Rabat’s Stade Moulay Abdellah, now being rebuilt with grand ambitions for the many prestige events that will occupy it over the next five years, will fill to its 70,000 capacity for a resonant opening match of the 2025 African Cup of Nations.

World Cup semifinalist Morocco was drawn in a group with Mali, Zambia and Comoros on Monday for the men’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations it will host.

Host nation Morocco have been drawn alongside Mali, Zambia and Comoros in the group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). It was confirmed in June that the next edition of AFCON will take place between December 21,

Ivory Coast will begin the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations title against Mozambique, while hosts and World Cup semifinalists Morocco open the 2025 tournament against the Comoros Islands in Rabat on Dec.

The teams were drawn into six groups each containing four sides ahead of the 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 finals tournament that will be spread across six host cities and nine stadia in Morocco as Africa’s best chase the continent’s most coveted trophy.

The draw for the 2025 AFCON tournament takes place in Rabat, Morocco's capital and the host city for the final.