5 Sports Events Shaping Africa to Close Out 2025

It’s no quiet December in African football – far from it. As the year’s final days tick down, the continent’s stadiums thrum with life and possibility. From the streets of Fès to the buzz of Nigeria’s NPFL caravans, fans are in for a wild ride before the curtain falls on 2025.

1. AFCON 2025: Morocco Throws Open the Gates

Morocco isn’t messing around this winter. When the Africa Cup of Nations lands on its doorstep December 21, it turns six cities into a month-long football cauldron. Opening matches? Nigeria tackles Tanzania on the 23rd in Fès, then tests Tunisia and Uganda in quick succession. A dozen years since the Super Eagles last lifted the trophy, and the hunger’s as sharp as ever – especially with Osimhen and Lookman leading the charge.

This year, Morocco’s stadium count is staggering: Rabat claims four (with the Prince Moulay Abdellah set for the final), and the action spills over to Casablanca, Tangier, Agadir, Marrakesh, and Fès. The country’s put big money into stadium upgrades – not just for AFCON, but with an eye on co-hosting the 2030 World Cup.

Bookmakers like Surebet247 wasted no time: Nigeria enters as clear favorites against Tanzania and Uganda, but oddsmakers think Tunisia’s a tougher ask. And who’s to ignore Morocco? That home-field energy isn’t just hype – call it the long shadow of their 2022 World Cup magic. Ivory Coast holds the crown right now, but Senegal, Egypt, and Algeria circle hungrily.

2. CAF Champions League Group Stage: Where Legends Hang Tough

November brings the CAF Champions League group battles, a grind that stretches until February’s chill. In December, the wheat separates from the chaff. Al Ahly, ever the juggernaut, steps in defending their 12th crown after besting Esperance Tunis this past May. That’s four trophies in five years – dynasty, anyone?

Hot on their heels? Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, a pair of wily Moroccan sides, and the Algerian regulars – each gunning for a knockout berth. In this part of the world, drama’s a guarantee, and with betting apps like Surebet mobile opening up on every group matchup, fans have more reasons than ever to keep a close eye.

3. CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage: Rising Titans

Don’t sleep on the Confederation Cup, either. As Africa’s “Europa League,” it runs in parallel with the Champions League, its own group stage alive with promise across December. RS Berkane wears the defending champs’ mantle after dispatching Simba SC last spring for their third title. Not bad company – with Etoile du Sahel (four wins) and CS Sfaxien (three) always in the conversation.

Big names? Zamalek snatched the 2023-24 trophy from RS Berkane – 2-2 on aggregate and away goals drama – claiming their second triumph. Now, Moroccan, Tunisian, and West African clubs lock horns again, aiming for that coveted spring showdown.

4. NPFL: Nigeria’s League Marches On

While international contests steal the headlines, Nigeria’s top flight – the NPFL – grinds through its own December gauntlet. By now, clubs are past the halfway mark, eyeing both the summit and the dreaded drop zone. Every point counts, with teams battling not just for position but a shot at next season’s continental play.

Fans tune in courtesy of StarTimes’ expanded TV deal, even as clubs face down their own off-the-field battles – think infrastructure hiccups and pay delays. Yet, on matchday, all that fades. The action on the pitch is what holds the nation captive.

5. South Africa’s Premier Division: No Room for Passengers

The PSL, running from August through May, means December is crunch time. Mamelodi Sundowns, perennial favorites, rarely drop the ball – but the likes of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs don’t lie down easy. December’s calendar brims with fixtures that have serious consequence.

Complicating matters? Top South African sides split focus between domestic slugfests and continental campaigns – a tightrope walk that makes for compelling viewing. It’s no wonder this league commands one of Africa’s biggest TV audiences every year.

Turning the Page on 2025

So, what to expect? As Morocco welcomes AFCON, the continent’s footballing pulse hits fever pitch. Nigeria eyes silverware, the NPFL supplies its own brand of drama, and bookmakers like Surebet247 give the fans plenty to argue and cheer about.

By New Year’s, answers will come: Did Nigeria finally snap their 12-year AFCON drought? Which clubs stand tall in the hunt for African glory? Will Morocco write a new chapter on home soil, putting 1976’s title win in the rear view? For hundreds of millions across Africa, that’s a script worth watching – and debating long into the night.