AFCON Fantasy lets you pick players from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and score points based on how they perform.
The tournament starts on 21st December and begins with the group stage.
This guide explains everything you need to know to get started. It covers the basic rules, how players score points, how transfers work and what to expect during the tournament.
If you are new to fantasy football or AFCON Fantasy, this article will help you build your first team with confidence.
- READ MORE: AFCON Fantasy 2025 is live!
WHERE CAN I FIND IT?
To find AFCON Fantasy, simply head over to the Sofascore website, or you can download the app for free.
You can see the ‘Fantasy’ tab at the top right of your screen. Head there.
You should then see a menu of games like the one below. Click on AFCON.
Before you do anything else, let’s take a look at the rules.
SQUAD SIZE
To play AFCON Fantasy, you must build a 15-player squad. Your team must include:
- 2 goalkeepers
- 5 defenders
- 5 midfielders
- 3 forwards
This squad size stays the same throughout the tournament.
PLAYER POSITIONS
Some players operate in more than one role in real life. However, AFCON Fantasy assigns one fixed position to every player at the start of the tournament.
The game bases this on how each player has featured in recent competitions. Once assigned, that position does not change.
Players score points only according to their listed Fantasy position, not where they line up in individual matches.
BUDGET
You start with a €100 million budget to build your initial squad.
Any money you do not spend remains in your bank. You can use it later when making transfers.
SQUAD MANAGEMENT
STARTING XI
Each round, you must select a starting XI from your 15-player squad. Only players in your starting line-up can score points.
Your starting 11 must include:
- Exactly 1 goalkeeper
- At least 3 defenders
- At least 3 midfielders
- At least 1 forward
CAPTAIN
Every round, you must select a captain.
Your captain’s Fantasy points count double for that round.
LIVE SQUAD CHANGES
Once a round begins, you can no longer make transfers. However, you can still manage your line-up.
A player locks only when their first match of the round kicks off. As long as you have at least one unlocked player, you can:
- Change your captain to another unlocked player
- Sub in unlocked bench players for starters, while following formation rules
This feature rewards active managers who monitor team news and kick-off times.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Each round has a fixed deadline. Your team must be set before that time.
| Stage | Date | Time (CET) |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Dec 21 | 20:00 |
| Round 2 | Dec 26 | 13:00 |
| Round 3 | Dec 29 | 18:30 |
| Round of 16 | Jan 3 | 18:00 |
| Quarter-finals | Jan 9 | 18:00 |
| Semi-finals | Jan 14 | 18:00 |
| 3rd place match | Jan 17 | 20:00 |
| Final | Jan 18 | 20:00 |
TRANSFERS
Transfer rules change as the tournament progresses. The number of moves allowed and the maximum players per team both increase in later rounds.
| Stage | Transfers allowed | Max players per team |
|---|---|---|
| Before tournament | Unlimited | 3 |
| Group stage | 2 per round | 3 |
| Before Round of 16 | Unlimited | 4 |
| Before Quarter-finals | 3 | 5 |
| Before Semi-finals | 4 | 6 |
| Before 3rd place match | 4 | 6 |
| Before Final | 4 | 6 |
Planning transfers around these limits plays a key role in long-term success.
SCORING SYSTEM
AFCON Fantasy awards points based on real-life performances.
The game tracks 30 different statistics, depending on a player’s position. Sofascore collects and verifies all data after each match. Final points can take up to 24 hours to update.
Players also earn points from their Sofascore Rating, which reflects overall match performance.
KEY SCORING HIGHLIGHTS
- Goals, assists, clean sheets, saves and defensive actions all earn points
- Cards, own goals, offsides and penalties missed reduce scores
- Passing, dribbling, duels and interceptions reward well-rounded players
- Goalkeepers gain extra points for saves, claims and shot-stopping
This scoring system rewards consistent involvement, not just goals.
You can find the full list of how to score points here.
BUILD YOUR TEAM
Now that you are aware of the rules, it’s time to build a team!
TIPS
- You can captain a player in every single match.
- If a player fails to return points, you can sub them out for a player yet to feature.
- The scoring system appears to be limiting to forwards and goalkeepers, so focus on defenders and midfielders more.
- Keep an eye on Fantasy Football Scout for our Fixture Tickers and expert team reveals!
