How to watch AFCON in the UK: Dates, time, live stream and TV channels

The Africa Cup of Nations will soon begin, with fans of the 24 competing nations hoping their team can go all the way and come out on top in the 35th edition of the tournament.

Hosted in Morocco, the home nation will kick the competition off on Sunday when they face Comoros, the first of 52 matches.

A number of recognisable stars will be playing for their respective countries, including Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah for Egypt, and Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo for Cameroon.

Current champions Ivory Coast will be looking to win their fourth AFCON tournament, though seven different nations have won the competition in the last eight editions, and the upcoming iteration is sure to be fiercely contested.

Here, Sports Mole provides all the details you need to know about how to watch the Africa Cup of Nations.

When does the Africa Cup of Nations start and end?

The Africa Cup of Nations starts on December 21, with competition hosts Morocco set to face Comoros at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah at 7pm UK time.

The tournament will conclude on January 18, 2026, and matches will be played across nine stadiums.

How to watch AFCON in the UK

TV channels

Supporters in the UK can catch the action live on Channel 4, E4 and 4seven, with four matches to be played everyday after Morocco kick the tournament off until December 31, though no fixtures will be played on Christmas day.

Group games will be played at 12:30pm, 3:00pm, 5:40pm and 8:00pm, but the final round of group games will kick off at either 4:00pm or 7:00pm.

Streaming

Matches can be streamed on Channel 4 Streaming, as well as on Channel 4 Sport YouTube.

Highlights

Key events will be posted on Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel, and highlights will also be available on C4Sport on X (formerly known as Twitter).

How to watch group stage games live?

Morocco vs. Comoros	December 21, 7pm (E4 / Channel 4 Streaming)
Mali vs. Zambia	December 22, 2:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
South Africa vs. Angola	December 22, 5:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Egypt vs. Zimbabwe	December 22, 8:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
DR Congo vs. Benin	December 23, 12:30pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Senegal vs. Botswana	December 23, 3:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Nigeria vs. Tanzania	December 23, 5:30pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Tunisia vs. Uganda	December 23, 8:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Burkina Faso vs. Equatorial Guinea	December 24, 12:30pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Algeria vs. Sudan	December 24, 3:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Ivory Coast vs. Mozambique	December 24, 5:30pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Cameroon vs. Gabon	December 24, 8:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Angola vs. Zimbabwe	December 26, 12:30pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Egypt vs. South Africa	December 26, 3:00pm (Channel 4 / Streaming)
Zambia vs. Comoros	December 26, 5:30pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Morocco vs. Mali	December 26, 8:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Benin vs. Botswana	December 27, 12:30pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Senegal vs. DR Congo	December 27, 3:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Uganda vs. Tanzania	December 27, 5:30pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Nigeria vs. Tunisia	December 27, 8:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Gabon vs. Mozambique	December 28, 12:30pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Equatorial Guinea vs. Sudan	December 28, 3:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Algeria vs. Burkina Faso	December 28, 5:30pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Ivory Coast vs. Cameroon	December 28, 8:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Angola vs. Egypt	December 29, 4:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Zimbabwe vs. South Africa	December 29, 4:00pm (Channel 4 Sport YouTube)
Zambia vs. Morocco	December 29, 7:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Comoros vs. Mali	December 29, 7:00pm (Channel 4 Sport YouTube)
Uganda vs. Nigeria	December 30, 4:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Tanzania vs. Tunisia	December 30, 4:00pm (Channel 4 Sport YouTube)
Botswana vs. DR Congo	December 30, 7:00pm (Channel 4 Sport YouTube)
Benin vs. Senegal	December 30, 7:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Equatorial Guinea vs. Algeria	December 31, 4:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Sudan vs. Burkina Faso	December 31, 4:00pm (Channel 4 Sport YouTube)
Gabon vs. Ivory Coast	December 31, 7:00pm (4seven / Channel 4 Streaming)
Mozambique vs. Cameroon	December 31, 7:00pm (Channel 4 Sport YouTube)

Who will win the Africa Cup of Nations?

Hosts Morocco will be expected to progress far in the competition due to their home support, and they have also won 16 of their last 17 games when including penalty shootouts.

Salah may not have another opportunity to win AFCON with Egypt while still at the peak of his powers, and he will be keen to impress after having guided the nation to World Cup 2026.

Kalidou Koulibaly and Sadio Mane have long led the way for Senegal, and the Lions of Teranga could go deep in the tournament.

Other nations such as Algeria, who won AFCON as recently as 2019, will no doubt be among the favourites to lift the trophy in January.

Reigning champions Ivory Coast will have their say this winter, though it would not be surprising if a new frontrunner emerged as the Africa Cup of Nations progresses.