The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco has begun dramatically. As of December 24, 2025, the tournament has completed the first three matchdays, with Matchday 4 set to take place on Wednesday. This edition is historic, as it marks the first time AFCON is being played during the Christmas and New Year period.
This blog on Odds96 provides a comprehensive overview of completed matches, key tournament statistics, and today’s fixtures with predictions.
AFCON 2025 Match Results (December 21-23)
The following matches concluded the opening round of group-stage fixtures:
- December 21: Morocco defeated Comoros 2-0. Brahim Díaz scored his first AFCON goal as the hosts delivered a confident and controlled performance.
- December 22: Mali drew 1-1 with Zambia. Patson Daka scored a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a point for Zambia.
- December 22: South Africa beat Angola 2-1. Goals from Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster secured an important win for Bafana Bafana.
- December 22: Egypt edged Zimbabwe 2-1. Mohamed Salah converted a 90+1-minute penalty to seal the victory.
- December 23: DR Congo defeated Benin 1-0. Theo Bongonda’s 16th-minute goal proved decisive.
- December 23: Senegal thrashed Botswana 3-0. Defending champions Senegal made a strong statement, with Nicolas Jackson scoring twice.
- December 23: Nigeria overcame Tanzania 2-1. Ademola Lookman and Semi Ajayi were on target as the Super Eagles held on for the win.
- December 23: Tunisia defeated Uganda 3-1. Elias Achouri scored twice to send Tunisia to the top of Group C.
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Tournament Statistics
Top Goal Scorers
- Nicolas Jackson (Senegal): 2 goals
- Elias Achouri (Tunisia): 2 goals
- Brahim Díaz (Morocco): 1 goal
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt): 1 goal
Most Assists
- Lamine Camara (Senegal): 2 assists
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco): 1 assist
- Ademola Lookman (Nigeria): 1 assist
Today’s Fixtures and Predictions (December 24)
- Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea (6:00 PM IST): A 1-1 draw is expected, as both teams are defensively organised and likely to cancel each other out.
- Algeria vs Sudan (8:30 PM IST): Algeria should win 2-0. Their attacking depth, led by Riyad Mahrez and Mohamed Amoura, gives them a clear advantage.
- Ivory Coast vs Mozambique (11:00 PM IST): Ivory Coast are favourites to win 3-0. The holders typically start tournaments strongly and appear in excellent form.
- Cameroon vs Gabon (1:30 AM IST, December 25): Cameroon are tipped to win 2-1 in what should be a physical and intense Central African derby.
Group Standings Summary
- Group A: Morocco leads with three points, while Mali and Zambia remain level on one point each.
- Group B: South Africa and Egypt share the top spot with three points apiece.
- Group C: Tunisia lead the group with a +2 goal difference, followed by Nigeria on +1.
- Group D: Senegal tops the group and leads the tournament overall on goal difference (+3).
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Biggest Surprises and Upsets
Zimbabwe’s Strong Resistance Against Egypt
The biggest near-upset came on December 22, when Zimbabwe held Egypt to a 1-1 draw until the final moments. Mohamed Salah scored a 90+1-minute penalty to rescue Egypt from a poor start. Zimbabwe stayed compact and disciplined against one of the tournament favourites, putting the rest of Group B on alert.
Mali’s Late Disappointment Against Zambia
Mali were on course for victory after leading Zambia for most of the second half. However, Patson Daka scored a dramatic equaliser in the 90+2 minute to deny Mali all three points. The result felt like a loss for Mali, while Zambia showed strong belief and persistence until the final whistle.
Nigeria’s Defensive Concerns
Nigeria secured a 2-1 win over Tanzania but looked defensively shaky. Tanzania, the lowest-ranked team in the group, scored first and forced Nigeria into a comeback. Although the Super Eagles took all three points, the performance raised concerns about their ability to cope with stronger attacking teams such as Tunisia.
FAQs
1. When did AFCON 2025 start?
AFCON 2025 began on December 21, 2024, in Morocco.
2. Why is AFCON 2025 historic?
AFCON 2025 is the first edition of the tournament played during the Christmas and New Year period.
3. Who is the top scorer at AFCON 2025 so far?
Nicolas Jackson of Senegal and Elias Achouri of Tunisia are the joint top scorers with two goals each.
4. Who has the most assists in AFCON 2025?
Lamine Camara of Senegal leads the assists chart with two assists.
5. Which team is leading the tournament currently?
Senegal leads the tournament overall based on goal difference after their 3-0 win over Botswana.
