Heavyweights Morocco and Senegal secured their places in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals as the knockout stages roared into life this weekend across the kingdom. The opening quartet of matches saw the tournament hosts overcome a stubborn Tanzanian defence, while Senegal relied on a blend of veteran leadership and teenage flair to dispatch Sudan.
Morocco maintained their perfect momentum on home soil Sunday evening with a narrow 1-0 victory over Tanzania at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat. Real Madrid star Brahim Díaz proved to be the difference-maker once again, finding the net in the 64th minute after a relentless Moroccan assault had seen Achraf Hakimi rattle the crossbar earlier in the half.
The goal marked Díaz’s fourth of the competition, making him the first Moroccan player to score in four successive AFCON games. In an emotional post-match celebration, Díaz held up the jersey of his injured teammate Azzedine Ounahi, who was sidelined for the clash.
Earlier on Sunday, Cameroon displayed the clinical edge of five-time champions by edging out South Africa 2-1 at the Stade El Barid. Despite a late surge from Bafana Bafana, the Indomitable Lions held firm to set up a blockbuster quarter-final clash against Morocco. Cameroon's management, currently led by David Pagou following the departure of Marc Brys, has focused on maintaining the nation’s historic "lion spirit".
The weekend’s drama began on Saturday when Senegal, the 2021 champions, overcame an early scare to defeat Sudan 3-1 in Tangier. Sudan, appearing in the knockout rounds for the first time in over a decade, stunned the Teranga Lions in the sixth minute when Aamir Abdallah found the back of the net.
However, Senegal’s experience eventually took over. Pape Gueye restored parity with a powerful long-range strike before adding a second just before the interval. Seventeen-year-old sensation Ibrahim Mbaye sealed the win in the 77th minute, latching onto a pass from Sadio Mane, who moved to the top of the all-time AFCON assist charts with his eighth career setup. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw praised his team’s resilience after the comeback.
The most dramatic encounter of the weekend took place in Casablanca, where a 10-man Mali side stunned Tunisia in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Mali faced an uphill battle from the 26th minute after Woyo Coulibaly received a straight red card for a dangerous challenge.
Tunisia appeared to have won the match in the 89th minute when Firas Chaouat headed home a cross from Elias Saad. However, a 96th-minute penalty from Lassine Sinayoko—awarded after a VAR review for a Yassine Meriah handball—sent the game into a goalless extra time. In the ensuing shootout, Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra made two crucial saves to secure a 3-2 win on penalties.
The departure of Tunisia marks the first major casualty of the knockout rounds. The Carthage Eagles had entered the match as favourites following a solid group-stage campaign, but they struggled to break down a disciplined Malian backline that played nearly 100 minutes with a numerical disadvantage.
The Round of 16 continues on Monday and Tuesday with several other continental giants looking to join the early qualifiers. Egypt is set to face Benin, while Nigeria takes on Mozambique in Fez. Tuesday’s fixtures will see Algeria play DR Congo, followed by the defending champions, Ivory Coast, facing Burkina Faso.
The winners of these upcoming matches will fill the remaining four spots in the quarter-final bracket. As it stands, the tournament is trending toward a collision between West African powerhouses and the North African hosts, fulfilling the expectations of a high-quality continental showpiece.
The quarter-finals are scheduled to begin on Friday, January 9, with Tangier and Rabat serving as the primary venues for the final eight. Tournament organisers have noted that ticket sales for the Morocco vs. Cameroon clash have already reached capacity, underscoring the intense local interest in the Atlas Lions' journey.
