By Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
Africa’s football heavyweights have all secured their place in the knockout stage of the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Morocco, and will continue their journey with the round of 16 dates.
Nigeria and Algeria emerged as the only two nations with a perfect record, while the likes of Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, and the Ivory Coast also finished top in their groups with an unbeaten record.
DR Congo, Cameroon, and Mali also finished the group campaign with unbeaten records but as runner-ups, with the first two recording as many points as their group winners, while Mali didn’t even win a single match of football.
South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Tunisia are the other three group runner-ups, while the quartet of Mozambique, Benin, Sudan, and Tanzania secured qualification as the best third-place teams.
Here are the highlights of the final group round at AFCON 2025, as Comoros and Angola were left heartbroken, while Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Botswana go home with nothing.
Recap: AFCON 2025 Group campaign finale
Group A
Morocco ascertained dominance to win group
Hosts Morocco secured their place in the AFCON knockout stages as group winners, in a dominant display against Zambia, which ended in a 3-0 win in Rabat.
Ayoub El Kaabi netted twice, including a spectacular overhead kick, his second spectacular in three AFCON games after setting the tone with his first off the bench against Comoros, while Brahim Diaz scored for his third consecutive match.
This comfortable evening for the host nation ensures they finish top of Group A with seven points, four ahead of second-place Mali, who halted their perfect run last time out.
A major highlight was the return of captain Achraf Hakimi as a substitute following a long-term ankle injury. More of the reigning CAF Men’s Player of the Year will be seen in the knockout stages.
Winless Mali secured the runner-up spot
Mali secured their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 following a 0-0 draw with Comoros at the Mohamed V Stadium.
Finishing as Group A runners-up, the Eagles dominated possession but were repeatedly thwarted by Comoros’ goalkeeper Yannick Pandor, who performed several heroics to keep the match level.
Despite the stalemate, Mali’s unbeaten group-stage run ensures they advance to face Tunisia, when they will be without Amadou Haidara, who was sent off in the game.
Group B
Egypt secured the top spot, as Angola exits
Egypt secured the top spot in Group B at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following a 0-0 draw against Angola in their final group game on Monday evening.
With advancement already guaranteed, the Pharaohs opted to rest star forwards Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, fielding an entirely changed starting lineup in Agadir.
While the stalemate preserves Egypt’s unbeaten run, it leaves Angola in a precarious position; with only two points, their nervous wait for their knockout round fate was met with disappointment as other nations filled the best third-place spots.
Bafana wrapped up second, send Zimbabwe home
South Africa clinched a place in the AFCON 2025 knockout stages following a dramatic 3-2 victory over their southern rivals, Zimbabwe on Monday.
Oswin Appollis proved the hero, converting a late penalty to secure second place in Group B with six points, having followed their opening game win over Angola with a narrow loss to Egypt at the time out.
Tshepang Moremi and Lyle Foster also found the back of the net between Tawanda Maswanhise’s 19th-minute equalizer, but Zimbabwe crawled their way back into the game courtesy of Aubrey Modiba’s own goal 17 minutes from time.
Oswin Appollis converted the winning goal from the spot eight minutes from time after Marvelous Nakamba was penalized for a foul on Mohau Nkota inside the penalty box, to send the Warriors home.
Group C
Perfect Eagles sink Uganda to finish top
Nigeria secured their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stages as Group C winners following a 3-1 victory over Uganda on Tuesday.
Paul Onuachu opened the scoring in the 28th minute, but the game shifted decisively after Ugandan goalkeeper Salim Magoola received a straight red card for a handball outside the area in the 57th minute.
Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika capitalized on the man advantage, netting two goals in quick succession between the 63rd and 67th minutes to help Eric Chelle’s team to a 3-0 lead.
Although Rogers Mato scored a 75th-minute consolation goal for the Cranes, Nigeria’s dominance remained uncontested as they finished the group stage with a perfect record.
It is just the third time the West Africans have finished the group stage with a perfect record after 2006 and 2019, and have won bronze in those previous two editions.
Tunisia progress, Tanzania made history
Tunisia and Tanzania both secured their places in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 following a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, picking up runner-up and third-best-placed teams’ tickets respectively.
Ismael Gharbi gave Tunisia the lead from the penalty spot in the 41st minute after a VAR intervention. However, Tanzania responded immediately after the interval through a powerful long-range strike from Feisal Salum.
The result confirms Tunisia as runners-up with four points, five behind winners Nigeria, while Tanzania makes history by reaching the knockout phase for the first time, after surviving a late onslaught from the Carthage Eagles.
Group D
10-man Senegal crushes Benin to steal top spot
2021 champions Senegal clinched the top spot with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Cheetahs of Benin at the Tangier Grand Stadium on Tuesday.
Goals from Abdoulaye Seck, Habib Diallo, and a late Cherif Ndiaye penalty ensured the win for the Teranga Lions, who lost Iliman Ndiaye to an injury during the match.
However, the victory was tempered by a straight red card for captain Kalidou Koulibaly following a VAR review for a studs-up challenge, and he’ll now miss their round of 16 clash with Sudan.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Senegal’s defense held firm, while Benin finished third in the group, setting up a knockout stage encounter with Egypt.
Kakuta-inspired Leopards settle for second
DR Congo advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 as runners-up after a dominant 3-0 victory over Botswana on Tuesday night.
Former Chelsea attacker Gael Kakuta delivered a standout performance, scoring twice and providing an assist in one of the best individual performances so far in the 35th edition of the African Cup of Nations.
Nathanael Mbuku opened the scoring in the 31st minute before Kakuta doubled the lead from the penalty spot. A third goal followed right on the hour mark, confirming a January 6 showdown against Algeria.
Conversely, Botswana heads home after finishing bottom of the group with zero points, and zero goals, which capped off a difficult campaign.
Group E
Algeria stays perfect to set up DR Congo clash
Desert Warriors of Algeria concluded their group campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Equatorial Guinea at the Stade Moulay Hassan on Wednesday evening.
The Fennecs established total dominance within the first half-hour, scoring three goals through Zinéddine Belaïd, Farès Chaïbi, and 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen starlet Ibrahim Maza, who also created the second goal.
The result ensures Algeria joins Nigeria as the only teams to finish the group stage with a perfect record, while in stark contrast, Equatorial Guinea exits the tournament for the first time in their history without a single point, extending a dismal losing streak to four continental games.
Stallions did enough for second spot
Burkina Faso secured their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Sudan at Stade Mohammed V on Wednesday.
Lassina Traoré opened the scoring in the 15th minute, capitalising on a clinical counter-attack. Sudan had a chance to equalise shortly after, but Al Gozoli Nooh missed a crucial penalty, and that ultimately haunted them.
Arsene Kouassi eventually sealed the win in the 85th minute, ensuring that the Stallions finish behind Group winners Algeria, and avoid Senegal, whom Sudan now faces in the round of 16.
Group F
Resilient Elephant staged a dramatic comeback to finish top
Ivory Coast secured the top spot in Group F of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following a dramatic 3-2 comeback against Gabon.
Despite the Panthers racing into a 2-0 lead via Guelor Kanga and Denis Bouanga, the defending champions rallied late and turned the game around thanks to the impact of second-half substitutes.
Jean-Philippe Krasso halved the deficit to ignite the comeback just before halftime. In a tense closing period, substitutes Evann Guessand and Bazoumana Toure struck in the 84th and 92nd minutes respectively to snatch victory.
The result leaves Gabon winless, the first time they’ve failed to register a point in an AFCON finals since their debut in 1994, while Emerse Fae’s tactical changes ensured Ivory Coast progressed as group winners.
Kofane handed Cameroon win as both qualify
Cameroon secured second place thanks to a 2-1 comeback victory over a stubborn Mozambique at the Adrar Stadium.
The Mambas initially stunned the Indomitable Lions when Geny Catamo curled in a fine opener at the end of the first quarter, but Cameroon were back on level terms five minutes later, when Nene beat his own goalkeeper to score an own goal.
Christian Kofane eventually sealed the win with a spectacular long-range strike in the 55th minute, at the time sending Cameroon to the top of the table, but Ivory Coast’s late comeback meant they had to settle for second place.
Despite the loss, Mozambique made history by advancing to the knockout stages for the first time, setting up a clash with Nigeria, while Cameroon will lock horns with Bafana Bafana of South Africa.
Round of 16 fixtures
2021 winners Teranga Lions of Senegal take on Sudan, while two runner-ups, Mali and Tunisia, lock horns, with both games coming up on the first day of the round of 16 on the 3rd of January.
Host nation Morocco battles Tanzania’s history makers on day two, while South Africa and Cameroon go head-to-head in the biggest fixture of the round later on the same day.
Day three will be the turn of record winners Egypt to tackle Benin, and Nigeria will take on Mozambique after that. Algeria vs DR Congo and Ivory Coast against Burkina Faso will conclude the round on Tuesday, the 6th of January.
