As the new year begins and the action-packed group stage is in the rearview mirror, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) progresses to the knockout stages, with the Round of 16 beginning on Saturday.
Here’s what you need to know about the eight matches.
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⚽ Senegal vs Sudan
Date and time: January 3rd, 5pm/4pm GMT
Location: Ibn Battuta Stadium, Tangier
Pre-tournament favorites Senegal will face Sudan in the AFCON Round of 16. Sudan is the last-placed team left in the tournament and will advance to the final tournament for the first time in 14 years.
Senegal finished first in Group D with seven points from two wins and one draw, surpassing the Democratic Republic of the Congo on goal difference.
The 2022 champions, who boast considerable attacking power in Nicholas Jackson and Sadio Mane, will start as clear favorites, but will be without captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who was sent off in the final group match.
Sudan, ranked 117th in the rankings, secured three points in Group E thanks to the win over Equatorial Guinea, making it one of the top four teams in third place. This result was their second win at AFCON, having lifted the trophy in 1970.
Reaching the last 16 was a major achievement for Sudan, who have made progress in football amid ongoing turmoil within the country. Sudan has been ravaged by war since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and paramilitary rapid support forces.
⚽Mali vs Tunisia
Date and time: January 3, 8pm local time/19:00 GMT
Location: Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca
This Round of 16 showdown will bring together two of AFCON’s most familiar foes, with Mali, 2nd in Group A, taking on Tunisia, 2nd in Group C.
Mali earned three points after drawing all three of their group stage matches, while Tunisia earned four points with one win and one draw. Neither team was able to ignite the group stage, but both could use this round as an opportunity to reset and raise their level.
The two teams have met 15 times in official games and friendlies, with Tunisia maintaining a close lead with seven wins and Mali’s five wins, but three games ended in draws. The most recent meeting between the two sides was at AFCON in January 2024, which ended in a 1-1 draw in the group stage.
Mali, who finished runners-up in the 1972 tournament, will be without midfielder Amadou Haidara, who was sent off late in the previous match.
⚽ Morocco vs Tanzania
Date and time: January 4th, 5pm / 4pm GMT
Location: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Host country Morocco, ranked 11th in the world and the highest ranking African country, is scheduled to face Tanzania, who have been waiting for 45 years to qualify for the AFCON finals. Tanzania, who had only two points from their three matches in Group C, outscored Angola and advanced to the last 16 as one of the top four teams in third place.
On the other hand, Morocco lead Group A with 7 points with 2 wins and 1 draw. Atlas Lions were expected to be the overwhelming favorites to win the tournament, but they were criticized from the start after defeating the small and powerful Comoros on the opening day and drawing with Mali, but they regained confidence with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Zambia in the final group match.
Coach Walid Leglaghi earlier apologized to fans who were dissatisfied with his team’s underwhelming performance, but is now aiming for Morocco’s second continental title, 50 years after their first AFCON victory.
⚽ South Africa vs Cameroon
Date and time: January 4th, 8pm local time/19:00 GMT
Location: Al Barid Stadium, Rabat
Oswin Apolis’ late penalty ended a thrilling five-goal game against Zimbabwe and secured South Africa a place in the Round of 16 as Group B runners-up. Bafana Bafana finished the group stage with two wins and one loss and will now face five-time champions Cameroon.
South Africa, one of the seven AFCON nations to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finished third at AFCON 2023, but are yet to fully reach top gear this time around. They will be hoping to find their rhythm against Cameroon, who progressed to Group F runners-up after an unbeaten group stage campaign that included two wins.
Sunday’s matchup will be the 10th meeting between the two teams. Five of the previous meetings ended in draws, with South Africa winning three and Cameroon winning only one.
⚽ Egypt vs Benin
Date and time: January 5th, 5pm/16:00 GMT)
Location: Adral Stadium, Agadir
After going undefeated in the group stage, Egypt finished in first place in Group B with seven points. Despite resting the second-line lineup and key players such as Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmouche, the Pharaohs maintained their momentum with a goalless draw in their final group game against Angola.
That consistency has increased belief among team and fans alike that Egypt can finally turn promise into silverware after years of near-misses, as the record seven-time champions chase their first AFCON title since 2010.
In contrast, Benin reached the last 16 thanks to a single result, a 1-0 win over Botswana in Group D, which also marked their first win in an AFCON final. Despite reaching the quarter-finals in 2019, it took him 16 attempts since his debut in 2004 to make that breakthrough.
Facing a mighty Egypt, Benin will be hoping to double their record and pull off another AFCON upset.
⚽ Nigeria vs Mozambique
Date and time: January 5th, 8pm local time/19:00 GMT
Location: Fez Stadium, Fez
Nigeria had a perfect performance in the group stage, becoming the first team to qualify for the round of 16 and asserting their dominance from the start of the tournament.
The Super Eagles have quickly forgotten the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup and are rapidly rising in Morocco on the back of a talented squad featuring established stars such as Ademola Lookman, Raphael Onyedika, Victor Osimhen and Alex Iwobi.
The winner of Group C will finish third in Group F with three points and will face Mozambique, who will be making their first appearance in the AFCON finals. The Mambas defeated Gabon 3-2 in the continental final, ending a 40-year wait for victory. This result ultimately ensured our advancement.
Monday’s match will be Mozambique’s toughest test yet. Mozambique are seeking their first win against Nigeria after losing four of their previous five meetings and drawing once.
⚽ Algeria vs Democratic Republic of Congo
Date and time: January 6th, 5pm / 4pm GMT
Location: Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat
After Nigeria, Algeria were the only opponents with a perfect result in the group stage, and they made it through Group E thanks to clinical finishing from Riyad Mahrez and Ibrahim Maza. The North African team has a strong squad and underlines their qualifications as title contenders, but their first knockout assignment will be a tough test against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
DR Congo showed discipline at both ends of the pitch as they finished runners-up in Group D with two wins and one draw. This Round of 16 clash is perhaps the most interesting draw, as it pits two in-form teams who have yet to taste defeat in Morocco.
However, history is in Algeria’s favor, as they are undefeated against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their last six meetings, with two wins and four draws. Tuesday’s matchup will be the first in seven years.
⚽ Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso
Date and time: January 6th, 8pm local time/19:00 GMT
Location: Marrakech Stadium, Marrakech
Title holders Ivory Coast came from behind to win the final group match and secured seven points, securing top spot in Group F and finishing ahead of Cameroon in terms of points scored. Winger Amad Diallo was outstanding in the group stage, scoring two of his team’s five goals.
The Ivory Coast national team will conclude their last 16 match against Burkina Faso, who finished as runners-up in Group E with two wins and one loss.
The West African rivals are no strangers to each other, having played each other 20 times in all competitions and friendlies. Ivory Coast have the advantage with nine wins, but eight matches ended in draws and Burkina Faso won just three.
