AFCON 2025: Teams battle for quarterfinal spots
The quarter-finals are scheduled for 9 and 10 January, with the final set to be played on 18 January.
An exciting knockout phase of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 gets underway on Saturday, 3 January, as the Round of 16 kicks off following a thrilling group stage that showcased the quality and competitiveness of football across the continent.
The knockout phase will run from Saturday, 3 January, to Tuesday, 6 January, with two matches played each day. Kick-off times are scheduled for 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT) and 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) as the remaining teams compete for places in the quarter-finals.
The Round of 16 begins on Saturday with 2021 champions Senegal taking on Sudan at the Grand Stade de Tanger at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
That match will be followed by a clash between Mali and Tunisia at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT), with Mali chasing a maiden continental title and Tunisia seeking to relive their 2004 triumph.
Other fixtures
Hosts Morocco will open Sunday’s action when they face Tanzania at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
Backed by a passionate home crowd, Morocco will be aiming to move a step closer to a first AFCON title in 50 years. The hosts topped Group A, while Tanzania advanced as one of the four best third-placed teams from Group C.
Later on Sunday, South Africa meet Cameroon at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT). The encounter sees Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos come up against Cameroon, the team he guided to AFCON glory in 2017.
On Monday, record seven-time champions Egypt face Benin at the Grand Stade d’Agadir at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT). The Pharaohs have not lifted the trophy since 2010 and will be eager to end their long wait.
Concluding games
Later that evening, Nigeria, one of the standout teams in the group stage, take on Mozambique at the Complexe Sportif de Fès at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) as they look to improve on their runner-up finish at the 2023 tournament.
Tuesday’s fixtures will see Algeria square off against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Stade Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan in Rabat at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
The round concludes with defending champions Côte d’Ivoire facing Burkina Faso at the Grand Stade de Marrakech at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
The quarter-finals are scheduled for 9 and 10 January, with the final set to be played on 18 January at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.