Africa Cup of Nations 2025: Bookmaker Bets
As a trusted team of experts, we are mostly particular about the bookmaker odds, tracking market shifts, and analyzing tournament favorites with precision. Where by our coverage goes beyond simple predictions; we point out where value might emerge, how a tie can impact each contender, and what bettors would sit and watch as the action unfolds. These details are guides to the betting landscape of TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025.
Africa Cup of Nations 2025, Morocco: Tournament Preview
AFCON's 35th edition will be held in Morocco during the festive period, packing top-tier worldwide football into six cities and nine stadiums. Here's the summary, need-to-know brief before the first whistle.
- Edition & Range: We do have the 35th Africa Cup of Nations, 24 teams participating, and 52 matches over nine venues.
- Dates: This tournament runs from 21st December 2025 to 18th January 2026, taking 29 straight days of action.
- Presenter & cities: Morocco stages AFCON in Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, Agadir, and Fes; Rabat is the center or focus with four match venues.
- Opening match: Morocco vs Comoros, occurs on 21st December, at Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat.
- Final: 18 January 2026, Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat.
- Formation at a glance: Six groups of four; using the top two in each group + four best third-placed, advance to the Round of 16 (standard for a 24-team format).
- Knockout venues (main duty): Semi-finals in Rabat and Tangier; third-place plays off in Casablanca.
NOTE! Morocco happens to host AFCON for the first time in 37 years (since 1988), both opening and finals are set for Rabat, a very essential context for travel, labeling, and neutral-venue changing.
AFCON 2025: The Heavy Hitters to Watch (top dog)
Our specialist dug into the latest bookmaker prices and championship context to spotlight the nation state most likely to lift the trophy. We blended odds with draw dynamics, venue consideration or requirement, and recent AFCON form. This isn't about talebearer hype, just a clear, data-led viewpoint on the main contenders. Here are the teams setting the early pace in the market.
Morocco: Host Lions, Big Stage, Bigger Dedication
Odds to win: 4.00 – the market's clear No.1.
They carry home advantage across Morocco's showcase venues and deep squad balance, impulse, depth, and a friendly travel grid make them formidable.
They topped their group in the previous AFCON but fell in the Round of 16 to South Africa. That early exit sharpened focus around chance creation and late-game operation. Expect a tighter, more ruthless approach.
Group A looks fierce with Mali, Zambia, and Comoros. Morocco's floor is high, and the ceiling is title-worthy. Anything short of a semifinal will feel like underperformance.
Egypt: Pharaohs Poised to Pounce
Odds to win: 6.50 – second favorite.
The record champions know how to traverse tournament football. In the last AFCON, Egypt exited in the Round of 16 (on penalties to DR Congo), a reminder that fine margins still matter.
- Group shape: South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe offer varied tests in speed and physicality.
- Edge cases: Elite set-piece delivery and penalty ancestry can swing knockout importance.
- What to watch: Defensive compactness versus top speed in transition – Egypt's balance decides their ceiling.
Algeria: Vindication on the Cards
Odds to win: 6.50 – third favorite.
The talent is unquestionable, and the motivation is real. Their previous AFCON ended in a surprise group-stage exit, adding fuel to a reset run.
| Algeria at a glance | Details |
| Last AFCON outcome | Elimination from the group stage |
| Typical strengths | Dominating possession, innovating wide play, and shooting volume from the head star |
| Key swing component | Midfield control against higher press teams |
| Draw history | Difficult paved path; small errors are punished quickly |
| Late-round risk | Game state volatility if chasing goals |
| Inverted case | Early rhythm + set-piece efficiency → deep run |
Nigeria: Super Eagles Built for the Long Run
Odds to win: 10.00 - fourth favorite.
They were runners-up at the previous AFCON, proving knockout flexibility. The physicality blends well for the final third who qualifies.
Nigeria's goal shot profile is tournament congenial. They defend the box well and create repeatable chances. Year on year, game state control has improved rapidly
Steadiness across the group stage will set their bracket. Early accomplishment, rotate with precision, and the path opens. With margins this fine, their set-piece threat is a genuine differentiator.
Ivory Coast: Champions With a Target on Their Back
Odds to win: 11.00 - fifth favorite.
The Elephants return as defending champions, battle-tested in every sense. Their previous AFCON story – Endurance, growth, silverware – still resonates.
- Competition DNA: Calm in chaos, late-match confidence, and big-moment execution.
- High Risk profile: Can drift in control phases; must avoid slow group starts.
- Win condition: Transitions tidy, set pieces, and trust knockout nous.
These bookmarkers chats have five nations headline, each carrying its own blend of origin, pressure, and capability. Egypt's legacy, Nigeria's adaptability, Morocco's home edge, Ivory Coast's champion, Algeria's hunger mentality ensure AFCON 2025 will be furiously contested from start to finish.
Pursuit Pack: Significance Contenders & existing Outsiders
Range of nations are priced in a way they can be rewarded due to sharp timing and good risk control. These coordinates bring tournament nous, forceful game plans, and the kind of variance that can flip a bracket. Here's the rest of the board, with concise takeaways to help you frame and manage expectations.
- Senegal - 7.00: Athletes and tournament-proven having little space between, Senegal sits just outside the top tier on price. The football knockout well to travel typically to their spine. If they find early goals, they can move a quarter of the bracket.
- Tunisia - 14.00: Tunisia flourish in structure games a very notoriously awkward experience. They kept their difference thing and punished the last-minute build-up. Low totals often suit their pathfinding.
- Mali - 14.00: Mali state game breaks their way, they become a hell momentum which brings play-makers power and a growing press identity, they are desperate in waxes and can incline through volume.
- Cameroon - 16.00: Cameroon can turn association or attachment into battles. Pieces are leverage when the games get screwed up, consistency across group play is the key swing element. substantially dramatic and fearless in duels.
- South Africa - 40.00: South Africa is known to frustrate bigger names. Transmutation cleans when space appears. Strength underprice often occurs over 90+ minutes.
- DR Congo - 40.00: Unstable when the press bites, it can flip energy in minutes. The high ceiling pairs with the variation you must price in. Catch them when health, fitness, and form align.
- Angola - 50.00: Angola's approach is insufficient conflict against favorites. They ride compact lines and look for fast counters. One early upset can open a gentle passage in the bracket.
- Burkina Faso - 65.00: Uncooperative, persistent, and difficult when needed, they're to adapt at protecting leads once ahead. Live placement can be attractive if they score first.
- Zambia – 65.00: Zambia proves speed with boldness between the lines. Their best matches arrive when it clicks. In balanced groups, they're a classic “to licensed” value shout.
- Equatorial Guinea - 100.00: "Victim" but cautious, comfortable being handicapped, perfect to be ordered or controlled in a tight meeting.
- Gabon - 150.00: When the attack purrs, Gabon creates standard looks quickly. The issue is to undergo pressure across 90. Spot plays long outright here.
- Uganda – 150.00: Operation keeps Uganda competitive late¸ goal may bursts in than rather keep their flow protective their double chance can be their exposure
- Mozambique - 150.00: Vibrant and willing to play through lines, Mozambique asks questions of patient opponents. Depth is the main concern in assembly groups. Target situational markets over futures.
- Tanzania - 150.00: Tanzania leans on structure and composure. Matches can slow down to their pace if they manage the first aspect well. Look for value in low-scoring scripts.
- Comoros – 150.00: They thrive on set piece moment having it unprincipled with a big heart, candidate for opportunity.
- Benin - 200.00: Benin brings direction lines and selective pressing. They can grind a favorite down if protected by the scoreline. Consider handicaps and "to score" props before outright.
- Sudan – 250.00: Sudan aims to distort games and live in moments. The path is narrow but clear: defend deep, pounce late. Any preliminary group points shift their pricing fast.
- Zimbabwe – 250.00: Zimbabwe’s best category is solid with quick, wide releases. Upset balance rises when they strike first. In-running angles often beat pre-game exposure.
- Botswana – 500.00: A long price, but tournaments bring up chaos. Keep anticipation grounded and look for spot value. If they nick an early result, review the ladder promptly.
These Countries may have legendary favorites behind us, but their blend of structure, composition, and surprise perspective keeps the market wide open. With knockout volatility guaranteed, the chasing pack could yet redefine AFCON 2025’s storyline.
💡 Pro Tip: When exploring outright markets, balance shorter prices with selective exposure to mid-tier nations that thrive in structured play. Look for value in “To Qualify” or Group stage disqualification” bets rather than only outright winner tickets. Timing matters; odds can swing dramatically after just one group-stage result.
Best Bookmakers for AFCON 2025
We mapped our (2025) ranking to AFCON-specific needs – deep football coverage, powerful in-play, mobile apps, and local payments – so you can choose platforms that fit outright and turn-by-turn strategies.
Criteria and features are drawn directly from our ranking methodology and feature set (live betting, live streaming, bet builder, cash-out, localization).
| Rank | Bookmaker | Why it’s strong for AFCON 2025 |
| 1 | Betano | Strong mobile experience for the collection condition scale, a constant broad football market menu with quick in-play updates, and localized payments |
| 2 | 1xBet | Useful for live obstruct across 52 matches, Huge market depth (outright, player & team props) and round-the-clock in-play coverage |
| 3 | Betking | Local favorite with instinctual slips and competitive football pricing; good for “To licensed” and group outright across six pools. |
| 4 | Bet9ja | Established local operator; reliable deposits/withdrawals and wide AFCON visibility for pre-match and compilers builders. |
| 5 | 22Bet | Broad international football catalogue; useful for slot props and multi-market comparisons during knockout rounds. |
| 6 | Melbet | Solid soccer measurement plus live features (builder/cash-out) that help manage exposure in volatile scenarios. |
| 7 | Pinnacle | Sharp odds and lower margin structure ideal for price delicate outright or totals plays. |
| 8 | BC Game | Useful as an extra price check with modern app UX; supports fast transactions for agile staking. |
| 9 | Paripesa | Football-first depth and mobile performance; handy for alternative lines during overcrowded matchdays |
The above list (names and order) comes from our Nigeria ranking; live/in-play, builder, streaming, cash-out, localization, and mobile-app capabilities are the core features highlighted in that guide. Always verify availability and legality in your jurisdiction and play responsibly.
FAQ
What is the official tournament title?
TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025.
What are the official AFCON 2025 groups?
A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros • B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe • C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania • D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana • E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan • F: Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique.
How does the Round-of-16 mapping work?
Standard 24-team mapping: 1A vs 3C/D/E; 2A vs 2C; 1B vs 3A/C/D; 1C vs 3A/B/F; 2B vs 2F; 1D vs 3B/E/F; 1E vs 2D; 1F vs 2E. This is the backbone for path-to-Final projections.
Which venues host the quarter-finals?
Quarter-finals are assigned to Grand Stade de Marrakech and Grand Stade d'Agadir, per the official schedule.
Which stadiums and capacities are in use?
Nine venues across six cities: Rabat (Prince Moulay Abdellah 69,500; Al Barid 18,000; Annexe Olympique 21,000; Moulay El Hassan 22,000), Casablanca (Mohammed V 45,000), Tangier (Grand Stade 75,600), Marrakech (Grand Stade 41,245), Agadir (Grand Stade 41,144), Fès (Complexe Sportif 35,468).
What are the key ticketing and fan-access details?
There are three phased ticket windows (incl. a Visa presale), and fan access is centralized via the Yalla App for Fan ID and the AFCON e-Visa.
Is there an official hospitality program?
MATCH Hospitality is the exclusive Official Hospitality Provider for AFCON 2025.
Any official travel capacity updates fans should know?
Royal Air Maroc has announced additional capacity around the tournament period to support inbound travel.
Which betting markets (beyond outrights) should readers expect?
Group Winner/To Qualify, Exact Group Position, Stage of Elimination, To Reach QF/SF/Final, plus match markets (1X2, Qualify 2-way, totals/BTTS, corners/cards) and player props where permitted.
What's the high-level phase timeline by date?
Group Stage: 21–29 Dec • R16: 1–4 Jan • QF: 7–8 Jan • SF: 14–15 Jan • 3rd-place: 17 Jan (Casablanca) • Final: 18 Jan (Rabat).