The year 2025 promises to be thrilling for African football as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) organizes various competitions and African teams prepare for major FIFA tournaments. With events ranging from the prestigious TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to youth championships and club tournaments, football enthusiasts can expect an action-packed calendar.
The TotalEnergies African Nations Champions (CHAN) will open the season from February 1-28, hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. This competition showcases players from domestic leagues, bringing local heroes to the global stage.
Following CHAN, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will be held from July 5-26, also in Morocco. This tournament features twelve top women’s teams, reflecting the growing strength and recognition of women's football across the continent.
The flagship competition, the TotalEnergies AFCON, is scheduled from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, in Morocco. Anticipation is high as national teams vie for glory and this premier tournament showcases the best talent Africa has to offer.
Football at the youth level will also shine. The U-17 AFCON will take place from March 30 to April 19, hosted by Morocco, with the U-20 AFCON following from April 26 to May 25, set to take place in Côte d'Ivoire. These tournaments are not only prestigious but also serve as qualifiers for the FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cups, providing young talent with invaluable experience on the international stage.
For club football, the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, and the CAF Women’s Champions League continue to attract attention, culminating with the CAF Super Cup, where the top clubs face off to claim supremacy.
African teams will also have ample representation on the FIFA stage. The FIFA Club World Cup will occur from June 14 to July 13, 2025, held in the USA. Al Ahly, ES Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Wydad AC will compete against the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid, showcasing African talent on the world stage.
Meanwhile, the Beach Soccer World Cup will borrow sunny shores from Seychelles, bringing Senegal and Mauritania to battle on the golden sands from May 1 to 11.
African teams are gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, starting with matches scheduled throughout the calendar year, particularly noted for March and September, culminating with decisive games by October.
Amidst this anticipation, Senegal is particularly highlighted as they aim for a historic year. Having secured their place to defend the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) title, Senegal is set to take part in five significant CAF competitions this year: CHAN, U-17 AFCON, U-20 AFCON, WAFCON, and AFCON 2025.
With preparations underway to defend their divided titles, the Senegalese national team has the lofty aspiration of emulating their recent successes. The Lions of Teranga first captured the CHAN title three years ago and now look toward securing multiple championships again, reflecting their beginning of dominance.
Notably, during the 2022-2023 period, Senegal achieved unprecedented success by winning four continental titles across various age groups. The men's side hoisted their first-ever TotalEnergies CAF AFCON title, continuing to build momentum with successful campaigns in both the U-17 and U-20 categories.
While the competition promises to be tougher with the rising standard of play across the African continent, Senegal hopes to make history by securing all available titles within 2025.
With so many events scheduled and teams vying for glory, the year 2025 stands to be transformative for African football, establishing new legends and forging the future of the sport on the global stage.