The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 has officially entered its knockout phase after an exciting group stage, with the Round of 16 fixtures now confirmed.
Set to run from Saturday, January 3 to Tuesday, January 6, the first knockout round will see 16 teams battle for places in the quarter-finals, with two matches scheduled each day at 17h00 local time (16h00 GMT) and 20h00 local time (19h00 GMT). The group stage showcased the depth and quality of African football, setting the stage for a thrilling elimination round.
Hosts Morocco will be under the spotlight on Sunday, January 4, when they face Tanzania at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat. Topping Group A, the Atlas Lions will be driven by a passionate home crowd as they chase a first continental title in 50 years. Tanzania, meanwhile, progressed as one of the best third-placed teams from Group C.
Later that evening in Rabat, South Africa take on Cameroon at the Al Medina Stadium in a high-profile clash that sees Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos come up against the Indomitable Lions, the side he guided to AFCON glory in 2017.
The Round of 16 action kicks off on Saturday, January 3, with reigning 2021 champions Senegal facing Sudan at the Grand Stade de Tangier. That match will be followed by a North African showdown between Mali and Tunisia at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, with Mali targeting a maiden AFCON title and Tunisia aiming to relive their 2004 triumph.
Monday’s fixtures include record seven-time champions Egypt, who have not lifted the trophy since 2010, taking on Benin at the Grand Stade de Agadir. Later, Nigeria—one of the most impressive teams in the group stage—will face Mozambique in Fès as the Super Eagles look to improve on their runner-up finish at the 2023 edition.
The Round of 16 concludes on Tuesday, January 6, with Algeria meeting the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat, before defending champions Côte d’Ivoire face Burkina Faso at the Grand Stade de Marrakech in what promises to be a tightly contested West African derby.
The quarter-finals are scheduled for January 9 and 10, while the final will be played on January 18 at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, where Africa’s next champion will be crowned.
