By Kunle Solaja.
The stage is set for high-stakes football as the Round of 16 fixtures of the Africa Cup of Nations were confirmed following a thrilling and fiercely contested group stage that once again showcased the depth and quality of African football.
The first knockout phase will be played from Saturday, 3 January to Tuesday, 6 January, with two matches scheduled each day at 17h00 local time (16h00 GMT) and 20h00 local time (19h00 GMT). Sixteen nations remain in the hunt, each now just one win away from a place in the quarter-finals.
The knockout action begins on Saturday in Tangier, where reigning 2021 champions Senegal face Sudan at the Grand Stade de Tangier. Later that evening, Mali take on Tunisia at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, with Mali chasing a first continental crown and Tunisia hoping to rekindle memories of their 2004 triumph.
Sunday shifts the spotlight to the hosts as Morocco face Tanzania at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
Morocco, topping Group A, will be buoyed by strong home support as they pursue a first AFCON title in half a century, while Tanzania arrive as one of the best third-placed qualifiers from Group C. Later that night, South Africa meet Cameroon at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, a tie that reunites coach Hugo Broos with the side he guided to the title in 2017.
Monday’s fixtures feature Africa’s most decorated side, Egypt, who face Benin at the Grand Stade de Agadir. The seven-time champions are seeking to end a title drought stretching back to 2010.
Later in Fès, one of the tournament’s most impressive teams, Nigeria, will take on Mozambique as the Super Eagles look to improve on their runner-up finish at the 2023 edition.
The Round of 16 concludes on Tuesday in Rabat, where Algeria face the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Stade Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan.
The final quarter-final ticket will be decided later that night in Marrakech when defending champions Côte d’Ivoire clash with Burkina Faso.
The quarter-finals are scheduled for 9–10 January, with the final set for 18 January at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat. With reputations on the line and no room for error, AFCON 2025 now moves decisively into its most unforgiving and captivating phase.
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