Morocco will kick off the Africa Cup of Nations as the host nation, competing in a group alongside Mali, Zambia, and Comoros.
Morocco, which made it to the semifinals in the last World Cup, has been placed in a group with Mali, Zambia, and Comoros for the men’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations that it will host.
This tournament, running from December 21 to January 18, is set to be the biggest soccer event in Morocco before it co-hosts the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal—teams that Morocco knocked out in the 2022 World Cup, making history as the first African nation to reach the semifinals, although they eventually lost to France.
In the previous Africa Cup, held a year ago, Morocco faced an unexpected exit in the round of 16 against South Africa.
Ivory Coast, the host nation that won the last Africa Cup, will kick off its title defense in a group with Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique.
Nigeria, which was the runner-up last year with standout players Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, is grouped with Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah who is still on the hunt for his first Africa Cup title at 33, will compete in a group with South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe.
Senegal, the champions from 2021, will take on Congo, Benin, and Botswana.
Algeria, the 2019 titleholder, has been drawn with Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan.
Matches will take place across six cities: Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakesh, Rabat, and Tangier.
The tournament is set to kick off earlier in mid-December, wrapping up just in time for players to return to their European clubs for the Champions League, which resumes in late January. Just a few months later, many of these players will be gearing up for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Africa will have nine direct spots in the first-ever 48-team World Cup.