Egypt against South Africa, Morocco versus Mali, and a Sunday night showdown between Ivory Coast and Cameroon headline a gripping second matchday at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with early qualification on the line across all six groups.
After a rest day, the tournament resumes on Friday with organisers having crafted a programme that immediately pits early pace-setters against each other.
The stakes could hardly be higher: a second straight victory would all but guarantee progress to the knockout phase, while defeat would leave even the strongest contenders under pressure.
Group B takes centre stage first with Egypt meeting South Africa in Agadir.
Both sides opened their campaigns with identical 2-1 wins, Egypt over Zimbabwe and Bafana Bafana against Angola, leaving them joint leaders.
Victory here would secure a place in the last 16 and confirm supremacy in one of the most competitive sections of the tournament.
Earlier in the day, Angola and Zimbabwe face off in Marrakech knowing that anything less than three points would severely dent their hopes.
Group A action follows in Rabat as hosts Morocco take on Mali.
The Atlas Lions arrive buoyed by their opening success over Comoros, while Mali are eager to make amends after being held to a late draw by Zambia.
That result has left the Eagles with little margin for error, and the evening encounter promises to be a stern test of Morocco’s ambitions in front of a home crowd.
Zambia and Comoros meet earlier in Casablanca, each desperate to keep qualification within reach before the final round of fixtures.
Saturday shifts the spotlight to Groups C and D, with two marquee contests.
Tunisia face Nigeria in Fez, a meeting of two sides who both collected maximum points on the opening day.
It is a duel that could decide top spot, allowing the winner to approach the final group game in relative comfort.
Earlier in Rabat, neighbours Uganda and Tanzania meet in an East African derby, a match already described as unforgiving for the side that slips up.
Later that afternoon, Senegal play DR Congo in Tangier in what is widely seen as a revenge-tinged encounter after the Lions of Teranga’s dramatic comeback in Kinshasa during recent World Cup qualifying.
Both teams won their first fixtures, meaning that another victory would secure early qualification.
Benin and Botswana, beaten on matchday one, open proceedings in Rabat with a must-win clash.
Sunday closes the second round with heavyweight battles in Groups E and F.
Algeria meet Burkina Faso in Rabat after both impressed in their opening outings, while in Marrakech the reigning champions Ivory Coast face Cameroon in a contest expected to shape the rest of Group F.
Earlier, Gabon face Mozambique in Agadir, each looking to recover from defeat, and Equatorial Guinea take on Sudan in Casablanca with both sides keen to keep their campaigns alive.
Full programme – Matchday two
Friday, 26 December 2025
Group A: Zambia v Comoros – Casablanca, Mohamed V Stadium (18:30)
Group A: Morocco v Mali – Rabat, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (21:00)
Group B: Angola v Zimbabwe – Marrakech Stadium (13:30)
Group B: Egypt v South Africa – Agadir, Adrar Stadium (16:00)
Saturday, 27 December 2025
Group C: Uganda v Tanzania – Rabat, Al Medina Stadium (18:30)
Group C: Tunisia v Nigeria – Fez Stadium (21:00)
Group D: Benin v Botswana – Rabat, Prince Abdellah Olympic Complex (13:30)
Group D: Senegal v DR Congo – Tangier, Grand Stade de Tanger (16:00)
Sunday, 28 December 2025
Group E: Equatorial Guinea v Sudan – Casablanca, Mohamed V Stadium (16:00)
Group E: Algeria v Burkina Faso – Rabat, Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium (18:30)
Group F: Gabon v Mozambique – Agadir, Adrar Stadium (13:30)
Group F: Ivory Coast v Cameroon – Marrakech, Grand Stade de Marrakech (21:00)
