Mali joined them after defeating Tunisia on penalties

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AFCON 2025: Countries through to the quarter-finals so far

Beatrice Laryea Sports News Jan - 05 - 2026 , 12:05 2 minutes read

The knockout phase of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is gathering momentum, with the Round of 16 under way and the first quarter-final places already decided.

As Africa’s premier football tournament enters its most decisive stage, early results have highlighted both the strength of the favourites and the fine margins that continue to define AFCON football.

The Round of 16 signals the start of straight knockout action, where a single result can redefine a nation’s tournament.

After an unpredictable group stage that opened the door for several contenders, the last-16 fixtures are now determining who remains on course for continental glory and who sees their campaign come to an abrupt end.

So far, four teams have secured places in the quarter-finals, each doing so in contrasting fashion but united by the same objective: staying alive in the title race.

Senegal were the first to book a quarter-final berth on Saturday. The former African champions extended their impressive unbeaten run by overcoming Sudan, underlining their status as one of the continent’s most consistent sides.

Later that day, Mali joined them after defeating Tunisia on penalties, despite being reduced to ten men for large parts of the contest.

Tournament hosts Morocco followed on Sunday, edging past Tanzania with a narrow but controlled 1–0 victory in Rabat. Backed by a passionate home crowd, the Atlas Lions displayed patience and maturity, with Brahim Díaz delivering the decisive moment.

The win not only kept Morocco’s title hopes alive but also reinforced belief that this could finally be their year, 50 years after their last AFCON triumph.

Cameroon completed the list of quarter-finalists later on Sunday with a dramatic 2–1 win over South Africa.

The five-time champions once again showcased their knockout pedigree, finding a way through a fiercely contested encounter. Their reward is a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown against hosts Morocco, a fixture rich in history and continental heavyweight status.

Elsewhere, several Round of 16 matches are still to be played on Monday, January 5 and Tuesday, January 6, with major contenders yet to confirm their passage.

Egypt will face Benin, Nigeria take on Mozambique, Algeria meet DR Congo, and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire are up against Burkina Faso.

The results of these ties will complete the quarter-final line-up and further shape the route to the final.

The quarter-finals of AFCON 2025 will be played on Friday 9 January and Saturday 10 January, with the tournament building towards the final on 18 January at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.