CAN 2025 schedule for Egypt and Liverpool striker

With his future at Liverpool uncertain, Mohamed Salah is on international duty during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.

The 33-year-old is one of the most high-profile players at the Moroccan tournament, where the Pharaohs were considered before the start of the match among the contenders for glory.

Egypt are the most successful team in AFCON history, winning the trophy seven times but exiting in the round of 16 in the previous 2023 edition in Ivory Coast.

Here is what you need to know about Mo Salah’s schedule and results at CAN, as well as his possible return date for his club.

Mo Salah: CAN Egypt schedule

The Egyptian campaign begins against Zimbabwe in Agadir on December 22. They will then face South Africa before finishing the initial phase by facing Angola in the same city a week later.

Monday December 22

Egypt vs Zimbabwe, Agadir (8:00 p.m. GMT / 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT)

Friday December 26

Egypt vs South Africa, Agadir (3:00 p.m. GMT / 10:00 a.m. ET / 7:00 a.m. PT)

Monday December 29

Egypt vs Angola, Agadir (4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT)

Mo Salah’s schedule if Egypt wins Group B

• Round of 16: January 5, Agadir (4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT)
• Quarter-final: January 10, Agadir (7:00 p.m. GMT / 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT)
• Semi-final: January 14, Tangier (5:00 p.m. GMT / 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT)
• Play-off for third place: January 17, Casablanca (4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT)
• Final: January 18, Rabat (7:00 p.m. GMT / 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT)

Mo Salah’s timetable if Egypt finishes second

• Round of 16: January 4, Rabat (4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT)
• Quarter-final: January 9, Rabat (7:00 p.m. GMT / 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT)
• Semi-final: January 14, Rabat (8:00 p.m. GMT / 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT)
• Play-off for third place: January 17, Casablanca (4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT)
• Final: January 18, Rabat (7:00 p.m. GMT / 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT)

Mo Salah’s timetable if Egypt finishes third and qualifies

• Round of 16: January 3, Tangier (4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT)
• Quarter-final: January 9, Tangier (4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT)
• Semi-final: January 14, Tangier (5:00 p.m. GMT / 12:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. PT)
• Play-off for third place: January 17, Casablanca (4:00 p.m. GMT / 11:00 a.m. ET / 8:00 a.m. PT)
• Final: January 18, Rabat (7:00 p.m. GMT / 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT)

Brand Mo Salah 🤌#TotalEnergiesAFCON pic.twitter.com/4QVDTb2CWA

– CAN TotalEnergies 2025 (@CAF_Online) August 18, 2023

How to watch Mo Salah at CAN: TV channel, live stream online

In the UK, live CAN 2025 coverage is on Channel 4. In the United States, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.

Online live streaming is available on a wide range of devices via Channel 4 website and the beIN Sports app and app.

When does Mohamed Salah return from CAN?

The soonest possible, Salah would return from the CAN after the end of the Egyptian group stage on Monday, December 29.

The four-time Premier League top scorer’s final match will take place from January 3-5 if Egypt lose in the round of 16.

A quarter-final exit would take place on January 9 or 10, while their last match will be on January 17 if they are eliminated in the semi-finals or January 18 if they reach the final.

Liverpool Premier League schedule: When could Salah play?

Liverpool host Leeds United in the league on January 1 (5:30 p.m. GMT / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT), but that would give Salah just over 48 hours of potential rest, including travel should Egypt suffer a surprise exit from the group stage.

Their match at Fulham on January 4 (3:00 p.m. GMT / 10:00 a.m. ET / 7:00 a.m. PT) would be more likely in this situation, while Liverpool’s next match should Egypt exit in the quarter-finals would be at Arsenal on January 8 (8:00 p.m. GMT / 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT).

They will also host Barnsley in the FA Cup third round on January 12 (7:45 p.m. GMT / 2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT) and Burnley in the league on January 17, but Salah will definitely miss both games if Egypt reach the semi-finals.

He would also risk missing the trip to Marseille in the Champions League on January 21 (8:00 p.m. GMT / 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT) if Egypt qualifies for the last four.

If Egypt go all the way, the most likely date Salah would be available for Liverpool again is at Bournemouth on January 24 (5:30 p.m. GMT / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT), assuming he is not injured and does not need additional rest.

They will then host Qarabag in the Champions League on January 28 (8:00 p.m. GMT / 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT)

Is Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool?

Salah’s participation in the AFCON could allow a period of reflection between the football icon and Liverpool after the reigning Premier League champions’ early-season crisis was compounded by disgruntled remarks from their star striker.

Having failed to start four matches in a row, Salah said he felt he had been “thrown under the bus” and claimed his relationship with manager Arne Slot broke down after a 3-3 draw at Leeds United on December 6.

Liverpool left Salah out of their squad for their subsequent 1-0 win over Inter in the Champions League, but tensions appeared to ease following talks between Slot and the player, who came off the bench to set up Hugo Ekitike’s second goal in a 2-0 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion on December 13.

It was Salah’s final game so far in a Liverpool career in which he has scored 250 goals in 420 appearances.

Slot’s side are unbeaten since Salah was knocked out following a 4-1 European defeat at home to PSV.

At his best, Salah’s involvement gives Liverpool one of the best strikers in Premier League history – and the asking price if the Saudi Pro League makes a move for the Egyptian captain in January will likely be higher if he is not in conflict with the club.

British record £125million Alexander Isak and £79million French striker Ekitike were part of Liverpool’s attack for their impressive result at Milan, demonstrating the abundance of options Slot has up front.

When the moment calls for leadership, legends arise. 🌟

Salah’s words before the penalties 🇪🇬 against 🇨🇲 in 2021 #TotalEnergiesAFCON. pic.twitter.com/bLd6ND618M

– CAN TotalEnergies 2025 (@CAF_Online) February 26, 2025

Did Mohamed Salah win the CAN?

Salah has never been an AFCON champion, although he helped Egypt reach the finals of the 2017 and 2021 tournaments.

After scoring twice in each of the three editions of 2017, Salah scored in his country’s opening 2-2 draw against Mozambique in the 2023 final, but missed almost the rest of their run to the last 16 due to injury.

Egypt joined Algeria and Ivory Coast in remaining unbeaten in World Cup qualifying and could be favored by the 2025 tournament being held in North Africa, although host nation Morocco could take some time off, securing a 19th consecutive victory in international football by beating Comoros 2-0 in the first match.

CAN 2025 groups, teams

Group A

• Comoros
• Mali
• Morocco
• Zambia

Group B

• Angola
• Egypt
• South Africa
• Zimbabwe

Group C

• Nigeria
• Tanzania
• Tunisia
• Uganda

Group D

• Benign
• Botswana
• DR Congo
• Senegal

Group E

• Algeria
• Burkina Faso
• Equatorial Guinea
• Sudan

Group F

• Cameroon
• Ivory Coast
• Gabon
• Mozambique

The top two teams from each group, plus the top four third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16.

CAN 2025 schedule, full schedule of the African Cup of Nations

All times are GMT.

Sunday December 21, 2025

• Group A: Morocco – Comoros (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Monday December 22, 2025

• Group A: Mali – Zambia (Casablanca, 2:00 p.m.)
• Group B: South Africa – Angola (Marrakech, 5:00 p.m.)
• Group B: Egypt – Zimbabwe (Agadir, 8:00 p.m.)

Tuesday December 23, 2025

• Group D: Senegal – Botswana (Tangier, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group D: DR Congo – Benin (Rabat, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group C: Nigeria – Tanzania (Fez, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group C: Tunisia – Uganda (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)

Wednesday December 24, 2025

• Group E: Burkina Faso – Equatorial Guinea (Casablanca, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group E: Algeria – Sudan (Rabat, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Ivory Coast – Mozambique (Marrakech, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group F: Cameroon – Gabon (Agadir, 8:00 p.m.)

Friday December 26, 2025

• Group B: Angola – Zimbabwe (Marrakech, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group B: Egypt – South Africa (Agadir, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Zambia – Comoros (Casablanca, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group A: Morocco – Mali (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)

Saturday December 27, 2025

• Group D: Benin – Botswana (Rabat, 12:30 p.m.)
• Group D: Senegal – DR Congo (Tangier, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group C: Uganda – Tanzania (Rabat 3, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group C: Nigeria – Tunisia (Fez, 8:00 p.m.)

Sunday December 28, 2025

• Group F: Gabon vs Mozambique (Agadir, 12:30)
• Group E: Equatorial Guinea – Sudan (Casablanca, 3:00 p.m.)
• Group E: Algeria – Burkina Faso (Rabat, 5:30 p.m.)
• Group F: Ivory Coast – Cameroon, (Marrakech, 8:00 p.m.)

Monday December 29, 2025

• Group B: Angola – Egypt (Agadir, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group B: Zimbabwe – South Africa (Marrakech, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Comoros – Mali (Casablanca, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group A: Zambia – Morocco (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Tuesday December 30, 2025

• Group C: Tanzania – Tunisia (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group C: Uganda – Nigeria (Fez, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group D: Benin – Senegal (Tangier, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group D: Botswana – DR Congo (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Wednesday December 31, 2025

• Group E: Equatorial Guinea – Algeria (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group E: Sudan – Burkina Faso (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Gabon – Ivory Coast (Marrakech, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations, round of 16

Saturday January 3, 2026

• SR1: winner of Group D vs third in Group B/E/F (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
• SR2: Group A finalists vs Group C finalists (Casablanca, 7:00 p.m.)

Sunday January 4

• SR3: Winner of Group A vs third in Group C/D/E (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• SR4: Vice-champion of Group B vs Vice-champion of Group F (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Monday January 5

• SR5: winner of group B vs third of group A/C/D (Agadir, 6 p.m.)
• SR6: winners of Group C vs thirds of Groups A/B/F (Fez, 8:30 p.m.)

Tuesday January 6

• SR7: Winners of Group E vs finalists of Group D (Rabat 2, 6 p.m.)
• SR8: winners of Group F vs vice-champions of Group E (Marrakech, 8:30 p.m.)

Quarter-finals of the 2025 African Cup of Nations

Friday January 9

• QF1: Winner SR2 vs Winner SR1 (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
• QF2: Winner SR4 vs Winner SR3 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Saturday January 10

• QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner SR6 (Marrakech, 4:00 p.m.)
• QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8 (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations semi-finals

Wednesday January 14

• SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4 (Tangier, 5:00 p.m.)
• SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2 (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)

2025 Africa Cup of Nations third place match

Saturday January 17

• SF1 vs SF2 losers (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations Final

Sunday January 18

• Winners SF1 vs SF2 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)