Betting set to soar as AFCON 2025 kicks off this Christmas across Africa
Punters are already cashing in on early odds, top scorers and festive promotions as AFCON 2025 takes place entirely over the Christmas period.
Morocco.- Betting is set to surge this Christmas as the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) takes place for the first time over the festive period, with Morocco to host 24 nations from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
With the tournament kicking off just before Christmas, fans across Africa can expect a wave of excitement on the pitch and in the betting markets, as punters place wagers on winners, top scorers and potential breakout teams.
Heavyweights like Senegal, Morocco, Egypt and Nigeria are favourites, but history shows AFCON always welcomes surprise contenders, making early analysis and value betting a thrilling challenge this holiday season.
AFCON President Patrice Motsepe said, according to GBC Ghana Online, “The whole of Africa is coming home, including the diaspora. This is going to be the most successful AFCON.”
Mobile betting continues to drive growth during AFCON 2025, especially over the Christmas festive period. Reports from Techarena indicate that a large majority of Kenyan sports bettors use phones and apps, while similar trends are emerging in Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda.
Festive promotions and bonuses
Operators across Africa have launched festive betting promotions to coincide with AFCON 2025. For example, Bet9ja’s “Ultimate AFCON Jackpot” offers up to NGN20,000,000 (€11,220) in prizes, with the jackpot increasing as Nigeria progresses through the tournament.
Similarly, 22Bet provides a 100 per cent match bonus available in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, and Uganda, with prizes ranging from €114 to €167, according to BettingTipsAfrica.com.
These promotions allow fans to engage with the tournament during the festive season, turning holiday celebrations into opportunities for excitement and winnings.
Analysts project that Africa’s sports betting market will generate $17.63bn in 2025, with online and mobile betting accounting for a substantial portion, according to a Slotegrator report.
With the tournament kicking off just before Christmas, 2025 could be remembered as the year Africa’s festive traditions and betting culture perfectly aligned, offering fans football thrills, festive cheer and plenty of opportunities to back their favourites.
