All matches from the Africa Cup of Nations will be broadcast free-to-air in the UK after Channel 4 secured exclusive live rights to the tournament.
The deal with The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) ensures football fans will enjoy wall-to-wall coverage over the festive period, including the highly anticipated clash between Mo Salah’s Egypt and South Africa at 3pm on Boxing Day.
This edition of AFCON will be staged in Morocco, with 24 teams competing across 52 matches in nine stadiums. The 2025 tournament runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, with games available across Channel 4, 4seven, and E4 later in the tournament. Online, the streaming action will take place via the Channel 4 app/website or via Channel 4 Sport’s YouTube channel (details below).
- Scroll down for the AFCON group stage broadcast schedule.
Previously, the BBC shared free-to-air coverage with a pay-TV partner. In early 2022, AFCON delivered record audiences for the relaunched BBC Three, which had long been the home of the tournament during its earlier linear incarnations.
By expanding coverage across streaming platforms and YouTube, Channel 4 aims to bring the drama of AFCON to a broader and younger audience, ensuring one of football’s most vibrant competitions reaches millions across the UK.
Premier League stars in action
The AFCON 2025 will feature a host of Premier League stars, including Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah and Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush representing Egypt, the tournament’s most decorated side.
Other Premier League stars expected to take part in the tournament include the Manchester United trio of Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (holders Côte d’Ivoire) and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco); Everton’s Senegalese duo Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye; Fulham’s Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, (both Nigeria); West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo); Crystal Palace attacker Ismaila Sarr (Senegal) and Wolves defender Emmanuel Agbadou (Côte d’Ivoire).
Where and when to watch live AFCON 2025 in the UK
Channel 4 coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations group stages is as follows:
| Date | Match | Kick-off | Channel / Streaming outlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 December | Morocco v Comoros | 19:00 | E4 / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 22 December | Mali v Zambia | 14:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 22 December | South Africa v Angola | 17:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 22 December | Egypt v Zimbabwe | 20:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 23 December | DR Congo v Benin | 12:30 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 23 December | Senegal v Botswana | 15:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 23 December | Nigeria v Tanzania | 17:30 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 23 December | Tunisia v Uganda | 20:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 24 December | Burkina Faso v Equatorial Guinea | 12:30 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 24 December | Algeria v Sudan | 15:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 24 December | Côte d’Ivoire v Mozambique | 17:30 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 24 December | Cameroon v Gabon | 20:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 26 December | Angola v Zimbabwe | 12:30 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 26 December | Egypt v South Africa | 15:00 | Channel 4 / Streaming |
| 26 December | Zambia v Comoros | 17:30 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 26 December | Morocco v Mali | 20:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 27 December | Benin v Botswana | 12:30 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 27 December | Senegal v DR Congo | 15:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 27 December | Uganda v Tanzania | 17:30 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 27 December | Nigeria v Tunisia | 20:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 28 December | Gabon v Mozambique | 12:30 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 28 December | Equatorial Guinea v Sudan | 15:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 28 December | Algeria v Burkina Faso | 17:30 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 28 December | Côte d’Ivoire v Cameroon | 20:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 29 December | Angola v Egypt | 16:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 29 December | Zimbabwe v South Africa | 16:00 | Channel 4 Sport YouTube |
| 29 December | Zambia v Morocco | 19:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 29 December | Comoros v Mali | 19:00 | Channel 4 Sport YouTube |
| 30 December | Uganda v Nigeria | 16:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 30 December | Tanzania v Tunisia | 16:00 | Channel 4 Sport YouTube |
| 30 December | Botswana v DR Congo | 19:00 | Channel 4 Sport YouTube |
| 30 December | Benin v Senegal | 19:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 31 December | Equatorial Guinea v Algeria | 16:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 31 December | Sudan v Burkina Faso | 16:00 | Channel 4 Sport YouTube |
| 31 December | Gabon v Côte d’Ivoire | 19:00 | 4Seven / Channel 4 Streaming |
| 31 December | Mozambique v Cameroon | 19:00 | Channel 4 Sport YouTube |
Following the conclusion of the group stages, the knockout stages begin on 3 January with the first Round of 16 games. Quarter-final weekend is the 10/11 January. That’s followed by the semi-finals on Wednesday 14 January. Then, on Saturday 17 January, the semi-final losers play for third place in Casablanca.
The final is on Sunday 18 January, live from Rabat.
Reaction to the deal
Pete Andrews, Head of Sport, Channel 4, commented:
“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.”
CAF General Secretary, Véron Mosengo-Omba, added:
“The agreement between CAF and Channel 4 is historic in many ways and it ensures that the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 will live in each and every household in the UK for the first time in the history of the competition. It affirms AFCON’s position as one of the prime and much sought after assets in global football. On behalf of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, I welcome Channel 4 to the CAF family and we look forward to a successful partnership that will deliver growth for both parties.”
IMG will produce Channel 4’s coverage of the 35th African Cup of Nations.
By: Marc Thornham