The year promises a packed calendar of African sports, offering a stage for new heroes to emerge and for established stars to shine even brighter.
By Tuka Letura
Last year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) not only delivered thrilling matches but also earned widespread praise for its exceptional officiating and vibrant fanfare.
Beyond football, other notable sporting events, such as the African Games held in Ghana, showcased the talent of African athletes who not only participated but excelled on the global stage. Many of these athletes became household names both locally and internationally.
From sprinters dominating global tracks to basketball players shining in major leagues, 2024 highlighted the remarkable achievements of numerous athletes and celebrated their dedication to their craft.
In fact, some of the athletes featured in our recent piece have since garnered acclaim both at home and abroad, inspiring millions with their remarkable stories.
As we step into 2025, the excitement only continues to grow. This year promises a packed calendar of competitions across the continent, providing a stage for new heroes to emerge, established stars to shine even brighter, and African sports to achieve new heights.
From football to basketball and beach soccer, here’s a round-up of the key tournaments to look forward to in the year ahead.
African Nations Championship (CHAN)
The 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), officially known as the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship, marks the 8th edition of this biennial tournament and is scheduled to take place from 1 to 28 February 2025.
Organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the competition features national teams comprised exclusively of players competing in their respective domestic leagues.
For the first time, the tournament will be co-hosted by three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The group stage draw is set for 15 January 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.This time, the winners go home with a 75% increase in prize money.
A total of 17 teams have qualified for the tournament, including defending champions Senegal, two-time winners Morocco and DR Congo, and debutants Central African Republic and co-hosts Kenya. Other participating nations are Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Congo, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Angola, and Madagascar.
2024 Men’s and Women’s Hockey Junior Africa Cup
Both tournaments will be hosted concurrently at Windhoek High School in Namibia, on a yet-to-be-confirmed date, ahead of the Junior World Cup in December.
These competitions serve as qualifiers for the 2025 Junior World Cup, with the top three teams from each tournament earning a spot in the global event. The Men’s Hockey Junior Africa Cup will mark its 13th edition, while the Women’s tournament will celebrate its 11th edition.
2025 African Minifootball Cup
Derna, Libya, is set to host the fourth edition of the African Minifootball Cup from 16 to 25 April 2025.
The tournament has expanded to feature 16 teams, with South Africa entering as the defending champions. This will mark the second time Libya has hosted the event.
2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
The 13th edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will be held in Victoria, Seychelles, from 1 to 11 May 2025.
This marks the first time the event will be hosted in Africa, with the continent represented by three teams: Senegal and Mauritania, the winners and runners-up of the 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (BSAFCON), respectively, alongside the hosts, Seychelles.
2025 AfroBasket Women
Ivory Coast is set to host the 29th edition of AfroBasket Women in Abidjan, marking the first time the country will host the tournament.
Scheduled for July 2025, the competition will see the top four teams secure spots in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments.
Teams that have already qualified include Ivory Coast as the host nation, along with Nigeria, Senegal, Rwanda, and Mali, who earned their spots as semi-finalists in the 2023 Women’s AfroBasket. Cameroon has also qualified as the Zone 4 winner.
2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON)
After several delays, the 2024 African Women’s Cup of Nations is set to take place in 2025.
Marking its 15th edition, the biennial tournament will be hosted by Morocco, making it the first country to host back-to-back editions. The competition is scheduled to run from 5 to 26 July 2025.
The last edition of WAFCON was won by South Africa.
Morocco qualified automatically as hosts, while the remaining teams secured their spots through the qualification rounds. These include South Africa, who won the last edition, Algeria, Ghana, Botswana, DR Congo, Tunisia, Senegal, Zambia, Tanzania, Mali, and Nigeria.
FIBA AfroBasket 2025
Angola is set to host the 31st edition of FIBA Men’s AfroBasket from 12 to 24 August 2025, marking the fourth time the nation has hosted Africa’s premier men’s basketball tournament.
Qualification is in its final stages, with 15 FIBA Africa nations competing for spots to join automatically qualified Angola in the 2025 finals.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
AFCON 2025, the 35th edition of the tournament, will be hosted by Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. This will mark Morocco’s return as host, having last hosted the competition in 1988.
As Africa’s most prestigious continental tournament, AFCON will close out 2025 and carry into the following year. After nearly two years of qualification campaigns, the entire continent—and indeed the world—looks forward to this highly anticipated event.
Throughout the sporting calendar year, events such as the CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, Diamond League, and other continental and international competitions, including qualification tournaments, will continue to keep fans engaged across the continent.
Tuka Letura is an experienced sports writer with over five years of experience in the craft. He uses data and statistics to provide analysis and commentary. From regional to worldwide competitions, he has covered a wide range of sports-related events and topics. He is devoted to sharing his enthusiasm for sports with his audience and engaging them with interesting anecdotes and viewpoints.