2025 Africa Cup of Nations
35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations[note 1] was the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, a biennial football tournament contested by the men's national teams of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). It was hosted by Morocco — the second time the country had hosted the tournament, after 1988 — following the stripping of hosting rights from Guinea due to inadequate preparations.[2][3]
18 January 2026
| كأس الأمم الإفريقية 2025 ⵜⴰⵙⴰ ⵏ ⵉⵎⵓⵔⵏ ⵏ ⵓⴼⵔⵉⴽⴰ 2025 | |
|---|---|
Official logo[1] | |
| Tournament details | |
| Host country | Morocco |
| Dates | 21 December 2025 – 18 January 2026 |
| Teams | 24 |
| Venue | 9 (in 6 host cities) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Morocco (2nd title) |
| Runners-up |  Senegal |
| Third place |  Nigeria |
| Fourth place |  Egypt |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 52 |
| Goals scored | 120 (2.31 per match) |
| Attendance | 1,340,022 (25,770 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Brahim Díaz (5 goals) |
| Best player | Sadio Mané |
| Best goalkeeper | Yassine Bono |
| Fair play award | Morocco |
← 2023 2027 → | |
Due to a scheduling conflict with the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in June and July, the Africa Cup of Nations was played between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026 — the first time it was held over the Christmas and New Year period.[4]
Defending champions Ivory Coast were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Egypt.[5] The final between Senegal and hosts Morocco was marred by controversy after Senegal walked off the pitch for 17 minutes in protest over a disallowed goal and a VAR decision in stoppage time. Senegal returned to the pitch and won 1–0 after extra time,[6] but on 17 March 2026 the CAF Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the final through their actions, awarding Morocco a 3–0 victory.[7] Senegal have indicated that they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.[8] It was Morocco's second Africa Cup of Nations title, after their first in 1976.
Host selection
CAF stripped Cameroon from hosting the 2019 edition of the tournament on 30 November 2018 due to lack of speed of progress in preparations,[9] but accepted former CAF president Ahmad Ahmad's request to stage the next edition in 2021. Consequently, the original hosts of 2021, Ivory Coast, became hosts of the 2023 edition with Guinea instead hosting the 2025 edition, which until then had no hosts.[10] The CAF President confirmed the timetable shift after a meeting with Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on 30 January 2019.[11] On 30 September 2022, current CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced that Guinea had been stripped as host for the 2025 edition due to inadequacy and speed of progress in hosting preparations.[2] Consequently, a new process was re-opened for a replacement host bidder.[12][13] On 27 September 2023, the 2025 edition was awarded to Morocco[3] and the 2027 edition to Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.[14][15]
Marketing
Sponsorship
| Official Title Sponsor | Official Global Partners | Official Competition Sponsors | Official Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mascot
The tournament mascot, named Assad (Arabic: أسد) was revealed on 8 December 2025. It was a Barbary lion, a reference to Morocco's national animal and nickname of the national team of Morocco.[16][17]
Match ball
On 10 November 2025, CAF and Puma unveiled "Itri" (Standard Moroccan Amazigh: ⵉⵜⵔⵉ, lit. 'star') as the official tournament edition match ball. The ball, covered in zellij art in red and green, was influenced by an ancient mosaic tradition known for its complex geometric decoration and reflects the shared spirit and enthusiasm of football across Africa. Produced by Puma using Orbital 6 technology, the design combined star-based forms, floral motifs and circular patterns, conveying joy and the coming together of the 24 nations taking part in the tournament.[18] A Special edition was made for the final where the official match ball is recolored in gold symbolyzing the final,glory and scale of the final match.
Official song
The official song was "Africallez" (a wordplay in French: Africa allez!, lit. 'Let's go Africa!'), which stood as one of the tournament's emblems,[19] fusing sporting fervor, cultural identity, and a message of continental unity. Conceived as a true Pan-African anthem, "Africallez" was performed by three artists: Beninese diva Angélique Kidjo, a global icon of African music; Moroccan singer Lartiste, a key figure in the urban and international music scenes; and Moroccan artist Jaylane, who symbolized the country's new artistic generation.
Prize money
The winners received US$10 million, an increase from US$7 million for the 2023 event.[20]
Qualification
The qualifiers were held between 20 March and 19 November 2024, starting with the preliminary round (20–26 March 2024) and then the group stage (2 September–19 November 2024).[21] The preliminary round draw was held on 20 February 2024, 14:00 CAT (UTC+2) at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.[22] The eight involved national teams were seeded into two pots of four based on the FIFA World Rankings from 15 February 2024,[23] Eritrea and Seychelles were excluded from the qualifiers. The eight teams were split into four ties which were played in home-and-away two-legged format.[22] The four winners (Chad, Eswatini, Liberia, and South Sudan) advanced to the group stage to join the 44 teams which entered directly.[24] The group stage draw took place on 4 July 2024, 14:30 CAT (UTC+2) in Johannesburg, South Africa. The 48 national teams involved were divided into twelve groups of four each, which consisted of the 44 teams that entered directly, in addition to the four winners of the preliminary round, and were seeded into four pots of twelve each based on the June 2024 FIFA World Rankings.[25][26]
Qualified teams
The following 24 teams qualified for this edition; all of them had previously participated in the tournament.[27] Morocco, the host country, played in the qualifiers in Group B despite qualifying automatically. Ghana, four-time African champions, failed to qualify after finishing bottom of the Group F, missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004.[28][29] Tunisia qualified for the 22nd time and extended their record for consecutive participations, reaching the tournament for the 17th time in a row, having not been absent since 1994.[30] Comoros, Gabon, Sudan and Zimbabwe made their return to the continental tournament after missing out in 2023.[31] Benin and Uganda made their return after an almost five-year absence from the event. Botswana qualified for the second time after their first participation in 2012.[32] Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Namibia also failed to qualify after appearing in 2023.
Venues
On 27 January 2025, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), together with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and the Local Organizing Committee of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations for Morocco 2025, announced the nine venues in six cities that would host matches in the competition.[33]
| City | Stadium | Capacity | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agadir | Adrar Stadium | 46,000 | |
| Casablanca | Stade Mohammed V | 45,000 | |
| Fez | Fez Stadium | 45,000 | |
| Marrakesh | Marrakesh Stadium | 45,240 | |
| Rabat | Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium | 69,500 | |
| Moulay Hassan Stadium | 22,000 | ||
| Rabat Olympic Stadium | 21,000 | ||
| Al Medina Stadium | 18,000 | ||
| Tangier | Tangier Grand Stadium | 75,500 |  |
Squads
Match officials
Referees
On 26 November 2025, CAF released the complete list of match officials appointed for the tournament. The list included 73 officials in total: 28 referees, 31 assistant referees, and 14 VAR officials. All selected officials came exclusively from the African Confederation. Assistant referees officiated in multiple refereeing teams.[34][35]
| Country | Referee | Assistant referees | Matches assigned |
|---|---|---|---|
 Algeria |
Mustapha Ghorbal | Mahmoud Ahmed Abouelregal Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos |
Ivory Coast–Cameroon (Group F) |
| Abbes Akram Zerhouni Adel Abane |
Egypt–Ivory Coast (Quarter-final) | ||
| Youcef Gamouh | Senegal–DR Congo (Group D) | ||
 Benin |
Djindo Louis Houngnandande | Aymar Ulrich Eric Ayimavo Mohammed Abdallah Ibrahim |
Uganda–Nigeria (Group C) |
 Burundi |
Pacifique Ndabihawenimana | Djibril Camara Nouha Bangoura |
Egypt–South Africa (Group B) |
 Modibo Samake Diana Chikotesha |
Equatorial Guinea–Algeria (Group E) | ||
 Cameroon |
Abdou Abdel Mefire |  Danek Styven Moutsassi Yanes Malondi Chani |
Morocco–Mali (Group A) |
| Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue Carine Atezambong Fomo |
Nigeria–Mozambique (Round of 16) | ||
 Chad |
Mahamat Alhadji Allaou | Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue Amos Abeigne Ndong |
Comoros–Mali (Group A) |
| Congo |
Messie Jessie Oved Nkounkou Mvoutou |  Guylain Nguila Gradel Mbilizi Mwanya |
Equatorial Guinea–Sudan (Group E) |
| DR Congo |
Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo | Guylain Nguila Gradel Mbilizi Mwanya |
Morocco–Comoros (Group A) Tanzania–Tunisia (Group C) Senegal–Morocco (Final) |
| Egypt |
Mohamed Mansour Maarouf |  Khalil HassaniAhmed Hossameldin Taha |
Burkina Faso–Equatorial Guinea (Group E) |
| Mahmoud Ahmed Abouelregal Ahmed Hossameldin Taha |
Algeria–DR Congo (Round of 16) | ||
| Amin Mohamed Omar | Sudan–Burkina Faso (Group E) | ||
| Mahmoud Ahmed Abouelregal Adel Abane |
Cameroon–Gabon (Group F) | ||
| Gabon |
Pierre Atcho | Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue Carine Atezambong Fomo |
Algeria–Sudan (Group E) |
| Boris Marlaise Ditsoga Danek Styven Moutsassi |
Senegal–Egypt (Semi-final) | ||
| Boris Marlaise Ditsoga Amos Abeigne Ndong |
Egypt–Benin (Round of 16) | ||
| Tanguy Patrice Mebiame | Tunisia–Uganda (Group C) | ||
 Ghana |
Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea |  Zakhele Siwela Souru Phatsoane |
Algeria–Burkina Faso (Group E) Nigeria–Morocco (Semi-final) |
 Ivory Coast |
Clement Franklin Kpan |  Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo Jonathan Koffi Ahonto |
Angola–Egypt (Group B) |
 Kenya |
Peter Waweru Kamaku | Gilbert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Stephen Elezar Onyango Yiembe |
Angola–Zimbabwe (Group B) South Africa–Cameroon (Round of 16) |
| Mali |
Boubou Traoré | Modibo Samake Jonathan Koffi Ahonto |
Nigeria–Tunisia (Group C) Morocco–Tanzania (Round of 16) |
 Mauritania |
Abdel Aziz Bouh | Modibo Samake Jonathan Koffi Ahonto |
Senegal–Botswana (Group D) |
| Dahane Beida | Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos Ivanildo Meirelles De Sanches Lopes |
Nigeria–Tanzania (Group C) Senegal–Sudan (Round of 16) Cameroon–Morocco (Quarter-final) | |
 Mauritius |
Ahmed Imtehaz Heerallal |  Arsenio Chadreque Maringule Abelmiro dos Reis Monte Negro |
Zambia–Comoros (Group A) |
| Arsenio Chadreque Maringule Ivanildo Meirelles De Sanches Lopes |
Botswana–DR Congo (Group D) | ||
| Morocco |
Jalal Jayed | Zakaria Brinsi Mostafa Akarkad |
Uganda–Tanzania (Group C) Mozambique–Cameroon (Group F) Egypt–Nigeria (Third place play-off) |
| Mustapha Kechchaf | Danek Styven Moutsassi Yanes Malondi Chani |
Zimbabwe–South Africa (Group B) | |
 Rwanda |
Samuel Uwikunda | Aymar Ulrich Eric Ayimavo Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo |
Ivory Coast–Mozambique (Group F) |
| Gilbert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Stephen Elezar Onyango Yiembe |
Benin–Senegal (Group D) | ||
| Senegal |
Issa Sy | Djibril Camara Nouha Bangoura |
Egypt–Zimbabwe (Group B) Zambia–Morocco (Group A) Algeria–Nigeria (Quarter-final) |
 Somalia |
Omar Abdulkadir Artan |  Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed Abelmiro dos Reis Monte Negro |
Mali–Zambia (Group A) Gabon–Ivory Coast (Group F) |
| South Africa |
Abongile Tom | Zakhele Siwela Souru Phatsoane |
DR Congo–Benin (Group D) Mali–Tunisia (Round of 16) Mali–Senegal (Quarter-final) |
| Sudan |
Mahmood Ismail | Mohammed Abdallah IbrahimStephen Elezar Onyango Yiembe |
South Africa–Angola (Group B) |
| Liban Abdoulrazack Ahmed Dimbiniaina Andriatianarivelo |
Ivory Coast–Burkina Faso (Round of 16) | ||
| Tunisia |
Mehrez Melki | Khalil Hassani Ahmed Hossameldin Taha |
Gabon–Mozambique (Group F) |
 Uganda |
Shamirah Nabadda | Diana Chikotesha Carine Atezambong Fomo |
Benin–Botswana (Group D) |
Draw
The draw took place on 27 January 2025 at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat.[36] The draw was conducted by Mustapha Hadji (Morocco), Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast), Aliou Cissé (Senegal) and Joseph Yobo (Nigeria).
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco (hosts) Senegal Egypt Algeria Nigeria Ivory Coast (holders) |
Cameroon Mali Tunisia South Africa DR Congo Burkina Faso |
Gabon Angola Zambia Uganda Equatorial Guinea Benin |
Mozambique Comoros Tanzania Sudan Zimbabwe Botswana |
Group stage
The CAF announced the tournament schedule on 31 January 2025.[37][38]
The top two teams of each group, along with the best four third-placed teams, advanced to the round of 16.
Tiebreakers
Teams were ranked according to the three points for a win system (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings (Regulations Article 74):[39]
- Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, if two teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were applied exclusively to these two teams;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Drawing of lots.
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco (H) |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Mali |
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | Comoros |
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 2 | |
| 4 | Zambia |
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 2 |
(H) Hosts
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | South Africa |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Angola |
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 | Zimbabwe |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 1 |
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Tunisia |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 4 | |
| 3 | Tanzania |
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 2 | |
| 4 | Uganda |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 1 |
Group D
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senegal |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | DR Congo |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 7 | |
| 3 | Benin |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Botswana |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | −7 | 0 |
Group E
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Algeria |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Burkina Faso |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | |
| 3 | Sudan |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 3 | |
| 4 | Equatorial Guinea |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 0 |
Group F
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivory Coast |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Cameroon |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 7 | |
| 3 | Mozambique |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Gabon |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 0 |
| Gabon | 2–3 | Mozambique |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Ranking of third-placed teams
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Drawing of lots.
Knockout stage
Bracket
| Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||
| 3 January – Casablanca | ||||||||||||||
| Mali (p) | 1 (3) | |||||||||||||
| 9 January – Tangier | ||||||||||||||
| Tunisia | 1 (2) | |||||||||||||
| Mali | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 3 January – Tangier | ||||||||||||||
| Senegal | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Senegal | 3 | |||||||||||||
| 14 January – Tangier | ||||||||||||||
| Sudan | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Senegal | 1 | |||||||||||||
| 5 January – Agadir | ||||||||||||||
| Egypt | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Egypt (a.e.t.) | 3 | |||||||||||||
| 10 January – Agadir | ||||||||||||||
| Benin | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Egypt | 3 | |||||||||||||
| 6 January – Marrakesh | ||||||||||||||
| Ivory Coast | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Ivory Coast | 3 | |||||||||||||
| 18 January – Rabat (Moulay Abdellah) | ||||||||||||||
| Burkina Faso | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Senegal | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 6 January – Rabat (Moulay El Hassan) | ||||||||||||||
| Morocco (awd.)[note 2] | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Algeria (a.e.t.) | 1 | |||||||||||||
| 10 January – Marrakesh | ||||||||||||||
| DR Congo | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Algeria | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 5 January – Fez | ||||||||||||||
| Nigeria | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Nigeria | 4 | |||||||||||||
| 14 January – Rabat (Moulay Abdellah) | ||||||||||||||
| Mozambique | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Nigeria | 0 (2) | |||||||||||||
| 4 January – Rabat (Al Medina) | ||||||||||||||
| Morocco (p) | 0 (4) | Third place play-off | ||||||||||||
| South Africa | 1 | |||||||||||||
| 9 January – Rabat (Moulay Abdellah) | 17 January – Casablanca | |||||||||||||
| Cameroon | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Cameroon | 0 | Egypt | 0 (2) | |||||||||||
| 4 January – Rabat (Moulay Abdellah) | ||||||||||||||
| Morocco | 2 | Nigeria (p) | 0 (4) | |||||||||||
| Morocco | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Tanzania | 0 | |||||||||||||
Round of 16
| Ivory Coast | 3–0 | Burkina Faso |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Third place play-off
Final
 |
 |
| Champion Morocco |
| 2nd Title |
Statistics
Goalscorers
There were 120 goals scored in 52 matches, for an average of 2.31 goals per match.
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Zineddine Belaïd- Adil Boulbina
- Farès Chaïbi
Gelson Dala- Show
Jodel Dossou- Yohan Roche
Arsène Kouassi- Georgi Minoungou
- Edmond Tapsoba
- Lassina Traoré
Karl Etta Eyong- Junior Tchamadeu
Cédric Bakambu- Théo Bongonda
- Nathanaël Mbuku
Marwan Attia- Yasser Ibrahim
- Ramy Rabia
Marvin Anieboh- Emilio Nsue
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang- Denis Bouanga
- Guélor Kanga
- Alex Moucketou-Moussounda
Yan Diomande- Guéla Doué
- Evann Guessand
- Jean-Philippe Krasso
Ismael Saibari
Faisal Bangal- Diogo Calila
Semi Ajayi- Wilfred Ndidi
- Paul Onuachu
Habib Diallo- Ibrahim Mbaye
- Iliman Ndiaye
- Abdoulaye Seck
Evidence Makgopa- Tshepang Moremi
Aamir Abdallah
Charles M'Mombwa- Simon Msuva
- Feisal Salum
Ali Abdi- Firas Chaouat
- Ismaël Gharbi
- Ellyes Skhiri
- Montassar Talbi
Uche Ikpeazu- Rogers Mato
- Denis Omedi
Patson Daka
Prince Dube- Tawanda Maswanhise
- Knowledge Musona
1 own goal
- Ahmed Abou El Fotouh (against Ivory Coast)
- Saúl Coco (against Sudan)
- Ghislain Konan (against Cameroon)
- Nené (against Cameroon)
- Aubrey Modiba (against Zimbabwe)
Discipline
A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences:
- Receiving a red card (red card suspensions could be extended for serious offences)
- Receiving two yellow cards in two matches
- After the end of the group matches, all cautions received were cancelled for the rest of the competition. Nevertheless, a player having collected two yellow cards sustained the one match suspension.[39]
The following suspensions occurred during the tournament:
| Player(s)/Official(s) | Offence(s) | Suspension(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Group stage suspensions | ||
| Basilio Ndong |
 in Group E vs Burkina Faso (matchday 1; 24 December 2025) |
Group E vs Sudan (matchday 2; 28 December 2025) |
| Salah Adel |
  in Group E vs Algeria (matchday 1; 24 December 2025) |
Group E vs Equatorial Guinea (matchday 2; 28 December 2025) |
| Mohamed Hany |
in Group B vs South Africa (matchday 2; 26 December 2025) |
Group B vs Angola (matchday 3; 29 December 2025) |
| Aliou Dieng |
in Group A vs Zambia (matchday 1; 22 December 2025) in Group A vs Morocco (matchday 2; 26 December 2025) |
Group A vs Comoros (matchday 3; 29 December 2025) |
| Junior Tchamadeu |
in Group F vs Gabon (matchday 1; 24 December 2025) in Group F vs Ivory Coast (matchday 2; 28 December 2025) |
Group F vs Mozambique (matchday 3; 31 December 2025) |
| Kings Kangwa |
in Group A vs Morocco (matchday 3; 29 December 2025) |
Suspension to be served outside of tournament |
| Uche Ikpeazu |
in Group C vs Tanzania (matchday 2; 27 December 2025) in Group C vs Nigeria (matchday 3; 30 December 2025) |
Suspension to be served outside of tournament |
| Jamal Salim |
in Group C vs Nigeria (matchday 3; 30 December 2025) |
Suspension to be served outside of tournament |
| Iban Salvador |
in Group E vs Burkina Faso (matchday 1; 24 December 2025) in Group E vs Algeria (matchday 3; 31 December 2025) |
Suspension to be served outside of tournament |
| Didier Ndong |
in Group F vs Cameroon (matchday 1; 24 December 2025) in Group F vs Ivory Coast (matchday 3; 31 December 2025) |
Suspension to be served outside of tournament |
| Knockout stage suspensions | ||
| Amadou Haidara |
in Group A vs Comoros (matchday 3; 29 December 2025) |
Round of 16 vs Tunisia (3 January 2026) |
| Kalidou Koulibaly |
in Group D vs Benin (matchday 3; 30 December 2025) |
Round of 16 vs Sudan (3 January 2026) |
| Abdoul Moumini |
in Group D vs DR Congo (matchday 1; 23 December 2025) in Group D vs Senegal (matchday 3; 30 December 2025) |
Round of 16 vs Egypt (5 January 2026) |
| Woyo Coulibaly |
in Round of 16 vs Tunisia (3 January 2026) |
Quarter-finals vs Senegal (9 January 2026) |
| Yves Bissouma |
in Round of 16 vs Tunisia (3 January 2026) in Quarter-finals vs Senegal (9 January 2026) |
Suspension to be served outside of tournament |
| Nouhou Tolo |
in Round of 16 vs South Africa (4 January 2026) in Quarter-finals vs Morocco (9 January 2026) |
Suspension to be served outside of tournament |
| Wilfred Ndidi |
in Round of 16 vs Mozambique (5 January 2026) in Quarter-finals vs Algeria (10 January 2026) |
Semi-finals vs Morocco (14 January 2026) |
| Anis Hadj Moussa |
in Round of 16 vs DR Congo (6 January 2026) in Quarter-finals vs Nigeria (10 January 2026) |
Suspension to be served outside of tournament |
| Hossam Abdelmaguid |
in Quarter-finals vs Ivory Coast (10 January 2026) in Semi-finals vs Senegal (14 January 2026) |
Third place play-off vs Nigeria (17 January 2026) |
| Calvin Bassey |
in Round of 16 vs Mozambique (5 January 2026) in Semi-finals vs Morocco (14 January 2026) |
Third place play-off vs Egypt (17 January 2026) |
| Kalidou Koulibaly |
in Quarter-finals vs Mali (9 January 2026) in Semi-finals vs Egypt (14 January 2026) |
Final vs Morocco (18 January 2026) |
| Habib Diarra |
in Quarter-finals vs Mali (9 January 2026) in Semi-finals vs Egypt (14 January 2026) |
Final vs Morocco (18 January 2026) |
Awards
The following Africa Cup of Nations awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament: the Player of the Tournament (best overall player), the Puma Golden Boot (top goalscorer), the Golden Glove (best goalkeeper) and the Fair Play Award.[97]
Best XI
| Goalkeeper | Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yassine Bounou |
Achraf Hakimi Moussa Niakhaté Calvin Bassey Noussair Mazraoui |
Ademola Lookman Idrissa Gueye Pape Gueye |
Brahim Díaz Victor Osimhen Sadio Mané |
Source:[98]
Man of the match
The Man of the Match award was presented after each game during the tournament. The award, presented by TotalEnergies, included an official trophy handed to the player at the end of the match.[99]
Final Ranking
Matches that ended in extra time were counted as wins and defeats, while matches that ended in a penalty shoot-out were counted as draws. The national team shown in italics represent the host nation. The competition's winning team is shown in bold.
| Pos. | Team | G | Pld | W | D | L | Pts | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco |
A | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 12 | 1 | +11 |
| 2 | Senegal |
D | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 12 | 5 | +7 |
| 3 | Nigeria |
C | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 14 | 4 | +10 |
| 4 | Egypt |
B | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 4 | +5 |
| Eliminated in the quarter-finals | ||||||||||
| 5 | Algeria |
E | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 3 | +5 |
| 6 | Ivory Coast |
F | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 6 | +4 |
| 7 | Cameroon |
F | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 5 | +1 |
| 8 | Mali |
A | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | −1 |
| Eliminated in the round of 16 | ||||||||||
| 9 | DR Congo |
D | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | +3 |
| 10 | South Africa |
B | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 5 | +1 |
| 11 | Burkina Faso |
E | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5 | −1 |
| 12 | Tunisia |
C | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 6 | +1 |
| 13 | Mozambique |
F | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | −5 |
| 14 | Benin |
D | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | −5 |
| 15 | Sudan |
E | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | −6 |
| 16 | Tanzania |
C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 |
| Eliminated in the group stage | ||||||||||
| 17 | Angola |
B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 |
| 18 | Comoros |
A | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −2 |
| 19 | Zambia |
A | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 |
| 20 | Zimbabwe |
B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | −2 |
| 21 | Uganda |
C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | −4 |
| 22 | Gabon |
F | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 | −3 |
| 23 | Equatorial Guinea |
E | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | −4 |
| 24 | Botswana |
D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | −7 |
Final controversies
During the final of the tournament, contested between Senegal and Morocco, the score remained level at 0–0 for most of regulation time. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala whistled a foul during a buildup that led to Senegal scoring what seemed initially as a valid goal by Ismaïla Sarr. Abdoulaye Seck had come into contact with Achraf Hakimi after which the latter fell to the ground. VAR could not be consulted since the "goal" was scored after the referee's whistle.[100][101]
A few minutes later, in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Brahim Díaz was held by Senegalese defender El Hadji Malick Diouf, an action that was sanctioned as a penalty kick after VAR review.[102] Disagreeing with the referee’s decisions, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw instructed his players to leave the pitch in protest. The match was suspended for approximately 15 minutes, after which the Senegalese players returned to the field. It was during the VAR review and while play was suspended that unrest broke out among fans in the stands behind the goal of Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Several Senegalese hooligans attempted to storm the pitch while throwing chairs and other objects. Clashes erupted with stewards and security personnel, many being hit and kicked by the hooligans. Later, police in protective gear gathered in front of the affected stands and carried out charges. Police and stewards eventually formed a barrier separating those supporters from the rest of the crowd until after the match was over.
The match eventually resumed while tensions remained evident on the other side of the field of play. Brahim Díaz took the penalty, but his attempt was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, and regulation time ended with the score still tied at 0–0.[103]
At least one steward was seriously injured and had to be taken off on a stretcher, prompting concern and circulating social‑media claims that the steward might have died. However, Moroccan authorities, including the General Directorate for National Security, denied that any steward or stadium worker had died as a result of the clashes, stating that no such fatality was recorded and that reports of a death were false.[104] In total, 18 Senegalese fans and one Algerian fan were arrested in connection with the disturbances. The defendants will stand trial at the Rabat First Criminal Court, facing multiple charges, including participating in violent acts during a sporting event, forcibly entering the pitch, damaging sporting facilities, assaulting law enforcement officers and public forces, throwing objects, causing harm and throwing liquids, causing damage.[105]
The day after the final, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced that it would file a complaint against Senegal with FIFA and CAF, alleging that the events prior to the penalty kick "affected the normal development of the match and the performance of the players".[106][107] On the same day, CAF released a public statement condemning "the unacceptable behaviour of some players and officials" during the final. Gianni Infantino reacted on these events condemning "the behaviour of some "supporters" as well as some Senegalese players and technical staff members". All available footage is being reviewed and will lead to appropriate action.[108][109]
Disciplinary ruling
On 17 March 2026, the CAF Appeal Board overturned the result of the final, in which Senegal had originally won on the field, and awarded a 3–0 victory to Morocco.[110]
The ruling cited Article 84 of the Africa Cup of Nations regulations, which provides for a forfeit if a team leaves the field of play without the referee’s permission.[110] As a result, Morocco were officially recognized as champions of the tournament.[111]
The decision drew criticism in Senegal and received significant media attention internationally. Several outlets highlighted the unusual nature of overturning the result of a completed final and questioned the interpretation of the regulations.[112] The Senegalese Football Federation indicated that it intended to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).[113]
CAS acknowledged receipt of an appeal by Senegal at the end of March.[114]
Broadcasting
Below is the list of the 2025 AFCON broadcasting rights holders:
See also
Notes
- The tournament was known as the TotalEnergies 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship purposes, and commonly referred to as 2025 AFCON or CAN 2025.
- The final match originally finished 1–0 for Senegal after extra time. On 17 March 2026, the CAF Appeal Board ruled that, per articles 82 and 84 of the competition regulations, when Senegal left the field and repeatedly refused to return from their dressing room, they had forfeited the game;[91] the rules for forfeited games deem that the match, and the Championship, be awarded as a 3–0 win for Morocco.[7]