The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 gets underway today in Morocco, with the hosts taking on Comoros in the opening match at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Kickoff is set for this evening local time. It’s the first time the tournament is being held over the Christmas and New Year period, running from December 21, 2025, right through to the final on January 18, 2026.
Morocco is hosting for the second time, after 1988. They stepped in after Guinea was stripped of the rights a couple of years ago due to preparation issues. This edition features 24 teams split into six groups, with big names like defending champions Ivory Coast, Egypt with Mohamed Salah, Senegal, Nigeria, and Algeria all in the mix.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana are in Group B alongside Egypt, Angola, and Zimbabwe. Fans are hoping for some surprises, just like in past tournaments.
The switch to winter dates came about to avoid clashing with FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup last summer. Some people have grumbled about the timing disrupting European club seasons, but it’s happening now, and excitement is building across the continent.
Looking ahead, things are changing for future AFCON tournaments. The next one in 2027 will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. That’s still going ahead as planned. Then there’s another edition in 2028, with the host yet to be decided.
After that, starting from 2032, it shifts to every four years – so 2032, 2036, and so on. CAF made this announcement recently to better align with the global football calendar and ease the load on players.
To fill the gaps, CAF is launching a new African Nations League starting in 2029. It will run every year, involving all 54 member countries, with matches mostly in September, October, and November. The idea is to have top African players competing on the continent more often.
For viewers in South Africa wondering where to catch the action, SABC has you covered. Thanks to a deal with Hollywoodbets, all 52 matches will air live and free on SABC Sport, SABC 2, SABC Plus, and even radio stations. It’s being called “Game On Everywhere” – no need for pay-TV to follow Bafana or any game. That includes today’s opener and South Africa’s first match against Angola tomorrow.
Elsewhere, coverage varies by country – beIN Sports in many places, SuperSport in parts of Africa, and even free-to-air in the UK on Channel 4. But for South Africans, it’s straightforward on SABC platforms.
This AFCON comes at a time when African football is getting more attention worldwide. Morocco’s strong showing at recent World Cups has helped, and players based in Europe will be keen to shine for their national teams. It should be a good tournament, with plenty of goals and drama over the next few weeks. If you’re a fan, settle in – the football starts tonight.
