Inside the Arenas: Where AFCON 2025 Will Be Won

The countdown has begun. With less than 20 days remaining until the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 kicks off, excitement is building. The tournament runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Attention is now shifting to the world-class stadiums set to host Africa’s premier football competition. The matches will take place across five major Moroccan cities. These venues blend modern infrastructure with local history to offer fans a spectacular experience.

Here is a detailed look at the host venues and the matches they will stage.

Rabat: The Heart of the Tournament

Rabat serves as the central hub for the competition. It boasts four distinct venues that will host a significant number of games.

Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah This stadium was recently renovated and inaugurated in September 2025. It holds 69,500 spectators and is located just seven kilometers from the city center. It features a football-only arena with state-of-the-art media zones.

• Group Fixtures: The stadium hosts the tournament opener between Morocco and Comoros on December 21. It also hosts Morocco vs Mali (Dec 26) and Zambia vs Morocco (Dec 29).
• Knockout Stages: The venue will stage a Round of 16 clash on January 4, a Quarter-Final on January 9, and a Semi-Final on January 14.
• The Final: Crucially, it will host the Grand Final on January 18.

Stade Annexe Olympique Completed in just nine months, this venue opened in May 2025. It has a capacity of 21,000 and features a World Athletics-certified track.

• Fixtures: It will host Tunisia vs Uganda (Dec 23), Benin vs Botswana (Dec 27), and Tanzania vs Tunisia (Dec 30).

Complexe Sportif Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Built on the historic FUS Rabat site, this 22,000-capacity stadium is unique. It is noted for its Berber-inspired architecture and extensive VIP lounges.

• Fixtures: The schedule includes Algeria vs Sudan (Dec 24), Algeria vs Burkina Faso (Dec 28), and Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria (Dec 31). It also hosts a Round of 16 match on January 6.

Stade El Barid Located in the Agdal district, this compact stadium holds 18,000 fans. It offers excellent sightlines for spectators.

• Fixtures: Matches include DR Congo vs Benin (Dec 23), Uganda vs Tanzania (Dec 27), and Botswana vs DR Congo (Dec 30). It also hosts a Round of 16 game on January 4.

Casablanca: The Historic Cathedral

Stade Mohammed V Nicknamed “The Donor,” this historic venue opened in 1955. It holds 67,000 spectators and remains one of the continent’s most iconic football grounds.

• Group Fixtures: The stadium will host Mali vs Zambia (Dec 22), Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea (Dec 24), and Zambia vs Comoros (Dec 26). Later matches include Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan (Dec 28), Comoros vs Mali (Dec 29), and Sudan vs Burkina Faso (Dec 31).
• Knockout Stages: It will host a Round of 16 match on January 3 and the Third-Place Play-Off on January 17.

Agadir: The Coastal Jewel

Grand Stade d’Agadir Opened in 2013 on the Atlantic coast, this modern facility has a capacity of 45,480. It will be a key venue for Group B and F.

• Group Fixtures: The lineup features Egypt vs Zimbabwe (Dec 22), Cameroon vs Gabon (Dec 24), and Egypt vs South Africa (Dec 26). Other games include Gabon vs Mozambique (Dec 28), Angola vs Egypt (Dec 29), and Mozambique vs Cameroon (Dec 31).
• Knockout Stages: The stadium will host a Round of 16 match on January 5 and a Quarter-Final on January 10.

Fes: Home of the Super Eagles

Complexe Sportif de Fès Constructed between 1994 and 2003, this 45,000-capacity stadium fuses traditional Moroccan architecture with modern facilities. This is the primary battleground for Nigeria during the group stages.

• Group Fixtures: Nigeria opens their campaign here against Tanzania on December 23. They return to face Tunisia on December 27. Finally, they conclude the group stage against Uganda on December 29.
• Knockout Stages: The venue will also host a Round of 16 clash on January 5.

Marrakech: The Tourist Hub

Grand Stade de Marrakech Situated 11km north of the city center, this venue holds 45,240 fans. It includes top-tier medical and media facilities.

• Group Fixtures: Matches include South Africa vs Angola (Dec 22), Côte d’Ivoire vs Mozambique (Dec 24), and Angola vs Zimbabwe (Dec 26). The schedule also features Côte d’Ivoire vs Cameroon (Dec 28), Zimbabwe vs South Africa (Dec 29), and Gabon vs Côte d’Ivoire (Dec 31).
• Knockout Stages: It will host a Round of 16 match on January 6 and a Quarter-Final on January 10.

Tanger: The Northern Giant

Grand Stade de Tanger Named after the legendary explorer Ibn Battuta, this massive stadium holds 68,000 fans. It will be pivotal in the latter stages of the tournament.

• Group Fixtures: The venue will host Senegal vs Botswana (Dec 23), Senegal vs DR Congo (Dec 27), and Benin vs Senegal (Dec 30).
• Knockout Stages: It is set to host a Round of 16 match on January 3 and a Quarter-Final on January 9. Additionally, it will host a massive Semi-Final clash on January 14.