The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 commences this Sunday on Channel 4. Here’s what football fans need to know ahead of this weekend’s action in Morocco.
Channel 4 has secured exclusive rights to broadcast The Africa Cup of Nations, making it the first time all 52 matches will be available to watch for free in the UK. Fans can catch every moment across Channel 4, E4, 4seven, Channel 4 Streaming and Channel 4 Sport YouTube.
This year’s Africa Cup of Nations runs from Sunday 21st December 2025 until Sunday 18th January 2026 with matches hosted across nine stadiums in Morocco.
For full insight and information, Channel 4 has released a comprehensive media guide, providing detailed team profiles, player highlights and tournament facts.
Key information, presentation line-up and fixtures can be found below:
Coverage of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations 2025 is being produced by IMG with some matches presented by Ayo Akinwolere and Julia Stuart.
Two group-stage matches feature full studio presentation:
Ayo Akinwolere is joined in the studio by Cameroon international and ex-Arsenal right back Lauren and Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker, who previously played in the UK for QPR, Yeovil Town and Cardiff City amongst others.
Channel 4 is the only place to watch Premier League stars in action on Boxing Day afternoon, as Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah and Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush are expected to line-up for Egypt, AFCON’s most decorated side, as they take on South Africa.
Ayo Akinwolere leads the presentation and is joined by former South Africa international and ex-Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy and Lauren. Julia Stuart is also in the studio for the pre-match build-up.
Later in the tournament, former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel and ex-PSG and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha, both former Nigeria internationals, join the punditry line-up.
AFCON 2025 will showcase some of the biggest names from the Premier League including:
All matches are available to watch for free across Channel 4, E4, 4Seven, Channel 4 Streaming and Channel 4 Sport YouTube.
Viewers can watch the matches on the following channel numbers:
| Platform | E4 | 4seven |
| Freeview & YouView (BT TV; TalkTalk TV) | 13 | 49 |
| Freely | 13 | 16 |
| Sky (Satellite i.e. Sky Q and Sky+) | 135 | 137 |
| Sky Glass/Stream (Internet) | 126 | 163 |
| Virgin | 106 | 143 |
| Freesat | 122 | 127 |
Coverage of the 2025 AFCON knock-out stage fixtures are airing as follows:
| Date | Match | Kick off | Channel |
| 3 Jan | Senegal v Sudan | 16:00 |
4seven / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 3 Jan | Mali v Tunisia | 19:00 |
4seven / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 4 Jan | Morocco v Tanzania | 16:00 |
4seven / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 4 Jan | South Africa v Cameroon | 19:00 |
4seven / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 5 Jan | Egypt v Benin | 16:00 |
4seven / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 5 Jan | Nigeria v Mozambique | 19:00 |
4seven / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 6 Jan | Algeria v DR Congo | 16:00 |
4seven / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 6 Jan | Côte d'Ivoire v Burkina Faso | 19:00 |
4seven / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 9 Jan | QF1: Mali v Senegal | 16:00 |
E4 / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 9 Jan | QF2: Cameroon v Morocco | 19:00 |
E4 / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 10 Jan | QF3: Algeria v Nigeria | 16:00 |
E4 / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 10 Jan | QF4: Egypt v Côte d'Ivoire | 19:00 |
E4 / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 14 Jan | SF1: Senegal v Egypt | 17:00 |
E4 / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 14 Jan | SF2: Nigeria v Morocco | 20:00 |
E4 / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 17 Jan | Third-place play-off: Egypt v Nigeria | 16:00 |
E4 / Channel 4 Streaming
|
| 18 Jan | Final: Senegal v Morocco | 19:00 |
E4 / Channel 4 Streaming
|
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