Ivory Coast Draws Cameroon in Afcon 2025 Group Stage

Ivory Coast, the defending champions will compete in Group F for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco. During a star-studded ceremony in Rabat, the organizers matched the Elephants against Cameroon, Gabon led by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mozambique in the group stage. The tournament begins on 21 December 2025 and concludes on 18 January 2026 with hosts Morocco set to play Comoros in the opening match.

Nigeria, who lost to Ivory Coast in the 2023 Afcon final will join Tunisia in Group C. Uganda and Tanzania, two of the 2027 Afcon co-hosts will face each other in a thrilling regional matchup. In Group B, South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe will challenge Egypt while Sudan, despite enduring a civil war, secured a spot to face Algeria in Group E. Football legends, including Mustapha Hadji, Serge Aurier, Joseph Yobo and Aliou Cissé, actively participated in the draw.

Senegal, the 2021 Afcon champions will take on DR Congo in Group D. The 24 teams will compete across six groups. The tournament format allows the top two teams from each group along with the best four third-placed teams, to progress to the knockout stage. Morocco which assumed hosting duties from Guinea due to infrastructure issues will host matches in cities such as Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier across nine stadiums.

Rabat’s Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah will stage the final. As part of its preparations, Morocco is gearing up to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. The nation plans to construct a 115,000-seat stadium near Casablanca by 2027, aiming to host the World Cup final.