Mo Salah: AFCON 2025 fixtures, schedule for Egypt and Liverpool forward at Africa Cup of Nations

With his Liverpool future uncertain, Mohamed Salah is on international duty at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.

The 33-year-old is one of the most high-profile players at the tournament in Morocco, where the Pharaohs were considered among the contenders for glory before the start of play.

Egypt are the most successful team in AFCON history, lifting the trophy seven times but going out at the last-16 stage at the preceding 2023 edition in the Ivory Coast.

Here’s what you need to know about Mo Salah’s schedule and record at AFCON, as well as his possible return date for his club.

Mo Salah: Egypt AFCON fixtures, schedule

Egypt’s campaign starts against Zimbabwe in Agadir on December 22. They then play South Africa before finishing the initial phase by taking on Angola in the same city a week later.

Monday, December 22

Egypt vs Zimbabwe, Agadir (20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT)

Friday, December 26

Egypt vs South Africa, Agadir (15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT)

Monday, December 29

Egypt vs Angola, Agadir (16:00 GMT / 11:00 ET / 08:00 PT)

Mo Salah schedule if Egypt win Group B

• Round of 16: January 5, Agadir (16:00 GMT / 11:00 ET / 08:00 PT)
• Quarter-final: January 10, Agadir (19:00 GMT / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT)
• Semi-final: January 14, Tangier (17:00 GMT / 12:00 ET / 09:00 PT)
• Third-placed play-off: January 17, Casablanca (16:00 GMT / 11:00 ET / 08:00 PT)
• Final: January 18, Rabat (19:00 GMT / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT)

Mo Salah schedule if Egypt finish second

• Round of 16: January 4, Rabat (16:00 GMT / 11:00 ET / 08:00 PT)
• Quarter-final: January 9, Rabat (19:00 GMT / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT)
• Semi-final: January 14, Rabat (20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT)
• Third-placed play-off: January 17, Casablanca (16:00 GMT / 11:00 ET / 08:00 PT)
• Final: January 18, Rabat (19:00 GMT / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT)

Mo Salah schedule if Egypt finish third and qualify

• Round of 16: January 3, Tangier (16:00 GMT / 11:00 ET / 08:00 PT)
• Quarter-final: January 9, Tangier (16:00 GMT / 11:00 ET / 08:00 PT)
• Semi-final: January 14, Tangier (17:00 GMT / 12:00 ET / 09:00 PT)
• Third-placed play-off: January 17, Casablanca (16:00 GMT / 11:00 ET / 08:00 PT)
• Final: January 18, Rabat (19:00 GMT / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT)

Trademark Mo Salah 🤌#TotalEnergiesAFCON pic.twitter.com/4QVDTb2CWA

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) August 18, 2023

How to watch Mo Salah at AFCON: TV channel, live online stream

In the UK, live AFCON 2025 coverage is on Channel 4. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.

Online live streaming is available on a vast range of devices through Channel 4’s website and app and the beIN Sports app.

When is Mohamed Salah back from AFCON?

The earliest Salah would return from AFCON would be after Egypt’s group stage ends on Monday, December 29.

The four-time Premier League top scorer’s final match will be between January 3-5 if Egypt lose in the last 16.

A quarter-final exit would be on January 9 or 10, while their last fixture will be on January 17 if they are knocked out in the semi-finals or January 18 if they reach the final.

Liverpool Premier League fixtures: When could Salah play?

Liverpool are at home to Leeds United in the league on January 1 (17:30 GMT / 12:30 ET / 09:30 PT), but that would give Salah little more than 48 hours’ potential rest including travelling if Egypt were to suffer a surprise group stage exit.

Their match at Fulham on January 4 (15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT) would be likelier in that situation, while Liverpool’s subsequent game if Egypt exit in the quarter-finals is away to Arsenal on January 8 (20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT).

They also host third-tier Barnsley in the FA Cup third round on January 12 (19:45 GMT / 14:45 ET / 11:45 PT) and Burnley in the league on January 17, but Salah will definitely miss both games if Egypt reach the semi-finals.

He would also be likely to miss the trip to Marseille in the Champions League on January 21 (20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT) if Egypt are in the final four.

If Egypt go all the way, the likeliest date when Salah would be available for Liverpool again is away to Bournemouth on January 24 (17:30 GMT / 12:30 ET / 09:30 PT), assuming he is not carrying any injuries and does not need extra rest.

They then host Qarabag in the Champions League on January 28 (20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT)

Is Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool?

Salah’s AFCON participation could allow a cooling-off period between the footballing icon and Liverpool after the reigning Premier League champions’ early-season slump was compounded by disgruntled remarks made by their star forward.

Having failed to start four matches in a row, Salah said he felt he had been “thrown under the bus” and claimed his relationship with manager Arne Slot had broken down following a 3-3 draw at Leeds United on December 6.

Liverpool left Salah out of their squad for their subsequent 1-0 win at Inter in the Champions League, but tensions appeared to ease following discussions between Slot and the player, who came off the bench to set up the second of Hugo Ekitike’s goals in a 2-0 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion on December 13.

That was Salah’s final game so far of a Liverpool career in which he has scored 250 goals in 420 appearances.

Slot’s side are unbeaten since Salah was dropped following a 4-1 European home defeat to PSV.

At his best, Salah’s involvement empowers Liverpool with one of the best forwards in Premier League history – and their asking price if the Saudi Pro League make a mooted move for the Egypt captain in January is likely to be higher if he is not in dispute with the club.

British-record £125 million signing Alexander Isak and £79m France forward Ekitike formed part of Liverpool’s attack for their impressive result in Milan, demonstrating the abundance of options Slot has up front.

When the moment demands leadership, legends rise. 🌟

Salah words before 🇪🇬 vs 🇨🇲 penalty shootouts in 2021 #TotalEnergiesAFCON. pic.twitter.com/bLd6ND618M

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) February 26, 2025

Has Mohamed Salah won AFCON?

Salah has never been an AFCON champion, although he helped Egypt reach the final of the 2017 and 2021 tournaments.

After scoring two goals at each of the three editions from 2017, Salah scored in his nation’s opening 2-2 draw with Mozambique at the 2023 finals but missed almost all of the rest of their run to the round of 16 through injury.

Egypt joined Algeria and Ivory Coast in going unbeaten through World Cup qualifying and could be favoured by the 2025 tournament taking place in North Africa, although host country Morocco could take some stopping, earning a record-extending 19th consecutive win in international football by beating Comoros 2-0 in the first game.

AFCON 2025 groups, teams

Group A

• Comoros
• Mali
• Morocco
• Zambia

Group B

• Angola
• Egypt
• South Africa
• Zimbabwe

Group C

• Nigeria
• Tanzania
• Tunisia
• Uganda

Group D

• Benin
• Botswana
• DR Congo
• Senegal

Group E

• Algeria
• Burkina Faso
• Equatorial Guinea
• Sudan

Group F

• Cameroon
• Ivory Coast
• Gabon
• Mozambique

The top two teams from each group, plus the best four third-placed teams will advance to the round of 16.

AFCON 2025 fixtures, full Africa Cup of Nations schedule

All times are GMT.

Sunday, December 21 2025

• Group A: Morocco vs Comoros (Rabat, 19:00)

Monday, December 22 2025

• Group A: Mali vs Zambia (Casablanca, 14:00)
• Group B: South Africa vs Angola (Marrakech, 17:00)
• Group B: Egypt vs Zimbabwe (Agadir, 20:00)

Tuesday, December 23 2025

• Group D: Senegal vs Botswana (Tangier, 12:30)
• Group D: DR Congo vs Benin (Rabat, 15:00)
• Group C: Nigeria vs Tanzania (Fes, 17:30)
• Group C: Tunisia vs Uganda (Rabat, 20:00)

Wednesday, December 24 2025

• Group E: Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea (Casablanca, 12:30)
• Group E: Algeria vs Sudan (Rabat, 15:00)
• Group F: Ivory Coast vs Mozambique (Marrakech, 17:30)
• Group F: Cameroon vs Gabon (Agadir, 20:00)

Friday, December 26 2025

• Group B: Angola vs Zimbabwe (Marrakech, 12:30)
• Group B: Egypt vs South Africa (Agadir, 15:00)
• Group A: Zambia vs Comoros (Casablanca, 17:30)
• Group A: Morocco vs Mali (Rabat, 20:00)

Saturday, December 27 2025

• Group D: Benin vs Botswana (Rabat, 12:30)
• Group D: Senegal vs DR Congo (Tangier, 15:00)
• Group C: Uganda vs Tanzania (Rabat 3, 17:30)
• Group C: Nigeria vs Tunisia (Fes, 20:00)

Sunday, December 28 2025

• Group F: Gabon vs Mozambique (Agadir, 12:30)
• Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan (Casablanca, 15:00)
• Group E: Algeria vs Burkina Faso (Rabat, 17:30)
• Group F: Ivory Coast vs Cameroon, (Marrakech, 20:00)

Monday, December 29 2025

• Group B: Angola vs Egypt (Agadir, 16:00)
• Group B: Zimbabwe vs South Africa (Marrakech, 16:00)
• Group A: Comoros vs Mali (Casablanca, 19:00)
• Group A: Zambia vs Morocco (Rabat, 19:00)

Tuesday, December 30 2025

• Group C: Tanzania vs Tunisia (Rabat, 16:00)
• Group C: Uganda vs Nigeria (Fes, 16:00)
• Group D: Benin vs Senegal (Tangier, 19:00)
• Group D: Botswana vs DR Congo (Rabat, 19:00)

Wednesday, December 31 2025

• Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria (Rabat, 16:00)
• Group E: Sudan vs Burkina Faso (Casablanca, 16:00)
• Group F: Gabon vs Ivory Coast (Marrakech, 19:00)
• Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon (Agadir, 19:00)

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 round of 16

Saturday, January 3 2026

• SR1: Group D winners vs Group B/E/F third-place (Tangier, 16:00)
• SR2: Group A runners-up vs Group C runners-up (Casablanca, 19:00)

Sunday, January 4

• SR3: Group A winners vs Group C/D/E third-place (Rabat, 16:00)
• SR4: Group B runners-up vs Group F runners-up (Rabat, 19:00)

Monday, January 5

• SR5: Group B winners vs Group A/C/D third-place (Agadir, 6pm)
• SR6: Group C winners vs Group A/B/F third-place (Fes, 8:30pm)

Tuesday, January 6

• SR7: Group E winners vs Group D runners-up (Rabat 2, 6pm)
• SR8: Group F winners vs Group E runners-up (Marrakech, 8:30pm)

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 quarter-finals

Friday, January 9

• QF1: Winner SR2 vs Winner SR1 (Tangier, 16:00)
• QF2: Winner SR4 vs Winner SR3 (Rabat, 19:00)

Saturday, January 10

• QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner SR6 (Marrakech, 16:00)
• QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8 (Agadir, 19:00)

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 semi-finals

Wednesday, January 14

• SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4 (Tangier, 17:00)
• SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2 (Rabat, 20:00)

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 third-place match

Saturday, January 17

• SF1 vs SF2 losers (Casablanca, 16:00)

Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final

Sunday, January 18

• SF1 vs SF2 winners (Rabat, 19:00)