The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco this December, promising a festival of football for UK fans. The tournament, running from Sunday, December 21, 2025, to Sunday, January 18, 2026, will be broadcast live across the UK, offering a chance to see Premier League stars like Mohamed Salah and Bryan Mbeumo represent their nations.
How to Watch AFCON 2025 in the UK
For viewers in the United Kingdom, comprehensive coverage of the entire tournament is secured. Every single match of AFCON 2025 will be shown live on Channel 4's network. This includes broadcasts on its main channel, E4, and 4Seven, as well as via its streaming service and the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel. This deal ensures football fans won't miss a moment of the action from Morocco.
Tournament Favourites and Key Players
The host nation, Morocco, enters as the clear favourite to lift the trophy on home soil. They are closely followed by Egypt, led by Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, who is desperate to claim an international title. Other strong contenders include Algeria, spearheaded by Riyad Mahrez, and Senegal, with Sadio Mane expected to play a pivotal role.
Defending champions Ivory Coast will aim to retain their crown, while Nigeria will be looking to recover from recent disappointments. With around 50 African players currently in the Premier League, British fans will have a vested interest in the fortunes of stars from their clubs.
AFCON 2025 Full Schedule and Groups
The group stage commences on December 21 with the hosts Morocco taking on Comoros. The schedule is packed throughout the festive period, with matches taking place daily across multiple cities in Morocco including Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakesh.
The groups for AFCON 2025 are as follows:
- Group A: Comoros, Mali, Morocco, Zambia.
- Group B: Angola, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
- Group C: Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda.
- Group D: Benin, Botswana, DR Congo, Senegal.
- Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan.
- Group F: Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mozambique.
The knockout stages begin with the Last 16 from Saturday, January 3, to Tuesday, January 6, 2026. The quarter-finals follow on January 9 and 10, with the semi-finals on Wednesday, January 14. The tournament concludes with the third-place play-off on Saturday, January 17, and the final on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Key Group Stage Fixtures to Watch
The opening week features several tantalising clashes. The tournament begins with Morocco vs Comoros on December 21 at 7pm GMT. Other highlights include Egypt's opener against Zimbabwe on December 22, a heavyweight Nigeria vs Tunisia match on December 27, and a potential thriller between Ivory Coast and Cameroon on December 28.
With all matches accessible on free-to-air television and streaming platforms in the UK, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is set to be one of the most watched editions ever by British audiences.
