The giants of Africa continue to turn up in the Cup of Nations, but Mali beat the odds in one of the closest contests of the round of 16, in an otherwise predictable result, with Nigeria and Algeria extending their winning run.
AFCON 2025 Round of 16 Highlights: Giants of Africa reign
10-man Mali sends Tunisia home
Ten-man Mali produced a stunning upset to eliminate Tunisia from the Africa Cup of Nations, winning 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Casablanca.
Despite playing a significant portion of the match at a numerical disadvantage after Woyo Coulibaly was sent off in the 26th minute, the Eagles displayed immense defensive resilience to frustrate the tournament favorites.
Tunisia appeared to have secured their progression when Firas Chaouat headed home in the 88th minute. However, a late handball by Yassine Meriah allowed Lassine Sinayoko to equalize from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
After a scoreless extra-time period, Tunisia surrendered their lead in the shootout. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane’s missed attempt allowed Bilal Toure to clinically seal Mali’s place in the last eight, where they are scheduled to face Senegal.
Morocco labored past Tanzania
Tournament hosts Morocco have advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over knockout debutant, Tanzania.
Despite controlling possession for long spells and seeing an early Ismael Saibari goal ruled out by VAR for offside, the Atlas Lions were frustrated by a compact and resilient Tanzanian defense throughout a goalless first half.
The breakthrough finally arrived just after the hour mark when Achraf Hakimi drove forward and provided the assist for Brahim Diaz. Diaz managed to finish from a tight angle on the right, finding the bottom corner to secure the win.
Although Tanzania responded with increased urgency and forced Yassine Bounou into a late save, Morocco managed the closing stages effectively to protect their lead and see out seven minutes of stoppage time.
Indomitable Lions bite Bafana where it hurts
Cameroon secured a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after a 2-1 victory over South Africa at the Al Median Stadium on Sunday night.
The Indomitable Lions weathered an early storm from Bafana Bafana, who missed several clear chances in the opening fifteen minutes, before Junior Tchamadeu opened the scoring in the 34th minute with his first international goal.
Cameroon doubled their advantage immediately after the interval when 19-year-old Christian Kofane headed home a cross from Mahamadou Aboubakar Nagida for his second goal in as many games.
At 19 years and 5 months, Kofane became the second-youngest goalscorer for Cameroon in the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations, trailing only Samuel Eto’o (18 years and 10 months).
Although South Africa pushed for a comeback and pulled a goal back through substitute Evidence Makgopa in the 88th minute, the five-time champions held firm to defend their lead and set up a quarter-final clash with Morocco on Friday.
Pharaohs survive Leopard scare to advance
Egypt secured a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Benin in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16, sealing their place in the last eight.
Despite dominating possession, the Pharaohs were forced into an extra period after Jodel Dossou’s cross took a wicked deflection off a defender to cancel out Marwan Attia’s opener in the 83rd minute.
Yasser Ibrahim restored Egypt’s lead with a looping header in the seventh minute of the first half of extra time, before Mohamed Salah sealed the win with a clinical counterattack strike in the fourth minute of added time of the second half of extra time.
The goal made Mohamed Salah the only third Egyptian to reach double figures of AFCON goals, joining his coach, Hossam Hassan, and the legend, Hassan El-Shazly.
Nigeria crushes Mozambique to continue run
Nigeria continued their explosiveness by thrashing Mozambique in a commanding 4-0 victory at the Fez Stadium on Monday, booking their place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals.
The Super Eagles took control early, with Ademola Lookman opening the scoring in the 20th minute and Victor Osimhen doubling the lead after a deflected cross from Akor Adams.
Nigeria maintained their intensity after the break, as Osimhen netted his second goal less than two minutes after the restart, with Ademola Lookman pulling the strings again.
Akor Adams capped the emphatic victory in the 75th minute with a powerful strike, with Ademola Lookman setting it up to become the first player to assist four goals in a single AFCON tournament since Didier Drogba for the Ivory Coast in 2008.
While Mozambique was completely outclassed, reaching the knockout phase of an AFCON for the first time was already a victory for the Mambas, and that is a positive they’ll take with them as they return home.
Boulbina’s wonder strike powers Algeria into the quarters
Algeria secured a dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over DR Congo in Rabat to advance to the AFCON 2025 quarterfinals in a tense encounter at the Stade Moulay El Hassan.
Despite being fairly dominant in possession, Algeria could not help but concede the bigger chances to their opponent, but forced two big saves off Lionel Mpasu-Nzau earlier in the second half of extra time.
Extra time substitute Adil Boulbina struck a spectacular winner in the dying moments of the second half of extra time to break the deadlock after 119 minutes of a chaotic scene between the two nations.
The win preserves Vladimir Petkovic’s side’s perfect record in the tournament. However, the victory was tempered by an injury to midfielder Ismael Bennacer, who may miss their next game in the semi-finals.
Amad inspires the Ivory Coast into the last eight
Defending champions Ivory Coast cruised into the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals with a convincing 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso in Marrakesh.
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo spearheaded the attack, opening the scoring in the 20th minute with a dinked finish before setting up RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande for a second just twelve minutes later.
Despite resilient efforts from Burkina Faso’s Dango Ouattara, who struck the woodwork, the Stallions were unable to breach the Ivorian defense while theirs faced constant torment from the Elephants.
Teenager Bazoumana Toure added gloss to the scoreline late in the game with a clinical solo effort, sealing a victory that makes Emerse Fae’s side the first defending champions to reach the last eight since Egypt in 2010.
The Elephants now prepare for a heavyweight quarterfinal clash against record seven-time champions Egypt in Agadir on Saturday.
Senegal comes back to survive Sudan upset
Senegal demonstrated their resilience by coming from behind to defeat Sudan 3-1 at the Tangier Grand Stadium on Saturday.
The Lions of Teranga were stunned just six minutes into the match when Sudan’s Aamir Abdallah scored a spectacular long-range opener for the Falcon of Jediane.
However, the defending champions responded through Pape Gueye, who netted twice before half-time to turn the game around and give the 2021 winners the advantage ahead of the second 45 minutes.
The game was ultimately put to bed in the 77th minute by 17-year-old substitute Ibrahim Mbaye, who marked his tournament arrival with a clinical finish, earning the Teranga Lions a place in the last eight.
AFCON 2025 Quarter-Finals Schedule
The last eight of the African Cup of Nations 2025 will come on Friday and Saturday of 9th and 10th of January 2026, with west African neighbors Senegal and Mali locking horns at 5pm African time on the first day, before host Morocco take on Cameroon later in the day.
On Saturday, Nigeria and Algeria will clash in a rematch of the 2019 semi-finals before Ivory Coast, who became the first defending champions to reach the quarter-finals since Egypt in 2010 take on record champions Egypt at night.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
