Overview
- Hosts Morocco face Comoros in the opening match in Rabat on December 21, with the final set for January 18 at Complex Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah.
- Groups A–F are confirmed, including holders Ivory Coast with Cameroon, Gabon and Mozambique in Group F, and Nigeria drawn with Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania in Group C.
- The format advances the top two from each group plus the four best third-placed teams to the round of 16, with ties settled by extra time and penalties if required.
- Matches will be staged across nine stadiums in Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier, where the Grand Stade de Tanger is the largest venue at about 75,000 capacity.
- An ESPN analysis projects as many as 45 Premier League players could be called up, citing names such as Mohamed Salah, Bryan Mbeumo and Carlos Baleba as potential absences for their clubs.