The Africa Cup of Nations begins next week, coinciding with Europe’s winter schedule. Key players in the top 5 leagues will miss minutes with less than a week between release and kickoff, creating a mid-season test of team depth.
Table of Contents
Schedule
Morocco will host AFCON 2025, beginning on 21 December 2025 until 18 January 2026. The full set of dates is shown in the table below:
| Tournament Stage | Date |
| Group Stage | 21-31 December |
| Round of 16 | 3-6 January |
| Quarter-finals | 9-10 January |
| Semi-finals | 14 January |
| Third-place play-off | 17 January |
| Final | 18 January |
Details
24 countries have been grouped into 6 groups of 4, with the top two in each group coupled with the four best third-placed teams qualifying for the round of 16. The knockout stages proceed with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place match and a final, totalling 52 matches, played in 9 stadiums across 6 cities, with the final held in Rabat at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah.
Late Tournament Arrival
FIFA’s decision requires clubs to release players by 15 December, giving some national teams just days to prepare with their full squad, especially those dependent on European clubs.
The Groups
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: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
AFCON 2025 groups pic.twitter.com/F3xHjtqatd
— Randomz Musings (@Naija_PR) January 27, 2025
Competition Favourites
Morocco – The Hosts
Morocco has the crowd behind them, along with international success in the last 4 years, with a 4th place at the 2022 World Cup. Led by captain Achraf Hakimi into Group A, partnered by Mali, Zambia and Comoros, should lead a positive trajectory through to the knockout stages.
Senegal – Tournament Ready
Senegal’s combination of athleticism, structure and a powerful attack makes them contenders. The squad is captained by Kalidou Koulibaly, along with integral players such as Sadio Mane and Idrissa Gueye, lining the attack and midfield. Group D seems to challenge their players against DR Congo, Benin and Botswana, but the Lions of Taranga are a serious threat to win this AFCON.
Côte d’Ivoire – Defending Champs
The 2023 AFCON hosts hoisted the trophy and returned to the tournament with the hopes of repeating their success. Captain Franck Kessié will lead Côte d’Ivoire out of the tunnel, with notable stories such as the return of Wilfried Zaha and the injury ruling out Wilfried Singo, adjusting the team. Their matchups in Group D include Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique, with the dream of replicating their success a true possibility.
Algeria, Nigeria, Egypt – Heavy Pressure
These three nations carry tough expectations, along with their tricky group dynamics, this AFCON:
- Algeria’s Group E, alongside Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan, will surely be a physical set of matches.
- Nigeria shares Group C with Tunisia, along with hungry East African sides in Uganda and Tanzania.
- Egypt’s Group B involves South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe, all dangerous sides.
Dark Horses
Mali – Tournament disruptors
If the chemistry clicks, Mali pose a threat to Senegal for the top of Group A, headlined by players such as Hamari Traoré and Yves Bissouma.
DR Congo – Threat missing a Key Piece
On their day, DR Congo could absolutely win their group, but without attacker Yoane Wissa, the offensive responsibility shifts to Cédric Bakambu in their sleeper run to AFCON stardom.
Tone-Setting Qualifying Stories
- Ghana don’t qualify for AFCON for the first time since 2004; a tournament-defining team has been left out.
- Mozambique’s 2-1 dramatic win over Guinea-Bissau highlighted the thin margins in qualifying.
- Botswana make their second-ever appearance, with their first in 2012.
This is Botswana’s year.
— Moses Rutahigwa (@MosesRutahigwa) November 19, 2024
FT: 🇪🇬 Egypt 1-1 Botswana 🇧🇼
Botswana has qualified for AFCON 2025 on the final day with a rare result in Cairo! Massive. pic.twitter.com/G6p21bmN38
Notable Absences
- Nigerian captain William Troost-Ekong retired right before the tournament, leaving the leadership of the national team in shambles.
- Cameroon’s coach, Marc Brys, was sacked, with Andre Onana’s place at the tournament unknown.
- Injuries to players such as Wilfried Singo, Yoanne Wissa and potentially without Ismaila Sarr will affect the structure of their teams.
European Clubs Affected by AFCON
Premier League
- Sunderland loses seven players, including Bertrand Traore and Reinildo Mandava, the most reliant team on African players in England.
- Wolves lose 5 players, such as Emmanuel Agbadou and Marshall Munetsi, adding more struggles to their generationally poor season so far.
- Manchester United lose Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui, weakening the squad on all fronts.
- Notably, clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Leeds are unaffected by the tournament.
Serie A
- Lecce could lose up to 7 players due to AFCON, headlined by Kialonda Gaspar and Hamza Rafia.
- Hellas Verona will suffer without Gift Orban or Cheikh Niasse, 2 of the 7 players absent.
- Udinese are deprived of up to 6 players, namely Maduka Okoye and Jordan Zemura.
- Clubs such as Milan, Inter, Juventus and Bologna remain totally intact through this period.
Bundesliga
- Bayer Leverkusen will be forced to cope without Ibrahim Maza, Edmond Tapsoba, Christian Kofane and Nathan Tella.
- Stuttgart will play without Badredine Bouanani, Bilel El Khannouss and Silas Katompa Mvumpa.
- Clubs such as VFL Wolfsburg and FC Augsburg persist entirely.
Ligue 1
- Angers SCO are the most affected, losing Hervé Koffi, Jim Allevinah and Jacques Ekomié.
- Clubs such as LOSC Lille, Paris FC and FC Lorient lose 2 players each.
- Importantly, PSG is not affected by AFCON.
La Liga
- Real Betis are altered due to the absences of Bakambu, Abde Ezzalzouli and Sofyan Amrabat.
- Villareal will be affected by the loss of Pape Gueye and Nicolas Pépé.
- Atlético and Real Sociedad headline the squads that are uninfluenced by the tournament.
Bottom Line
As AFCON 2025 approaches, the ripple effect of the tournament across Europe is impossible to ignore. Title-contending sides lose vital players in their aspirations of reclaiming their silverware, while other big clubs remain unharmed. The events unfolding in Morocco will surely shape the legacies of integral players, but their absences across the club scene may be more impactful.
