CAN 2025: CAF Sets New Travel Rules and Bans Official Training Inside Main Stadiums

With only 17 days remaining before the start of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued a detailed set of logistical and regulatory guidelines to all 24 qualified teams. The new measures aim to streamline operations across Morocco’s six host cities and ensure a smooth, high-standard tournament.

According to information obtained by winwin, technical staff of the participating national teams have already received full instructions covering squad submissions, travel rules, pitch access, and match-day procedures.

Mandatory Squad Submission and Player Regulations

CAF requires every national team to submit a final list of 28 players no later than ten days before their opening match of the tournament. Any federation that fails to meet the deadline will face a $1,000 fine. No changes will be permitted afterward unless a case of force majeure is approved, such as a confirmed injury preventing a player from participating.

Strict Travel Protocols Between Host Cities

CAF outlined precise travel rules for group-stage mobility across Moroccan cities. During the opening phase, only 18 national teams will be required to travel between cities—either by plane, train, or road. The organization confirmed that travel by plane or train is permitted even on the eve of the match, except for teams moving between Casablanca and Rabat, who must travel on the morning of match day.

The teams subject to mandatory intercity travel during the group stage include: Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Botswana, DR Congo, Benin, Mozambique, Cameroon, Gabon, Comoros, Mali, Zambia, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Equatorial Guinea.

No Official Training Sessions Allowed Inside Main Stadiums

CAF has also informed coaches that official training sessions inside match stadiums are strictly prohibited to preserve pitch quality. However, each team will be allowed to visit the stadium hosting their match between 14:00 and 21:00 on the night before the game. Scheduling must be coordinated with the group’s General Coordinator and must not clash with any ongoing matches. Teams playing multiple games on the same pitch are limited to a single pre-match visit.

CAN 2025 Schedule and Host Cities

The Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, featuring 24 teams competing across six cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Fez, and Tangier. This marks Morocco’s first time hosting the competition since 1988, and comes five years before co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

Group Stage Draw

Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
Group F: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique

Morocco’s Group Stage Fixtures

The host nation will begin its campaign on Sunday, 21 December against Comoros at 20:00 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Complex in Rabat. The second match will take place on Friday, 26 December against Mali at 21:00 on the same pitch.

The Atlas Lions will conclude their group stage on Monday, 29 December versus Zambia at 20:00, once again at the Rabat venue.