AFCON
AFCON 2025 qualifiers: Seven matches to watch as road to Morocco begins
The journey to the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, officially begins on Wednesday, September 4, with the first round of qualifiers set to unfold across the African continent.
As 48 nations compete for a spot in the 35th edition of Africa’s most prestigious football tournament, the opening round promises an array of captivating encounters.
The qualifiers will set the stage for the teams aiming to lift the coveted trophy in Morocco between December 21, 2025, and January 18, 2026.
With excitement already building, CAFonline.com takes a closer look at seven key matches that football fans should keep an eye on as the qualifiers get underway.
Ghana vs. Angola: A Battle of Redemption
Ghana and Angola both have points to prove as they meet in the opening round of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.
Ghana endured a disappointing campaign in the last AFCON, crashing out in the group stage, while Angola made a surprising run to the semi-finals before being halted by Nigeria. Since then, Angola has lifted the COSAFA Cup, signaling their intent to build on their recent success.
Ghana, on the other hand, has undergone significant changes, with Otto Addo replacing Chris Hughton as head coach. Addo has rejuvenated the squad with a blend of youth and experience, led by key players Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey. This match will be a litmus test for both sides as they seek to start their qualifying
Nigeria vs. Benin: A Regional Rivalry Reignited
Whenever Nigeria and Benin face off, the stakes are always high, and the outcome is unpredictable. The rivalry between these West African neighbors runs deep, and their upcoming qualifier is no exception. Despite finishing second at the recent AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria was shocked by Benin in a 2-1 defeat, with goals from Jodel Dossou and Steve Mounié.
This time, Nigeria will be seeking revenge as they host Benin on home soil. The Super Eagles will be determined to assert their dominance, but they know that Benin will not go down without a fight. This match promises to be a thrilling encounter with plenty of drama.
Senegal vs. Burkina Faso: A Clash of the Titans
Senegal and Burkina Faso are two teams with rich histories in African football, and their upcoming qualifier is set to be a blockbuster. The Teranga Lions had a disappointing AFCON campaign earlier this year, exiting in the Round of 16 at the hands of hosts Côte d’Ivoire. For a team that lifted the trophy in 2021, the early exit was a bitter pill to swallow.
Burkina Faso, too, has something to prove after their own Round of 16 elimination. With star players like Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly for Senegal and Edmond Tapsoba for Burkina Faso, this match is poised to be an intense battle. Both sides will be eager to make amends for their recent shortcomings, making this a must-watch fixture.
Côte d’Ivoire vs. Zambia: The Champions’ Return
Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire will kick off their qualifying campaign against former AFCON winners Zambia at the Stade de la Paix in Bouaké. The Ivorians, under coach Emerse Faé, have looked formidable since their title-winning campaign in February and will be eager to begin their title defense on a high note.
Zambia, led by veteran coach Avram Grant, will be no pushovers. The Chipolopolo have a history of rising to the occasion in big matches, and this encounter will test their resolve against a strong Ivorian side. The match is expected to be a thrilling contest with both teams vying for an early advantage in the qualifiers.
DR Congo vs. Guinea: A Grudge Match
The last time DR Congo and Guinea met in an TotalEnergies AFCON setting, the Congolese emerged victorious with a 3-1 win. Now, as the two sides prepare to clash once again, Guinea will be eager for revenge. Both teams have a wealth of talent, with players excelling in top leagues around the world.
Coach Kaba Diawara of Guinea has made it clear that his team is out to settle the score. With the added motivation of qualifying for the prestigious tournament in Morocco, this match is expected to be fiercely contested. Fans can expect a high-octane encounter with plenty of skill and passion on display.
Egypt vs. Cape Verde: The Pharaohs’ Revival
Egypt, one of Africa’s footballing giants, is seeking to bounce back after a disappointing AFCON campaign in Côte d’Ivoire. The Pharaohs have brought back their talisman, Mohamed Salah, who could be the key to unlocking Cape Verde’s defense in this crucial qualifier.
Cape Verde, however, will not be intimidated. The island nation performed admirably in the last AFCON and will look to carry that form into the qualifiers. This match is set to be a stern test for Egypt as they aim to re-establish themselves as a dominant force in African football.
Algeria vs. Equatorial Guinea: A Shot at Redemption
Algeria will host Equatorial Guinea at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium on Thursday, September 5, in what promises to be a gripping encounter. The Algerians, under coach Vladimir Petković, are determined to continue their recent revival after a disappointing early exit from the last AFCON.
Equatorial Guinea, who defeated Algeria in the group stage of the 2021 AFCON, will be confident heading into this match. Their performance in recent years has shown they are more than capable of challenging Africa’s top teams. For Algeria, this is an opportunity to exact revenge and make a strong statement in their quest for qualification.
-CAF
The African Football Confederation (CAF) and Royal Air Maroc (RAM) have sealed a historic strategic partnership that grants Morocco’s national airline the status of “Official Global Partner” for upcoming major African football competitions.
The agreement was signed Saturday morning in Casablanca, in the presence of Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) President Fouzi Lekjaâ.
This partnership encompasses several prestigious tournaments, including the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco (AFCON) 2025 (December 21, 2025 – January 18, 2026) and CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco (WAFCON) 2024 (July 5-26, 2025).
The agreement also covers CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, CAF Champions League 2024/2025 Finals, CAF Confederation Cup 2024/2025 Finals, and the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe voiced enthusiasm about the collaboration.
“We are excited about the partnership between CAF and Royal Air Maroc, a world-class airline that will provide comfort and fly NationalTeams participating in the CAF competitions,” he said.
“We are confident that the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will be the most successful AFCON in the history of this competition.”
The agreement strengthens RAM’s footprint across Africa and globally, solidifying its role as a strategic gateway between Africa and the rest of the world. It also aligns with Morocco’s emergence as an international sports hub, with the country preparing to host AFCON 2025 and co-host the FIFA World Cup 2030.
RAM’s Chairman and CEO Hamid Addou stated: “This historic partnership with CAF aligns fully with our strategic vision as an airline deeply rooted in Africa and committed to its development.”
“Royal Air Maroc doesn’t just connect destinations; it builds bridges between cultures and passions. By supporting the continent’s biggest football competitions, we reaffirm our role as a facilitator of human and sporting exchanges,” he continued.
500,000 supporters expected
Beyond its partnership role, RAM will implement an exceptional operational system to meet increased demand during CAF competitions. The airline plans to welcome over 500,000 supporters for AFCON 2025.
“We believe we will surpass this figure by far,” revealed Addou. “We will be ready to accommodate these supporters across Royal Air Maroc’s entire network.”
The airline intends to double seat capacity from qualified countries already served by RAM, such as Dakar, Abidjan, Cairo, Tunis, Bamako, Lagos, and Douala.
RAM will also intensify flight frequencies from European cities with large African communities, including Paris, Brussels, Milan, London, Marseille, Lyon, Madrid, and Barcelona.
Additionally, the airline will establish a dedicated program for domestic air transport of national teams, shuttling them between their base camps and host cities.
This positioning establishes RAM as the primary connector between Africa and Europe through its Casablanca hub. FRMF President Fouzi Lekjaâ noted that the contract “reinforces Royal Air Maroc’s first-rate leadership role in Africa.”
“Royal Air Maroc is no stranger to football,” Lekjaâ added. “It has always supported generations of our athletes and footballers here in Morocco.”
“With this expertise and experience, they will contribute significantly to making AFCON 2025 Morocco exceptional, a historic turning point in African football, cultural coexistence and African cultural exchange,” he concluded.
Addou stressed RAM’s commitment to African unity: “We are all extremely proud to be African, and in every corner of this vast and magnificent continent, we share the same ambition—to actively contribute to Africa’s development and influence.”
The RAM CEO concluded by inviting everyone to upcoming CAF calendar events: “We’ll see you very soon for the great moments ahead in the CAF calendar, particularly the Women’s AFCON starting in July and, of course, the men’s AFCON, which kicks off on December 25.”
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The presidents of the regional councils concerned by the hosting of the matches of the Africa Cup of Nations (Morocco-2025) unanimously affirmed that the implementation of infrastructure projects in anticipation of this continental event “is progressing at a sustained pace”, declaring themselves “fully mobilized” to crown with success the major sporting events scheduled in the Kingdom.
They specified, in statements to the press in Rabat following a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior devoted to the assessment of the progress of the construction and rehabilitation works of the stadiums, that major sports infrastructure projects are underway in the six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Fez, Marrakech and Agadir.
The President of the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, Abdellatif Maâzouz, announced that the projects planned for upcoming international sporting events, in particular the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, “are proceeding under good conditions.”
The projects related to the organisation of the AFCON will be ready by next July at the latest, he assured, specifying that there is a clear vision regarding the preparations underway for the AFCON and the 2030 World Cup, both in terms of equipment and organisational arrangements related to human resources and animation.
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AFCON
‘Land of Football’ is ‘Kingdom of Light’ as Moroccan Tourism Office and Football Federation Strike Accord
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Morocco’s football federation and tourism office have signed a groundbreaking agreement to establish the country as a major football and tourism destination leading to the milestone 2030 World Cup when the global football tournament clocks a century.
The Moroccan football body and the Tourism Office are building on the national team’s recent international success.
Though with just one success in the Africa Cup of Nations, Moroccan football soars higher than the rest in Africa and the Arab world at the World Cup.
Apart from being the only African and Arab country to have reached the World Cup semi-final stage, Morocco in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico became the first African team not to be defeated in a World Cup match when they forced Bulgaria to a 1-1 draw on 11 June.
Again, in Mexico, this time at the 1986 World Cup, Morocco became the first African team to top a group and cross the group stage.
They were just two minutes away from a major upset of West Germany in the round of 16 before Lothar Matthäus’ back-breaking goal.
The success of the football team and the tourism potential of Morocco have found a harmonious chord.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) and the National Moroccan Tourism Office (ONMT) will work together under the banner “Morocco, Land of Football,” placing the sport at the heart of the country’s tourism strategy.
“More than an institutional partnership, this convention is a shared vision: that of a Morocco that shines through football and makes it a lever for promotion, pride and tourist attractiveness,” ONMT said in a statement released after the signing.
The timing of this collaboration is strategic, coming ahead of two major sporting events: the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
The initiative builds on widespread public enthusiasm following the Atlas Lions’ historic World Cup performance in 2022.
Under the agreement, both organizations will implement an integrated communication strategy combining visibility campaigns, influence marketing, and joint promotional activities.
The initiative will mobilize iconic figures from Moroccan football to bring this vision to life, to showcase the country’s world-class sporting facilities, rich cultural heritage, and diverse tourist attractions.
ONMT has launched a major offensive at making Morocco, the ultimate tourism and business destination as the clock ticks down to the 35th Africa Cup of Nations holding in December.
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