The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, or the AFCON as many call it, runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, marking the first time the tournament spans the Christmas and New Year period. It’s being hosted entirely in Morocco, making this the second time the North African nation has staged the competition, with the previous time in 1988. Back then, Cameroon won the title.

Right now, the hosts are the top favorites, ahead of Senegal, who follow the Atlas Lions. Right after these two nations come Algeria and Egypt.

This promises to be one of the most intense and interesting AFCON tournaments in recent years. Several teams come to Morocco with ambitions to win the title. Though just one will go back, hope with the crown.

Here are the AFCON odds.

What’s With the December Schedule?

This unusual timing is due to global calendar pressure. If you remember, FIFA expanded the Club World Cup and also the European club season, which eventually forced CAF to adjust to its new schedule and avoid clashes with major competitions.

Host Cities & Venues

Matches will take place across nine stadiums in six Moroccan cities:

  • Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium hosts the final)
  • Casablanca
  • Tangier
  • Marrakesh
  • Agadir
  • Fez STORY Le Carrousel Rabat

Format & Competition Structure

  • AFCON 2025 follows the familiar 24-team format:
  • 6 groups of 4 teams
  • Each team plays three group matches
  • The top 2 from each group, plus the 4 best third-placed teams, advance to the Round of 16
  • The knockout stages follow, with the Finals on 18 January at STORYY Le Carrousel, Rabat.

Top Favorites to Win the AFCON Title

Morocco is the No.1 favorite, that’s for sure. They reached the semis in the previous World Cup and are now after the continental title. Their top guy is Achraf Hakimi, PSG’s wing back, but the Atlas Lions have more star power. United’s Noussair Mazraoui, Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz, and several other players play for top European teams.

Other Lions, of Teranga, Senegal, are in the mix too. Over the last decade, this nation has always been among the top favorites to win the title. In 2021, they managed to do that, but overall, Senegal deserved to be even more successful. Sadio Mane is the absolute leader of this unit. The former Liverpool star will have help from Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr, as well as several other role players who are playing in top 5 European leagues.

Ivory Coast is the defending champion following a wild triumph at the previous AFCON. They don’t have some superstars, but their team is very, very nasty. All the players are in their prime and have solid chemistry. As stated, there aren’t any superstars, but on the other side, in this unit, each guy knows his place.

Mo Salah and Egypt come to have their swan song. This generation is slowly ending its stretch, and be sure that the Pharaons are here to give their best and final push. Algeria, Cameroon, and Nigeria are all coming to Morocco as dark horses. They aren’t as strong as in the past, but knowing the AFCON tournament and all the surprises that this competition carries, it wouldn’t be odd to see some of these units going all the way.

Who Wins 2025 AFCON?

Even if they weren’t the hosts, Morocco would be our choice. Right now, they have the most stars on the team, and they’ve posted the best results of any African team over the past few years. Also, we need to add that the unit’s chemistry is at a very high level, and there isn’t any envy or any other disruption. So, the final pick would be Morocco.

Pick: Morocco

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