๐ฃ Quick Overview
The 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place in Morocco across December 2025 and January 2026. Morocco hosts what promises to be a compact, high-quality tournament featuring 24 teams. Matches will be played in several major Moroccan cities with world-class stadiums and passionate local support.
๐๏ธ Dates & Format
Tournament window: December 2025 โ January 2026. The competition retains the 24-team format: six groups of four teams in the group stage, with the top two from each group plus the four best third-placed teams progressing to the Round of 16.
๐ Host Cities & Main Venues
Key stadiums expected to host matches include:
- Casablanca โ Stade Mohammed V
- Tangier โ Stade Ibn Batouta
- Marrakech โ Stade de Marrakech
- Rabat โ Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah
- Fรจs โ Grand Stade de Fรจs
- Agadir โ Stade Adrar
๐ Tournament Favorites
As host nation and recent international over-achievers, Morocco will enter the tournament among the favourites thanks to home support and a deep, experienced squad. Other traditional powers to watch include Senegal, Egypt, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana. Knockout football is unpredictable, so expect surprises from well-organised sides and teams with in-form attackers.
โญ Top 6 Teams to Watch
- ๐ฒ๐ฆ Morocco โ Host nation with strong squad depth and home advantage
- ๐ธ๐ณ Senegal โ Physical, experienced side with quality across the pitch
- ๐ช๐ฌ Egypt โ Historic winners with attacking stars
- ๐ณ๐ฌ Nigeria โ Talented attackers and strong squad options
- ๐จ๐ฎ Ivory Coast โ Flair and athleticism; dark horse potential
- ๐น๐ณ Tunisia โ Always competitive in tournament football
๐ฏ Key Players (Fantasy Picks)
When selecting your fantasy squad for AFCON 2025, target players who are starters for their national teams, take penalties or free-kicks, or play for attack-minded sides with good group draws.
โฝ Premium Forwards
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Chelsea/Liverpool form aside, Salah remains Egypt's principal threat from open play and set pieces. High ceiling for goals and assists if Egypt progress deep into the tournament.
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
A clinical finisher and focal point for Nigeria's attack. Expect heavy ownership among fantasy managers.
๐จ Midfield & Creators
Sofyan Amrabat / Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Amrabat's engine and Hakimi's forward runs make them excellent fantasy targets for Morocco fans.
๐ก๏ธ Defenders to Consider
Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal)
Leadership and set-piece threat combine with clean-sheet potential when Senegal are defensively solid.
๐ช Dark Horses & Value Picks
Look for value in teams that qualify from tough confederation qualifying but bring players in European leagues. Nations like Burkina Faso, Mali, Cameroon and Tunisia often produce low-cost fantasy gems.
๐ก Fantasy Strategy
- Pick players who are nailed-on starters for their national teams.
- Penalty takers and set-piece specialists carry extra value.
- Balance your squad across a few strong teams instead of loading one side.
๐บ Broadcast & Follow
AFCON broadcast rights vary by country. Check your local sports broadcasters and official CAF partners for live coverage. Many matches will also be available via streaming platforms; follow official channels for match times and TV listings.
๐ Ready to Build Your AFCON Squad?
Head to your team page and start selecting your squad for the tournament โ plan early around group fixtures!
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