Resolution Criteria
The 35th edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations takes place from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 in Morocco, with 24 national teams competing across nine stadiums in six host cities. The market resolves to whichever team wins the final match on January 18, 2026. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advance to the Round of 16, marking the start of the knockout phase. Resolution can be verified via official CAF sources at https://www.cafonline.com/afcon2025/ or major sports outlets covering the tournament.
Background
Ivory Coast are the defending champions, having won the 2023 edition. Morocco, Africa's highest-ranked nation at 11th in the world, are in great form with a record-breaking run of 18 successive victories and will enjoy the advantage of playing in front of home crowds as they aim for their first title in 50 years. Egypt, the record seven-time champions, have not lifted the trophy since 2010; Mohamed Salah has reached two finals (2017 and 2021) but lost both, and AFCON 2025 is widely seen as a last major opportunity for the 33-year-old Liverpool forward to secure the title. Seven teams at AFCON 2025 – Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia – have also qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Considerations
This edition is played between 21 December 2025 and 18 January 2026, the first time the tournament is played over the Christmas and New Year period. Ghana, four-time African champions, failed to qualify after finishing bottom of Group F, missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004.
1,000