The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to face Tunisia, while South Africa will go up against Egypt, as determined by the group stage draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which took place in Rabat on Monday.
The tournament will kick off on December 21, with hosts Morocco taking on Comoros, who earned their spot by upsetting bigger teams.
Reigning champions Ivory Coast will contend with five-time winners Cameroon in one of the standout fixtures of the group stage.
In Group B, Salah’s Egypt, aiming for an eighth AFCON title, will also face Angola and Zimbabwe.
Despite his numerous accolades with Liverpool, Salah is yet to win Africa’s premier football competition, coming closest as a finalist in 2017 and 2022.
Meanwhile, Nigeria, last year’s runners-up to the Ivory Coast, enter Group C armed with a star-studded attack featuring Lookman, the reigning African Footballer of the Year, and his predecessor Victor Osimhen.
Tunisia, marking a record 17th consecutive AFCON appearance, along with East African sides Uganda and Tanzania, will battle it out in the same group.
Group F sees holders Ivory Coast drawn alongside Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique.
Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, fresh off a recent hat-trick against Southampton, is expected to be a key figure for the Ivorians as they aim to defend their title.
Morocco, with the advantage of home support and talents like Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, are seeking to join Tunisia (2004), Egypt (2006), and the Ivory Coast (2024) as AFCON hosts who lifted the trophy this century.
All previous victories required grit, including Tunisia’s narrow 2-1 win over Morocco, Egypt’s penalty shootout triumph over Ivory Coast, and the Ivorians’ dramatic 2-1 comeback against Nigeria last year.
The continent’s oldest football tournament, inaugurated in 1957 and first won by Egypt, has seen champions from all corners of Africa.
Over the past eight editions, the winners have included Egypt, Zambia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria, and Senegal, with the Ivory Coast claiming the title twice.
CAF president Patrick Motsepe, hailing from South Africa, expressed confidence in Morocco delivering a record-breaking tournament.
“I am extremely excited about the AFCON in Morocco — it is going to be the most successful yet. Ivory Coast raised the bar last year, and now we must reach even greater heights.”
Initially scheduled for mid-2025, the tournament was postponed to avoid clashing with the inaugural revamped FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. Despite the shift, Motsepe assured fans the changes would not impact the quality of the competition.
“Africa boasts many exceptionally talented footballers, and all of them will be in Morocco,” he said.
Hosting the AFCON is seen as a vital step in Morocco’s preparation to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
The centennial edition of the World Cup will also feature symbolic matches in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay before relocating to Europe and Africa.
Group Stage Draw
Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
Group F: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
Key Dates
Group Stage: Dec 21-31 (excluding Dec 25)
Round of 16: Jan 3-6, 2026
Quarter-finals: Jan 9-10
Semi-finals: Jan 14
3rd Place Playoff: Jan 17
Final: Jan 18
Host Cities and Venues
Rabat (four stadiums), Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakesh, Fes, and Tangier.
