 in Morocco, will mark a new page in the history of Africa’s greatest sporting spectacle, the same source adds, pointing out that the logo tells a story of pride, resilience and hope, bridging the realms of sport and art.

Inspired by Moroccan “zellij”, a timeless mosaic art form, the tournament logo redefines football as a canvas where creativity, precision and passion collide, CAF points out, stating that “the AFCON 2025 logo reflects the synergy between tradition and modernity, as each pattern and shape symbolizes the unity of nations, players and fans, echoing how football and art come together to create something extraordinary”.

“Just as zellij pieces are meticulously crafted and assembled to form breathtaking designs, each moment in football builds toward a masterpiece of skill, teamwork and triumph,” CAF adds.

“Merging the geometry of football with the intricate artistry of zellij, it captures the precision and movement of the game while honoring Africa’s cultural legacy. It is a celebration of African craftsmanship and the beauty of football’s dynamism,” the statement reads.

The draw for the final phase of the AFCON Morocco 2025 will take place on Monday at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) highlighted Tuesday Morocco’s proven track record in hosting major international football events, as it is set to stage the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025).

“Morocco’s selection as the host for AFCON 2025 is no surprise,” CAF wrote in a statement published on its official website. From the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) to the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023, Morocco has “consistently demonstrated its capacity to organize and deliver world-class football tournaments.”

With world-class infrastructure, passionate fans, and recognized experience in hosting major sporting events, Morocco is ready to organize an AFCON that will redefine the standards of this competition, according to the statement, which noted that Morocco’s designation as the host nation on September 27, 2023, has been met with widespread “enthusiasm”.

This track record, combined with the country’s passionate football culture and state-of-the-art infrastructure, sets the stage for what could be one of the most memorable editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, according to the same source. 

Morocco first hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 1988, with only eight teams participating. For the 2025 edition, the tournament will undergo significant expansion, increasing to 24 teams, reflecting the impressive development of African football over the past three decades.

CAF reviewed Morocco’s “iconic” stadiums, such as the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the large stadiums in Tangier, Agadir, and Marrakech, as well as the sports complex in Fez.

The opening match will kick off on December 21, 2025, with the final scheduled for January 18, 2026.

The Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final Draw will be held in Rabat, Morocco, on January 27, 2025.

Morocco will play in Group A alongside Kenya, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia at the African Nations Championship for local players (CHAN-2024), following the draw held on Wednesday in Nairobi.

The Atlas Lions, winners of the 2018 and 2020 editions held in Morocco, will contest the group phase in Nairobi city.

Defending champions Senegal have been drawn in Group D alongside Congo, Sudan and Nigeria.

Following the withdrawal of some teams from the qualifying round, two places remain available. Additional qualifying rounds will be held to determine which teams will hold these positions.

Initially scheduled to take place from February 1 to 28 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the CHAN has been postponed to August 2025, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced, noting that CAF’s technical and infrastructure experts, some of whom are based in the three host countries, required additional time to ensure that infrastructure and facilities were up to the necessary standard to host the competition successfully. 

The exact start date of the CHAN will be announced by CAF “in due course”, CAF said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Groups:

Group A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia

Group B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic

Group C: Uganda, Niger, Guinea, Q2, Q1

Group D: Senegal, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria

Note: Q1 and Q2 represent the teams that will qualify in the additional tournaments preceding the competition.