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The group stage fixtures for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (scheduled for 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026) in Morocco have been confirmed following the official draw in Rabat[2]. The tournament will feature 24 national teams, including defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, record winners Egypt, and hosts Morocco. These teams earned their spots by finishing in the top two of their respective qualifying groups[2].

Morocco was officially named the new host nation after a second bidding process was completed on 27 September 2023, replacing Guinea. The matches will take place across nine venues in six cities: Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakesh, Rabat, and Tangier. The final is set for 18 January 2026 in Rabat at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which has a capacity of 68,700[4].

The qualifying campaign concluded with several notable results. Nigeria were awarded a 3-0 victory over Libya due to circumstances around their qualifier, while Egypt continued their impressive run with Mohamed Salah scoring in a 2-0 win over Mauritania. Ghana, however, failed to qualify for the AFCON for the first time since 2004 after a 1-1 draw with Angola ended their campaign[1][3].

The official draw placed top-ranked teams such as Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, and holders Côte d’Ivoire in Pot 1. Other strong teams like Cameroon, Mali, and Tunisia landed in Pot 2, setting up a competitive group stage[4]. Puma has unveiled new kits for several of these top teams ahead of the tournament, adding to the anticipation among fans[3].

Meanwhile, in the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Morocco secured a place in the quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over Senegal. Botswana achieved a dramatic injury-time win against Tunisia, but their progression depends on final group standings. Nigeria and Algeria played to a goalless draw, ensuring their advancement[5][6].

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