Dar es Salaam. The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 has entered its most decisive phase, with the Round of 16 delivering high drama, standout performances and clear signals of intent from several continental heavyweights.
As Africa’s flagship football tournament gathers momentum, the shift to straight knockout football has once again underlined the fine margins that define AFCON.
A single goal, a moment of brilliance or lapse in concentration has been enough to alter the fate of nations.
Following an unpredictable group stage that allowed several surprise contenders to progress, the Round of 16 has begun separating genuine title challengers from those forced to bow out.
With all ties now completed, the quarter-final line-up is confirmed, and eight teams remain in the hunt for continental glory.
Decisive round of 16 encounters
Senegal were among the earliest sides to secure a quarter-final berth, continuing their impressive tournament run with a composed victory over Sudan.
The former African champions once again demonstrated their tactical discipline and experience on the big stage.
Mali followed by displaying immense resilience, eliminating Tunisia via a penalty shoot-out despite spending large portions of the match with ten men.
Their organisation and fighting spirit proved decisive in a tense contest.
Egypt advanced after edging past Benin 3–1 following extra time.
The Pharaohs were pushed to their limits before Mohamed Salah sealed the tie late on, reaffirming his importance in decisive moments.
Nigeria produced one of the most commanding performances of the knockout phase, dismantling Mozambique 4–0.
Victor Osimhen starred with a brace as the Super Eagles sent a strong message to their remaining rivals.
In the final Round of 16 matches, Algeria booked their place in the last eight with a narrow 1–0 victory over DR Congo after 120 minutes of hard-fought football, while Côte d’Ivoire delivered a dominant display to defeat Burkina Faso 3–0.
Confirmed quarter-final fixtures
The results have set up a compelling quarter-final programme:
- Mali vs Senegal
- Egypt vs Côte d’Ivoire
- Algeria vs Nigeria
- Cameroon vs Morocco
The quarter-final matches will be played on Friday, 9 January and Saturday, 10 January, as the tournament builds towards the final scheduled for 18 January at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
With traditional powerhouses and determined challengers still in contention, AFCON 2025 is poised to deliver another unforgettable chapter in African football history.
