The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will be the 35th edition of Africa's biggest tournament [BBC Sport]BBCWed, January 14, 2026 at 11:37 PM UTC·10 min read

Host nation Morocco will face Senegal in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) on Sunday (19:00 GMT) after two gripping semi-final ties.

The Atlas Lions remain in the hunt to secure a first continental title since 1976, having held their nerve to beat Nigeria on penalties in the last four.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was the hero, saving two spot kicks before Youssef En-Nesyri stroked home the winner.

The North Africans are back in the final for the first time since 2004, when they lost against Tunisia.

Walid Regragui's team will now take on Senegal, who beat Egypt 1-0 in the other semi-final tie.

Sadio Mane scored the only goal for the Teranga Lions in Tangier, in the process ending his former Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah's hopes of lifting the trophy for the first time.

The 2021 champions are into the final for the fourth time, having lost the showpiece match in 2002 and 2019.

The final will see Africa's top two sides clash in Rabat, with Morocco ranked 11th in the world and the Senegalese eight places below them.

BBC Sport Africa provides you with all the information on the 35th edition of Africa's biggest sporting event.

Senegal dominated their last four meeting with Egypt in what was a repeat of the 2021 final which the Teranga Lions won on penalties.

Mane won the contest in Tangier in the 78th minute, netting a low shot that flew past Pharaohs goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.

The North Africans offered little in attack, with Salah largely anonymous.

In another heavyweight clash, Morocco enjoyed the better of their tie against Nigeria.

Brahim Diaz curled narrowly wide for the Atlas Lions and Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made good saves to deny Ismael Saibari and Abde Ezzalzouli.

In the shootout, Bounou denied Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi, while Nwabali's stop from Hamza Igamane proved in vain before En-Nesyri settled it.

All of the quarter-finalists were ranked in Africa's top 10, but three of the games turned out to be one-sided contests.

Senegal became the first side through to the last four with a 1-0 win over 10-man Mali, with Iliman Ndiaye slotting in the winner before Eagles captain Yves Bissouma was sent off on the stroke of half-time.

Host nation Morocco then saw off Cameroon, as a goal in each half from Diaz and Ismael Saibari saw Regragui's men to a comfortable victory in front of a fervent home crowd in Rabat.

Three-time champions Nigeria registered a 2-0 win over Algeria, with second-half goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams doing the damage for the Super Eagles.

And Egypt completed the semi-final line-up as Mohamed Salah netted what proved to be the winner in a thriller against holders Ivory Coast.

Efforts from Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia put the Pharaohs 2-0 up but the Ivorians pulled one back through an Ahmed Fatouh own goal before the break.

Salah made it 3-1 early in the second half but the Elephants could not mount a comeback despite Guela Doue pulling one back.

Senegal came from behind to beat Sudan 3-1 in the first tie of the round of 16, followed by Mali knocking out 2004 champions Tunisia on penalties despite being reduced to 10 players early on, conceding the first goal in the 88th minute and falling behind in the shootout.

Reigning African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi then made his much-anticipated full return from injury to set up Diaz for Morocco's only goal against Tanzania, booking a quarter-final against Cameroon, who ousted South Africa 2-1.

Egypt saw off Benin 3-1 after extra time and three-time champions Nigeria continued their perfect start from the group stage by thrashing Mozambique 4-0.

The last-16 ties culminated when Algeria netted a 119th-minute winner to overcome a stubborn DR Congo 1-0 and Ivory Coast saw off Burkina Faso 3-0.

The 24 teams at the finals were split into six groups of four, with the top two in each group and the four best-ranked third-placed teams advancing to the last 16.

Group A: Morocco (Q), Mali (Q), Zambia, Comoros

Group B: Egypt (Q), South Africa (Q), Angola, Zimbabwe

Group C: Nigeria (Q), Tunisia (Q), Tanzania (Q), Uganda

Group D: Senegal (Q), DR Congo (Q), Benin (Q), Botswana

Group E: Algeria (Q), Burkina Faso (Q), Sudan (Q), Equatorial Guinea

Group F: Ivory Coast (Q), Cameroon (Q), Mozambique (Q) Gabon

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has only conceded one goal at the tournament - a penalty from Mali's Lassine Sinayoko in the group stage [Getty Images]

Morocco remain favourites and have Real Madrid playmaker Diaz in formidable form, making history as their first player to score in five successive Afcon games, alongside three goals for striker Ayoub El Kaabi during the group stage.

A Champions League winner last season, the inspirational Hakimi is returning to peak form having made his return from an almost two-month injury lay-off against Zambia at the end of the group stage.

Senegal have been playing impressive football this year under Pape Thiaw and have shown their considerable squad depth, with two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane contributing two goals and three assists.

The third-placed play-off will be on Saturday, 17 January at 16:00 GMT

The final on Sunday, 18 January will kick off at 19:00.

Brahim Diaz was Morocco's top scorer in Afcon 2025 qualifying last year, netting seven goals [Getty Images]

Morocco playmaker Diaz leads the scoring charts after strikes against Comoros, Mali, Zambia, Tanzania and Cameroon.

With juts the third-place play-off and the final remaining, can anyone overhaul the 26-year-old?

5 goals: Brahim Diaz (Morocco)

4 goals: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria), Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

3 goals: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco), Lassine Sinayoko (Mali), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)

Morocco has pumped vast sums of money into renovating stadiums to host Afcon 2025 while also preparing to co-host the 2030 Fifa World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

Nine stadiums are being used in six host cities, with four venues in the capital Rabat.

Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (capacity 69,500)

Olympic Stadium, Rabat (capacity 21,000)

Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat (capacity 22,000)

Stade El Barid, Rabat (capacity 18,000)

Grand Stade d'Agadir, Agadir (capacity 45,480)

Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes (capacity 45,000)

Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech (capacity 45,240)

Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (capacity 67,000)

Grand Stade de Tangier, Tangier (capacity 75,600)

The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat hosted Morocco's group games and will stage the final [Getty Images]Africa Cup of Nations 2025 fixtures

All times GMT

Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat

Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia, Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca

Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola, Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech

Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe, Grand Stade d'Agadir, Agadir

Tuesday, 23 December

Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana, Grand Stade de Tangier, Tangier

Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin, Stade El Barid, Rabat

Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania, Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes

Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda, Olympic Stadium, Rabat

Wednesday, 24 December

Group E: Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea, Casablanca

Group E: Algeria 3-0 Sudan, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat

Group F: Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique, Marrakech

Group F: Cameroon 1-0 Gabon, Agadir

Group B: Angola 1-1 Zimbabwe, Marrakech

Group B: Egypt 1-0 South Africa, Agadir

Group A: Zambia 0-0 Comoros, Casablanca

Group A: Morocco 1-1 Mali, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

Saturday, 27 December

Group D: Benin 1-0 Botswana, Olympic Stadium

Group D: Senegal 1-1 DR Congo, Tangier

Group C: Uganda 1-1 Tanzania, Stade El Barid

Group C: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia, Fes

Group F: Gabon 2-3 Mozambique, Agadir

Group E: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Sudan, Casablanca

Group E: Algeria 1-0 Burkina Faso, Moulay El Hassan Stadium

Group F: Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon, Marrakech

Victor Osimhen (right) scored for Nigeria against Tunisia during the group stage, added two more as they beat Mozambique in the last 16 and netted in the quarter-final against Algeria [Getty Images]

Monday, 29 December

Group B: Angola 0-0 Egypt, Agadir

Group B: Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa, Marrakech

Group A: Comoros 0-0 Mali, Casablanca

Group A: Zambia 0-3 Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

Tuesday, 30 December

Group C: Tanzania 1-1 Tunisia, Olympic Stadium

Group C: Uganda 1-3 Nigeria, Fes

Group D: Benin 0-3 Senegal, Tangier

Group D: Botswana 0-3 DR Congo, Stade El Barid

Wednesday, 31 December

Group E: Equatorial Guinea 1-3 Algeria, Moulay El Hassan Stadium

Group E: Sudan 0-2 Burkina Faso, Casablanca

Group F: Gabon 2-3 Ivory Coast, Marrakech

Group F: Mozambique 1-2 Cameroon, Agadir

Djigui Diarra stuck out a strong left hand to save Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane's fifth attempt for Tunisia [Getty Images]

Saturday, 3 January

SR1: Senegal 3-1 Sudan, Tangier

SR2: Mali 1-1 Tunisia (AET, 3-2 on pens), Casablanca

SR3: Morocco 1-0 Tanzania, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

SR4: South Africa 1-2 Cameroon, Stade El Barid

SR5: Egypt 3-1 Benin (AET), Agadir

SR6: Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique, Fes

SR7: Algeria 1-0 DR Congo (AET), Moulay El Hassan Stadium (16:00)

SR8: Ivory Coast 3-0 Burkina Faso, Marrakech

Iliman Ndiaye's tap-in was enough to send Senegal through to the last four at the expense of 10-man Mali [Reuters]

Friday, 9 January

QF1: Mali 0-1 Senegal, Tangier

QF2: Cameroon 0-2 Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (19:00)

Saturday, 10 January

QF3: Algeria 0-2 Nigeria, Marrakech (16:00)

QF4: Egypt 3-2 Ivory Coast, Agadir (19:00)

Mohamed Salah netted what proved to be the winner for Egypt against Ivory Coast with his 11th goal at the Afcon finals [Reuters]Semi-finals

Wednesday, 14 January

SF1: Senegal 1-0 Egypt, Tangier

SF2: Nigeria 0-0 Morocco (AET, 2-4 on pens), Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (20:00)

Sadio Mane (centre) scored his second goal at Afcon 2025 to send the 2021 champions through to the final [Getty Images]Third place play-off

Saturday, 17 January

Egypt vs Nigeria, Casablanca (16:00)

Senegal vs Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (19:00)