How to watch Man United and Man City stars at AFCON for free on UK TV and live streams

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The Africa Cup of Nations 2025, featuring Premier League stars including Omar Marmoush, Amad and Bryan Mbeumo, kicks off on Sunday

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will kick off on Sunday evening with hosts Morocco facing Comoros in the tournament's first game.

The international competition unfolds throughout the festive period with 24 national sides competing for the coveted trophy.

Numerous Premier League stars and other prominent players have left their clubs to participate. Ruben Amorim will be without Amad, Noussair Mazraoui and Bryan Mbeumo for the foreseeable due to their AFCON duties.

Meanwhile, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush will also depart Manchester as Pep Guardiola aims to handle their AFCON exits with ease in domestic competition.

Here, Manchester Evening News explains how you can watch the major tournament for free and which fixtures will unfold during the festive period.

How do I watch AFCON for free?

Channel 4 secured exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2025 AFCON tournament. This agreement represents the first occasion the competition will be accessible to view free of charge in the UK.

Every match will be shown live throughout Channel 4's network with E4 and 4Seven screening games alongside the primary Channel 4 coverage. Online streams will also be accessible through the Channel 4 YouTube channel.

The broadcaster's head of sport, Pete Andrews, commented: "Bringing the excitement and drama of the African Cup of Nations exclusively to UK free-to-air television for the first time is such a compelling proposition for Channel 4.

"So many Premier League stars will be playing in the tournament and having Liverpool legend Mo Salah on Channel 4 on Boxing Day, when traditional Premier League football coverage has been reduced elsewhere, means football fans will still be able to get their thrill of festive fixtures."

AFCON 2025 schedule and where you can watch

Group stage fixtures are listed below:

• Morocco v Comoros - Sunday, December 21 at 7pm. Available on E4/Channel 4.
• Mali v Zambia - Monday, December 22 at 2pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• South Africa v Angola - Monday, December 22 at 5pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Egypt v Zimbabwe - Monday, December 22 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• DR Congo v Benin - Tuesday, December 23 at 12:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Senegal v Botswana - Tuesday, December 23 at 3pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Nigeria v Tanzania - Tuesday, December 23 at 5:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Tunisia v Uganda - Tuesday, December 23 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Burkina Faso v Equatorial Guinea - Wednesday, December 24 at 12:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Algeria v Sudan - Wednesday, December 24 at 3pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Côte d'Ivoire v Mozambique - Wednesday, December 24 at 5:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Cameroon v Gabon - Wednesday, December 24 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Angola v Zimbabwe - Friday, December 26 at 12:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Egypt v South Africa - Friday, December 26 at 3pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Zambia v Comoros - Friday, December 26 at 5:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Morocco v Mali - Friday, December 26 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Benin v Botswana - Saturday, December 27 at 12:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Senegal v DR Congo - Saturday, December 27 at 3pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Uganda v Tanzania - Saturday, December 27 at 5:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Nigeria v Tunisia - Saturday, December 27 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Gabon v Mozambique - Sunday, December 28 at 12:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Equatorial Guinea v Sudan - Sunday, December 28 at 3pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Algeria v Burkina Faso - Sunday, December 28 at 5:30pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Côte d'Ivoire v Cameroon - Sunday, December 28 at 8pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Angola v Egypt - Monday, December 29 at 4pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Zimbabwe v South Africa - Monday, December 29 at 4pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Zambia v Morocco - Monday, December 29 at 7pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Comoros v Mali - Monday, December 29 at 7pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Uganda v Nigeria - Tuesday, December 30 at 4pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Tanzania v Tunisia - Tuesday, December 30 at 4pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Botswana v DR Congo - Tuesday, December 30 at 7pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Benin v Senegal - Tuesday, December 30 at 7pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Equatorial Guinea v Algeria - Wednesday, December 31 at 4pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Sudan v Burkina Faso - Wednesday, December 31 at 4pm. Available on Channel 4 Sport YouTube.
• Gabon v Côte d'Ivoire - Wednesday, December 31 at 7pm. Available on 4Seven/Channel 4.
• Mozambique v Cameroon - Wednesday, December 31 at 7pm. Available on Channel 4 Sport YouTube.