By Francis Onyach - Reporter
Kenya, December 21, 2025 - The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) officially gets underway today, 21 December 2025, with hosts Morocco taking on Comoros in the tournament’s opening match, a fixture that marks the beginning of Africa’s premier international football competition.
Played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, the opening game brought together the Atlas Lions and the Coelacanths under the lights in front of a passionate home crowd. Kick-off was scheduled for 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT), following a vibrant opening ceremony that celebrated the spirit and unity of African football.
Morocco enter the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations as one of the favourites. The Atlas Lions are the highest-ranked African side in the tournament and boast strong recent form, including an impressive unbeaten run through qualifying. They will be aiming to lift the trophy on home soil, a dream scenario for the football-mad nation that last hosted the competition in 1988.
Their opponents, Comoros, may be underdogs on paper, but they arrive in Morocco with momentum and confidence. The island nation impressed in qualifying, topping their AFCON group without defeat, and they have gradually built a reputation for resilience on the continental stage. This is Comoros’ second appearance at an AFCON finals, having reached the Round of 16 in their tournament debut.
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The match not only signifies the start of the continental championship but also sees Morocco kick off their title defence ambitions in front of their home fans. With nine stadiums across six cities hosting matches through to the final on 18 January 2026, AFCON 2025 promises a month of elite African football featuring stars from across the continent.
As the opening whistle sounded, football fans across Africa and beyond tuned in for a football festival that brings together 24 nations competing for continental glory, and the first crucial points in what promises to be a thrilling AFCON campaign.
