The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026, the African football governing body announced on Friday.

CAF) announced the change in the tournament schedule two weeks before the draw ceremony scheduled for July 4.

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It will be the first time in the AFCON history that the tournament will be played in December and it will run through the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Cote d'Ivoire are the defending champions having won the previous edition on home soil in February 2024.

Rwanda, who have been in impressive form under German gaffer Torsten Spittler, will be hoping to make it to the tournament for the first time since 2004.