Unlike recent tournaments, which typically began after New Year, the upcoming edition kicks off just before Christmas and runs until mid-January.
Key AFCON 2025 Dates:
Egypt’s AFCON campaign starts on 22 December against Zimbabwe. They’ll then face South Africa on Boxing Day and Angola on 29 December. If Egypt advance past the group stage, their round-of-16 match will fall on 3, 4, or 5 January. Quarter-finals are scheduled for 9 and 10 January, semi-finals on 14 January, and the final on 18 January.
Given that Egypt is the third-highest-ranked nation in the tournament, it’s reasonable to expect them to progress well into the competition.
How Salah’s AFCON Involvement Affects Liverpool:
Even though Egypt’s first game is on 22 December, the team will likely gather at least a week earlier, meaning Salah will miss Liverpool’s final three league matches of the year: away at Tottenham and home fixtures against Wolves and Leeds.
How many additional matches he misses depends on Egypt’s progress. If they reach at least the quarter-finals, Salah will also miss away games against Fulham and Arsenal early in 2026. Should Egypt reach the semi-finals and play in either the final or third-place match, Salah would still be in Morocco when Liverpool face Burnley at Anfield on 17 January. His first potential return game could then be away at Bournemouth the following weekend.
Expected absences:
- Definite: Tottenham (A), Wolves (H), Leeds (H)
- Probable: Fulham (A), Arsenal (A)
- Possible: Burnley (H)
Overall, it’s not the most challenging stretch of fixtures for Liverpool to navigate without Salah, though his presence would certainly be missed for the trip to the Emirates. Ideally, by that point, he’ll be in strong form, helping Liverpool maintain a lead in the title race