The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place across the festive season with various Premier League stars and other key players leaving their clubs to take part in the tournament
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, talks to Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on December 13, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Mohamed Salah is off to AFCON (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gets underway on Sunday evening with hosts Morocco facing Comoros in the tournament opener. The international competition runs throughout the festive period with 24 nations competing for the coveted trophy.
Numerous Premier League stars and other prominent players have left their clubs to participate. Liverpool will be without Mohamed Salah for the festive period as Arne Slot prepares for life without the veteran winger for the next few weeks.
Everton will be without key pair Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye as they head to represent the Senegal national team. Additional talents such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Amad, Noussair Mazraoui and Bryan Mbeumo will also leave their respective English sides to represent their nations.
Here, the ECHOexplains how you can watch AFCON without paying a single penny and which fixtures will unfold during the festive period.
How do I watch AFCON for free?
Channel 4 secured exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2025 AFCON tournament. This deal represents the first time the competition will be accessible to view free of charge in the UK.
Every match will be shown live across Channel 4's network with E4 and 4Seven screening games alongside the primary Channel 4 coverage. Online streams will also be accessible through the Channel 4 YouTube channel.
Idrissa Gana Gueye of Everton is restrained by team mates Iliman Ndiaye and Jordan Pickford after clashing with Michael Keane (not pictured) to be shown a red card during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford on November 24, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Everton will be without Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye
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Pete Andrews,the broadcaster's head of sport, said: "Bringing the excitement and drama of the African Cup of Nations exclusively to UK free-to-air television for the first time is such a compelling proposition for Channel 4.
"So many Premier League stars will be playing in the tournament and having Liverpool legend Mo Salah on Channel 4 on Boxing Day, when traditional Premier League football coverage has been reduced elsewhere, means football fans will still be able to get their thrill of festive fixtures."
AFCON 2025 schedule and where you can catch the action
Group stage fixtures are posted below in order of date and time:
Egypt's forward #10 Mohamed Salah waves as he warms up prior to the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group B football match between Egypt and Mozambique at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on January 14, 2024.
Will Mo Salah lift the trophy?(Image: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
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Morocco v Comoros - Sunday, December 21 at 7pm. Available on E4/Channel 4.
Mali v Zambia - Monday, December 22 at 2pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
South Africa v Angola - Monday, December 22 at 5pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Egypt v Zimbabwe - Monday, December 22 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
DR Congo v Benin - Tuesday, December 23 at 12:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Senegal v Botswana - Tuesday, December 23 at 3pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Nigeria v Tanzania - Tuesday, December 23 at 5:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Tunisia v Uganda - Tuesday, December 23 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Burkina Faso v Equatorial Guinea - Wednesday, December 24 at 12:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Algeria v Sudan - Wednesday, December 24 at 3pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Côte d'Ivoire v Mozambique - Wednesday, December 24 at 5:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Cameroon v Gabon - Wednesday, December 24 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Angola v Zimbabwe - Friday, December 26 at 12:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Egypt v South Africa - Friday, December 26 at 3pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Zambia v Comoros - Friday, December 26 at 5:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Morocco v Mali - Friday, December 26 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Benin v Botswana - Saturday, December 27 at 12:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Senegal v DR Congo - Saturday, December 27 at 3pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Uganda v Tanzania - Saturday, December 27 at 5:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Nigeria v Tunisia - Saturday, December 27 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Gabon v Mozambique - Sunday, December 28 at 12:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Equatorial Guinea v Sudan - Sunday, December 28 at 3pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Algeria v Burkina Faso - Sunday, December 28 at 5:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Côte d'Ivoire v Cameroon - Sunday, December 28 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Angola v Egypt - Monday, December 29 at 4pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Zimbabwe v South Africa - Monday, December 29 at 4pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Zambia v Morocco - Monday, December 29 at 7pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Comoros v Mali - Monday, December 29 at 7pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Uganda v Nigeria - Tuesday, December 30 at 4pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Tanzania v Tunisia - Tuesday, December 30 at 4pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Botswana v DR Congo - Tuesday, December 30 at 7pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Benin v Senegal - Tuesday, December 30 at 7pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Equatorial Guinea v Algeria - Wednesday, December 31 at 4pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Sudan v Burkina Faso - Wednesday, December 31 at 4pm. Available on Channel 4 Sport YouTube.
Gabon v Côte d'Ivoire - Wednesday, December 31 at 7pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
Mozambique v Cameroon - Wednesday, December 31 at 7pm. Available on Channel 4 Sport YouTube.