Guinea were initially set to host the tournament, but Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe announced in September 2022 the West African nation would be stripped of the right.
"CAF is going to ask to receive new bids because the infrastructure and facilities are not appropriate or ready for CAF to host the 2025 Nations Cup in Guinea."
Morocco were awarded the hosting rights on September 27 2023. They last hosted the tournament in 1988.
The 2025 edition was originally planned to take place during the summer in order to avoid club impact, but the expansion and re-scheduling of the Club World Cup meant it was pushed back.
It will now take place between Sunday December 21 2025 and Sunday January 18 2026, marking the first time the tournament has taken place over the Christmas and New Year period.
Six host cities have been chosen, with the tournament to be played in nine stadiums those those cities.
Hosts Ivory Coast completed one of Africa Cup of Nations' most memorable comebacks to be crowned champions of Africa for a third time as Nigeria were beaten 2-1 in Abidjan.
Group A: Comoros, Mali, Morocco, Zambia.
Group B: Angola, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
Group C: Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda.
Group D: Benin, Botswana, DR Congo, Senegal.
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan.
Group F: Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mozambique.
All kick-off times are GMT
Sunday December 21
Group A: Morocco vs Comoros, kick-off 7pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Monday December 22
Group A: Mali vs Zambia, kick-off 2.30pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
Group B: Egypt vs Zimbabwe, kick-off 5pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir
Group B: South Africa vs Angola, kick-off 7.30pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh
Tuesday December 23
Group C: Nigeria vs Tanzania, kick-off 12pm - Fez Stadium, Fez
Group C: Tunisia vs Uganda, kick-off 2.30pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat
Group D: Senegal vs Botswana, kick-off 5pm - Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier
Group D: DR Congo vs Benin, kick-off 7.30pm - Al Barid Stadium, Rabat
Wednesday December 24
Group E: Algeria vs Sudan, kick-off 12pm - Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat
Group E: Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea, kick-off 2.30pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
Group F: Ivory Coast vs Mozambique, kick-off 5pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh
Group F: Cameroon vs Gabon, kick-off 7.30pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir
Friday December 26
Group A: Morocco vs Mali, kick-off 12pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Group A: Zambia vs Comoros, kick-off 2.30pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
Group B: Egypt vs South Africa, kick-off 5pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir
Group B: Angola vs Zimbabwe, kick-off 7.30pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh
Saturday December 27
Group C: Nigeria vs Tunisia, kick-off 12pm - Fez Stadium, Fez
Group C: Uganda vs Tanzania, kick-off 2.30pm - Al Barid Stadium, Rabat
Group D: Senegal vs DR Congo, kick-off 5pm - Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier
Group D: Benin vs Botswana, kick-off 7.30pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat
Sunday December 28
Group E: Algeria vs Burkina Faso, kick-off 12pm - Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat
Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan, kick-off 2.30pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
Group F: Ivory Coast vs Cameroon, kick-off 5pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh
Group F: Gabon vs Mozambique, kick-off 7.30pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir
Monday December 29
Group A: Comoros vs Mali, kick-off 5.30pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
Group A: Zambia vs Morocco, kick-off 5.30pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Group B: Angola vs Egypt, kick-off 7.30pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir
Group B: Zimbabwe vs South Africa, kick-off 7.30pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh
Tuesday December 30
Group C: Tanzania vs Tunisia, kick-off 5pm - Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympic Annex Stadium, Rabat
Group C: Uganda vs Nigeria, kick-off 5pm - Fez Stadium, Fez
Group D: Benin vs Senegal, kick-off 7.30pm - Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier
Group D: Botswana vs DR Congo, kick-off 7.30pm - Al Barid Stadium, Rabat
Wednesday December 31
Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria, kick-off 5pm - Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat
Group E: Sudan vs Burkina Faso, kick-off 5pm - Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
Group F: Gabon vs Ivory Coast, kick-off 7.30pm - Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh
Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon, kick-off 7.30pm - Adrar Stadium, Agadir
Last 16: Saturday January 3 2026 to Tuesday January 6 2026
Quarter-finals: Friday January 9 2026 and Saturday January 10 2026
Semi-finals: Wednesday January 14 2026
Third-place play-off: Saturday January 17 2026
Final: Sunday January 18 2026 (SKY NEWS)
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