MBABANE – Morocco is in the spotlight from this coming Sunday, as it hosts the biggest soccer showpiece in the continent – the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Up to seven out of 14 Council of Sothern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) nations are in North Africa to compete in the prestigious tournament that will run from this coming Sunday up to January 18, 2026. At least 24 countries chase continental glory and a share from the gigantic over E530 million purse. AFCON winners will get over E117 million in today’s exchange rate.
While the Eswatini Senior National Team, Sihlangu, have again missed out due to another dismal qualifying campaign – finishing winless in qualifying group made up of Mali, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissa; some regional counterparts are gearing up for battle in Morocco. These are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Notably, Lesotho and Seychelles are the other two teams in the region that are yet to qualify for AFCON.
The qualified COSAFA nations have tricky and tough opening fixtures, with Comoros beginning their journey agaisnt the hosts, Morocco, on Sunday at 9pm Eswatini time. Comoros made their debut in the tournament in 2021 and finished in the group stage. They hope to do the unthinkable against the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists.
Four more COSAFA nations are in action the following day, and the match-ups are headlined by the regional derby between 1996 champions South Africa and Angola, who are three-time quarter-finalists. Action gets underway at 7pm. Zambia, who were surprise champions back in 2012, will kick-start the day’s triple-header against one of the continent’s formidable sides, Mali, at 4pm. The day will conclude with a showdown between Zimbabwe, who face the seven-time champions, Egypt. The latter are the most successful side in the tournament. The game starts at 10pm. Zimbabwe, who are also COSAFA’s envoys, have failed to go beyond the group stage in previous attempts. Botswana, who return to the big stage for the first time since 2012, have an uphill battle against 2021 champions Senegal on Tuesday at 5pm. Mozambique will be the last team in the region to play their opening game. They face holders and three-time champions Ivory Coast on Wednesday, with kick-off set for 7:30pm.
COSAFA COUNTRIES AFCON OPENING FIXTURES:
Sunday, Dec 21, 2025
Morocco vs Comoros 9pm
Monday, Dec 22, 2025
Mali vs Zambia 4pm
South Africa vs Angola 7pm
Egypt vs Zimbabwe 10pm
Tuesday, Dec 23, 2025
Senegal vs Botswana 5pm
Wednesday, Dec 24, 2025
Ivory Coast vs Mozambique 7:30pm
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