The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has marked the countdown to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with just 100 days to go before the continent’s biggest football festival kicks off.

Morocco, a country with deep footballing history, will host the tournament for the first time in 37 years, having last staged it in 1988. The competition will run from December 21, 2025 to January 16, 2026, with 24 countries vying for continental glory.

Matches will be spread across nine stadiums in six iconic Moroccan cities—Rabat, Casablanca, Fès, Tangier, Marrakech, and Agadir—bringing together passionate fans, vibrant cultures, and the electric energy that has come to define African football.

CAF hailed the tournament as not just a sporting event but also a chance to showcase Africa to the world, celebrating the continent’s unity, resilience, and love for the beautiful game.

Opinion: More Than Just a Tournament

The AFCON has always been more than football—it’s a reflection of Africa’s soul. The colour, the rhythm, the songs from the stands, and the stories of underdogs rising against giants make it one of the most unique tournaments in world football.

For Morocco, hosting AFCON again after nearly four decades is both an honour and a responsibility. With world-class stadiums and a football-loving population, the nation has a chance to deliver a tournament that not only crowns Africa’s best but also sets a new global standard for organization and spectacle.

For the players, it’s a stage of dreams. The next Jay-Jay Okocha, Samuel Eto’o, or Didier Drogba might emerge, carrying not just the hopes of their nations but the pride of an entire continent.

And for fans, it’s a reminder that African football isn’t just chasing the world—it is shaping it. AFCON 2025 will be another chance to tell our story, our way.

As the countdown begins, the anticipation is no longer just about who will win, but about how Africa will once again remind the world why its football is special—unfiltered passion, pure drama, and unforgettable magic.