AFCON 2025 to be shown live free-to-air in the UK

Fans in the UK will be able to watch the full Africa Cup of Nations on free-to-air television for the first time after Channel 4 announced they would screen the tournament in its entirety.

The AFCON starts on December 21 and runs right over Christmas and the New Year with the final scheduled for January 18. It is being staged in Morocco and will feature many of the best players from the Premier League, including Mohamed Salah, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo.

Sky Sports held the broadcast rights for the 2023 and 2024 editions but it will now be available to a wider audience.

Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba said: “The agreement between CAF and Channel 4 is historic in many ways.

“It ensures that the 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.”

Ivory Coast, whose squad contains Amad and Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand, are the defending champions.

They open their account against Mozambique on Christmas Eve.