The journey to the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations officially begins on Wednesday 4 September, with the first round of qualifiers set to unfold across the continent.As 48 nations compete for a spot in the 35th edition of Africa’s most prestigious football tournament, the opening round promises an array of captivating encounters.The qualifiers will set the stage for the teams aiming to lift the coveted trophy in Morocco between Saturday 21 December 2025 and Saturday 18 January 18 2026.Tanzania vs EthiopiaFour fixtures are set for Wednesday, with the clash pitting Tanzania against Ethiopia being the highlight match.##NAJAVA_MECA_8314424##The Group H contest will be staged at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where the hosts will be seeking to capitalize on home advantage and get off to a flying start.Tanzania will start the campaign hoping to make their second consecutive appearance in the biannual tournament having qualified for the 2023 finals held earlier in the year in Ivory Coast.Ethiopia, on the other hand, will be seeking a return ticket to the tournament after missing the past edition.Kick-off 7pmComoros vs Gambia Former Gor Mahia head coach Johnathan McKinstry and The Gambia national team will be in action as they take on Comoros in the opening match of Group A.The clash will be staged at the Ben M’Hamed El Abdi Stadium in Morocco, as Comoros do not have a CAF-approved stadium.The Gambia will be seeking their third consecutive qualification having featured in the past two editions in Cameroon and Ivory Coast.Comoros reached the round of 16 in the 2021, edition, which was their last appearance.Kick-off 6 pmLibya vs RwandaCECAFA side Rwanda will be away in Libya in what will be a Group D match at Tripoli’s June 11 Stadium.Libya, who are under the tutelage of Serbian coach Milutin Sredojevic, last graced the tournament in 2012, while Rwanda, have made a single appearance since 2004.Kick-off 7pmSudan vs NigerMeanwhile, Sudan and Niger will square off at the Juba Stadium in South SudanSudan, who won the competition in 1970, missed out on the most recent edition of the Africa Cup of Nations that was held in the Ivory Coast. Niger, on the other hand, are looking to qualify for the tournament for the third time in their history and last featured in the showpiece back in 2013.Kick-off 4 pmAFCON qualifiers Wednesday fixtures2.85 Comoros 2.95 Gambia 2.551.88 Tanzania 3.35 Ethiopia 4.501.95 Libya 3.30 Rwanda 4.202.00 Sudan 3.05 Niger 3.90*Odds are subject to change.*
