The Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) 2025, which is ongoing in Morocco, has entered its knockout stage with only sixteen (16) spots.
The Round of 16 is scheduled to commence on Saturday 3 January, 2026.
Here’s all you need to know about the AFCON 2025 Round of 16 – the teams, fixtures, venues and more:
Countries in the AFCON 2025 Round of 16:
- Nigeria
- Algeria
- Egypt
- Ivory Coast
- Sudan
- Tunisia
- Tanzania
- Cameroon
- Morocco
- South Africa
- Mali
- Senegal
- Benin
- Mozambique
- DR Congo
- Burkina Faso
AFCON 2025 Round of 16 Fixtures:
- Senegal V Sudan | January 3 | 17:00 (WAT) | Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier
- Mali V Tunisia | January 3 | 20:00 (WAT) | Stade Mohammed, Casablanca
- Morocco V Tanzania | January 4 | 17:00 (WAT) | Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
- South Africa V Cameroon | January 4 | 20:00 (WAT) | Al Barid Stadium, Rabat
- Egypt V Benin | January 5 | 17:00 (WAT) | Adrar Stadium, Agadir
- Nigeria V Mozambique | January 5 | 20:00 (WAT) | Fez Stadium, Fez
- Algeria V DR Congo | January 6 | 17:00 (WAT) | Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat
- Ivory Coast V Burkina Faso | January 6 | 20:00 (WAT) | Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh
How these countries qualified:
• Senegal finished at the summit of Group D with seven (7) points after two (2) wins and one (1) draw, beating the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) on goal difference.
• Sudan scaled through as one of the four (4) best third-placed teams, accumulating three (3) points in Group E thanks of a win over Equatorial Guinea.
• Mali made it to the knockouts with three (3) points after drawing all three (3) Group encounters, while, Tunisia progressed with four (4) points, after recording one (1) win and one (1) draw. Neither side set the group stage alight, however, they could use this stage as an opportunity to reset and raise their level.
• AFCON 2025 Hosts, Morocco, Africa’s highest-ranked nation at 11th in the world, topped Group A with seven points amassed from two (2) wins and one (1) draw.
• Tanzania , who had to wait for a whopping forty-five (45) years to feature in the AFCON knockouts, progressed to the Round of 16 with just two (2) points from three Group C games as one of the four best third-placed teams, edging out Angola on goals scored.
• South Africa gained passage into the knockout as Group B runners-up. The Bafana Bafana finished the Group stage with two (2) wins and one (1) loss.
• Cameroon progressed as Group F runners-up after tasting no defeat in their group-stage campaign that included two (2) victories.
• Egypt finished toppers of Group B with seven (7) points. Despite fielding without top players such as, Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, the Pharoahs’ last Group match against Angola finished without a goal.
• Benin squeezed into the knockouts with just one single result – a lone goal victory over Botswana in Group D.
• Nigeria were the first side to clinch their ticket into the round of 16 with a perfect group-stage record, announcing their dominance early in the tournament.
• Mozambique finished third in Group F with three (3) points and are making their first appearance in an AFCON Round of 16.
• Algeria, just as Nigeria, finished Group E with a perfect record, winning all three (3) matches.
• DR Congo emerged runners-up in Group D with two (2) wins and one (1) draw.
• Defending Champions, Ivory Coast, ended toppers in Group F with seven (7) points after a 3-2 comeback victory in their final group match against Gabon, finishing ahead of Cameroon on goals scored.
• Burkina Faso finished their Group E campaign with two (2) wins and one (1) defeat.
Photo: Nigeria players, Victor Osimhen and Bruno Onyemaechi
