AFCON 2025: North Africa targets glory as Morocco hosts 2025 edition

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will put North Africa under the spotlight as the region seeks to reclaim a title it has not held since Algeria’s triumph in 2019.

From 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, 24 nations will compete across six Moroccan cities for the continent’s most prestigious football crown, currently in the hands of Côte d’Ivoire.

Algeria’s Desert Foxes were the last North African side to win the trophy, overcoming Senegal to secure their second AFCON title and ending a near three-decade drought.

Prior to that, Egypt’s dominance between 2006 and 2010 produced three consecutive titles, cementing their place as the most successful nation in AFCON history with seven trophies.

Tunisia’s lone success came in 2004 on home soil, while Morocco’s only title dates back to 1976.

For the Atlas Lions, hosting the 2025 finals offers a chance to end a 50-year wait. Ranked as Africa’s top national team and buoyed by passionate home support, Morocco will be under pressure to deliver.

Their campaign begins in Group A against Mali, former champions Zambia, and Comoros, a side that surprised many on their AFCON debut.

Elsewhere, Egypt face a stern test in Group B against South Africa, who famously knocked them out in 2019, alongside Angola and Zimbabwe.

The Pharaohs, determined to avenge that setback, will look to rely on their tournament pedigree to advance.

Tunisia must navigate a tricky Group C, where they meet Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who narrowly missed out on the title in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as East African representatives Uganda and Tanzania.

Group E pits Algeria against Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan, a section seen as unpredictable given the resilience of each side.

The 2025 tournament not only reignites old rivalries but also raises the question of whether North Africa can wrestle back dominance from West Africa.

Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Nigeria remain formidable forces, yet the historical success of Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco ensures North African hopes remain alive.

As the continent gathers in Morocco, the stakes extend beyond silverware.

For the hosts, victory would mark a long-awaited return to the summit of African football.

For their regional neighbours, it represents an opportunity to reaffirm North Africa’s place as a powerhouse on the continental stage.

North Africa’s AFCON honours:

• Egypt – 7 (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010)
• Algeria – 2 (1990, 2019)
• Morocco – 1 (1976)
• Tunisia – 1 (2004)