AFCON schedule 2026: African Cup of Nations Final Schedule & Matches Today!

African Cup of Nations 2026 fixtures & schedule

AFCON 2026 fixtures? African Cup of Nations schedule? What are the African Cup of Nations 2026 matches and fixtures? The 35th edition of the African Cup of Nations began with hosts Cameroon battling out Burkina Faso in the first game of the competition. Watch live free here =>

The Africa Cup of Nations is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is held by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and was first held in 1957.

Since then, many exciting matches have taken place at the African Cup of Nations and this year’s competition promises to be a terrific one with the format expansion to 24 teams.

So without any further ado, let’s take a look at the African Cup of Nations 2026 fixtures

African Cup of Nations 2025 Teams

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will feature 24 national teams competing in the 35th edition of Africa’s premier international tournament, set to take place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.

Morocco qualifies automatically as host nation, while the other 23 teams earned their spots through a rigorous qualification process that ran from September to November 2024, with the top two teams from each of the 12 qualifying groups advancing to the finals.

The list of qualified nations blends established African football powerhouses — such as Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria, and Côte d’Ivoire — with emerging sides and resilient performers like Comoros, Botswana, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

Several teams boast rich histories in the competition, with multiple former champions and consistent contenders among the field.

At the same time, others are poised to make significant strides on the continental stage, adding depth and excitement to what promises to be a memorable tournament. Watch live free here =>

Total teams: 24 qualified nations.

No debutants — all have at least one previous AFCON appearance.

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Draw pot

Here’s the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Draw Pots showing how the 24 qualified teams were seeded ahead of the group stage draw:

These pots were confirmed by CAF ahead of the AFCON 2025 final draw, with placements based on the FIFA rankings as of 19 December 2024 and special seeding for hosts and defending champions.

African Cup of Nations 2025 fixtures & schedule

The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 kicks off in Morocco on 21 December 2025, with hosts Morocco facing Comoros in the opening match — a fixture that sets the tone for the festival of football ahead.

The group stage runs from 21–31 December, featuring star-studded clashes fans won’t want to miss: Egypt vs South Africa (Group B), Nigeria vs Tunisia (Group C), and Cameroon vs Ivory Coast in Group F.

These early games will shape the path to the knockout rounds, with the top two teams from each group plus the four best third-placed nations advancing.

Once the group stage wraps, the tournament shifts to straight knockout action starting 3 January 2026 with the Round of 16, where group winners face fourth qualifiers based on rankings, and runners-up take on other top sides.

The quarter-finals follow on 9–10 January, leading to the semi-finals on 14 January, the third-place playoff on 17 January, and the grand final on 18 January 2026 in Rabat.

This structure ensures a thrilling end to a month of intense continental competition as Africa’s best vie for the prestigious title in front of passionate home crowds and global audiences alike

African Cup of Nations 2026 fixtures

After the respective Draw, the CAF Africa Cup of Nation 2025 tournament format will be as follows as it heads towards the final. Look out for the Schedules, dates and venue. Watch live free here =>

African Cup of Nations 2026 fixtures & schedule – Group Stage Matches

Here’s the Africa Cup of Nations 2026 fixtures & schedule including date, time, match, results (initially blank), and live stream info.

Group-stage fixtures below are from the officially released schedule for AFCON 2025-26 in Morocco.

Live streaming: Matches are broadcast internationally with free-to-air options in some regions (e.g., Channel 4 in the UK) and globally on networks like beIN Sports, with availability varying by country and broadcaster rights.

African Cup of Nations 2026 fixtures & schedule – Round of 16

The Round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco runs from January 3 to January 6, 2026, featuring eight knockout matches.

Hosts Morocco take on Tanzania on January 4, followed by Egypt vs Benin and Nigeria vs Mozambique on January 5.

The round concludes on January 6 with Algeria vs DR Congo and Côte d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso. These ties set the stage for the quarter-finals on January 9–10.

African Cup of Nations 2026 fixtures & schedule – Quarter-finals

The 2026 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals promise two days of high-stakes, heavyweight clashes.

The action begins on Friday, 9 January, with a West African derby as Mali faces Senegal at 4:00 PM, followed by a monumental encounter between Cameroon and Morocco at 7:00 PM.

Saturday, 10 January, continues the spectacle with Algeria taking on Nigeria at 4:00 PM, a fixture rich with continental history.

The final quarter-final, scheduled for 7:00 PM, pits record champions Egypt against the host nation, Ivory Coast, in what is sure to be a fiercely contested battle for a semi-final berth. The path to glory narrows significantly here.

African Cup of Nations 2026 fixtures & Schedule- Semi-finals

The Africa Cup of Nations 2026 has reached a thrilling climax as the final four teams prepare to battle for a place in Sunday’s final.

The semi-final stage is set for Wednesday, 14 January 2026, featuring two blockbuster clashes that promise high drama and quality football.

So close, you can almost touch it. 🏆

The #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 final four. Which two will remain?@1xBet_Eng pic.twitter.com/UbITBBfU4O

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 11, 2026

In the first tie, Senegal will face Egypt in Tangier, a rematch of recent continental showdowns as both sides look to reach the final and end their long waits for another AFCON crown.

Later the same evening in Rabat, Morocco will take on Nigeria, with the host nation aiming to capitalise on home support against a powerful Nigerian side that has impressed throughout the tournament.

Fans around the world are gearing up for these heavyweight encounters, with live broadcasts and streaming options available from major sports networks.

With Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, and a host of other stars still in contention, both matches could be decided by fine margins as teams chase glory.

African Cup of Nations 2026 fixtures & schedule – Final

The final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (often referred to as AFCON 2026 due to the calendar year) is scheduled for Sunday, 18 January 2026 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.

Live stream & TV options vary by region — in the UK the match is expected to be available free on Channel 4 and its digital platform All 4, while beIN SPORTS typically holds rights in many international markets.

SuperSport covers much of Africa, with additional national channels broadcasting in their home countries (e.g., RTS1 in Senegal, SNRT in Morocco)

See More:

• Where is the 2025 AFCON
• How to watch AFCON 2025!
• What channel is the AFCON on?

• African Cup of Nations winners list
• African Footballer of The Year winners list
• AFCON Prize Money 2025
• Offical website