Opening fixture Morocco vs Comoros
Morocco will lift the curtain on the 35th Africa Cup of Nations on 21 December with a night match against the Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah complex in Rabat, according to the fixture calendar released by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The clash, only the second competitive meeting between the two sides, sets the tone for a month that the kingdom hopes will blend high-tempo football with festive tourism during the end-of-year holidays that traditionally attract Congolese and other Central African visitors to Morocco.
Atlas Lions chase second star
Walid Regragui’s Atlas Lions enter the tournament with expectations sky-high after a historic FIFA World Cup semi-final in 2022 and a steady climb to the top tier of African rankings, yet their lone continental triumph dates back to Ghana 1976.
Veteran defender Romain Saïss underlined the mood, telling local radio that playing at home gives the team “a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make up for generations that came close but fell short.” The squad’s blend of Europe-based stars and Botola prospects fuels confidence.
World-class arenas ready
Supporters from across the continent will watch from some of Africa’s most modern arenas. Rabat’s national stadium leads a list that includes the iconic Mohamed-V in Casablanca, the 75,600-seat Grand Stade de Tanger and upgraded grounds in Agadir, Marrakech and Fès.
Each site now boasts hybrid pitches, advanced LED lighting and security systems tested during recent Club World Cup matches, a point repeatedly praised by CAF inspectors and likely to reassure travelling fans from Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire and the wider diaspora.
Group-by-group landscape
Group A pairs hosts Morocco with Comoros, Mali and Zambia. The Eagles of Mali trust a new attacking trio led by Lassine Sinayoko, while 2012 champions Zambia rely on the speed of Patson Daka. Comoros arrive with nothing to lose after their 2021 fairy-tale.
Group B features record-holding Egypt, 1996 winners South Africa, a resilient Angola and a Zimbabwe side back on the big stage. Mohamed Salah’s form will dominate headlines, yet South African coach Hugo Broos insists his Bafana Bafana can repeat their 1996 miracle.
Group C throws Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania together in what bookmakers label the most open quartet. Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen looks to extend his Golden Boot pedigree, but Tunisia’s disciplined midfield and Uganda’s high press under Spaniard Javier Martínez cast uncertainty on predictions.
Group D reunites reigning champions Senegal with two-time winners DR Congo, a youthful Benin and an ambitious Botswana playing only their second finals. Sadio Mané, freshly recovered from injury, headlines the Teranga Lions, while Congo’s Leopards bank on Gaël Kakuta’s creativity.
Group E places Algeria alongside Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan. Coach Djamel Belmadi has refreshed the 2019 Algerian core with Ligue 1 youngsters, yet the Stallions of Burkina Faso have made at least the semi-finals in two of the last four editions.
Group F offers a heavyweight duel between holders Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, joined by Gabon and Mozambique. The Elephants arrive buoyed by a home triumph in Abidjan earlier this year, while Rigobert Song’s Indomitable Lions look to extend their record of five continental crowns.
Favourites, challengers and possible shocks
Beyond the headline names, observers warn that so-called smaller nations could spring upsets, pointing to Comoros’ win over Ghana in 2022 and Gambia’s quarter-final run last edition. CAF analyst Alioum Boukar predicts that “no group will reach matchday three with everything settled.”
Betting markets currently place Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria and Egypt on the shortest odds, but the absence of perennial contenders Ghana, Congo and Ethiopia after a difficult qualifying campaign reminds punters that pedigree offers no guarantee of safe passage.
How the road to the final works
Tournament rules remain familiar. The top two in each pool plus the four best third-placed teams advance to the round of sixteen, followed by straight knock-outs. Extra-time and penalties apply from the quarter-finals, while the popular plate match for third place stays.
CAF scheduled the final for 18 January in Casablanca to avoid clashing with European club commitments. Organisers promise a fan zone along the Corniche and a closing ceremony that blends Moroccan folklore with pan-African artists, echoing the memorable Abidjan drone show in February.
Fan services, travel and broadcasting
Royal Air Maroc has announced discounted fares from Brazzaville, Douala and Kinshasa, while ONCF will run late-night trains linking Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech after every match. The weather service expects mild temperatures, a boon for supporters accustomed to the humid equatorial December in Central Africa.
Can the Atlas Lions join the select list of hosts crowned at home, or will another chapter of AFCON drama unfold? The answer will keep millions glued to screens across both Congos, providing a welcome holiday distraction and a shared celebration of African excellence.
National broadcaster Télé Congo confirmed it will carry every match live, with commentary teams already booked for on-site reporting.