The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has finalised the knockout bracket for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, setting the stage for a high-stakes Round of 16 that begins this Saturday. Following a group stage defined by late-game heroics and the clinical dominance of pre-tournament favorites, 16 nations remain in the hunt for the continent’s most prestigious trophy.
The knockout phase will span four days, from January 3 to January 6, 2026, with matches distributed across Morocco's premier stadiums in Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Agadir, Fès, and Marrakech. Each day features a double-header, with kick-offs scheduled for 16:00 and 19:00 GMT.
Hosts Morocco secured their place at the summit of Group A and will face Tanzania on Sunday at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah. Despite early pressure, the "Atlas Lions" finished the opening round with a convincing 3-0 victory over Zambia. Morocco head coach Walid Regragui signaled a shift in intensity for the upcoming matches, stating, "From now on, every match will be treated as a final. We will continue this competition with the same spirit in order to go as far as possible."
Nigeria and Algeria emerged as the tournament's form teams, both progressing with perfect 100 percent winning records. The Super Eagles are slated to face Mozambique on Monday evening in Fès. While Nigeria enters as heavy favorites, the squad is wary of history; their last perfect group stage run in 2021 ended in a shock Round of 16 exit. Meanwhile, Algeria will test their mettle against a resilient DR Congo side on Tuesday.
One of the most anticipated clashes of the round features South Africa against Cameroon on Sunday night. The fixture carries significant emotional weight for Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who famously led the Indomitable Lions to the AFCON title in 2017.
Defending champions Ivory Coast, who narrowly secured their knockout spot after a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against Gabon, will close the Round of 16 on Tuesday night against Burkina Faso. The "Elephants" survived a scare in the group stage but remain a formidable threat as they aim to retain their crown on North African soil.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has lauded the quality of the tournament so far, noting the presence of global stars and the high standard of play. "AFCON is truly a global tournament in its reach," Motsepe remarked, emphasising that the knockout stage represents a "world-class event" for African football.
The path to the final is now clearly defined. Winners of these eight matches will advance to the quarter-finals scheduled for January 9 and 10, with the ultimate champion to be crowned in Rabat on January 18.
Round of 16 Fixtures and Dates
Saturday, January 3
Senegal vs. Sudan (16:00 GMT, Tangier)
Mali vs. Tunisia (19:00 GMT, Casablanca)
Sunday, January 4
Morocco vs. Tanzania (16:00 GMT, Rabat)
South Africa vs. Cameroon (19:00 GMT, Rabat)
Monday, January 5
Egypt vs. Benin (16:00 GMT, Agadir)
Nigeria vs. Mozambique (19:00 GMT, Fès)
Tuesday, January 6
Algeria vs. DR Congo (16:00 GMT, Rabat)
Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso (19:00 GMT, Marrakech)
