The 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) takes a brief two-day pause following an action-packed group stage, with attention now firmly fixed on a blockbuster Round of 16 set to begin on Saturday, January 3 2026, as the competition slides into the new year.
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After 11 days of football that showcased Africa’s finest talents, the knockout fixtures have been confirmed, promising four days of intense battles as the remaining teams compete for places in the quarter-finals.
The Round of 16 will run from January 3 to January 6, with two matches scheduled daily at 17:00 and 20:00 local time.
Tournament hosts Morocco will return to action on Sunday when they face Tanzania at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
The Atlas Lions, who topped Group A, will be backed by a passionate home crowd as they continue their quest for a first AFCON title in 50 years.
Tanzania advanced to the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams from Group C.
Later on Sunday, South Africa take on Cameroon at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat in a compelling encounter that reunites Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos with the Indomitable Lions, whom he guided to AFCON glory in 2017.
Senegal Open Knockout Phase, Nigeria in Monday Showdown
The Round of 16 action begins on Saturday at the Grand Stade de Tangier, where reigning champions of the 2021 edition, Senegal, face Sudan in the tournament’s first knockout fixture.
That match will be followed by a North African duel in Casablanca as Mali meet Tunisia, with Mali chasing a maiden continental crown and Tunisia aiming to relive their 2004 triumph.
On Monday, record seven-time champions Egypt will confront Benin at the Grand Stade de Agadir, as the Pharaohs continue their search for a first AFCON title since 2010.
Later that evening, Nigeria—one of the standout teams of the group stage—will battle Mozambique at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, hoping to surpass their runner-up finish at the 2023 tournament.
Tuesday’s fixtures will see Algeria clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Stade Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan in Rabat.
The Round of 16 will conclude in Marrakech, where defending champions Côte d’Ivoire face a stern test against Burkina Faso at the Grand Stade de Marrakech.
The quarter-finals are scheduled for January 9–10, while the final will take place on January 18 at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 –
Round of 16 Fixtures
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Senegal vs Sudan
17:00 local time / 16:00 GMT
Grand Stade de Tangier
Mali vs Tunisia
20:00 local time / 19:00 GMT
Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca
Sunday, January 4, 2026
Morocco vs Tanzania
17:00 local time / 16:00 GMT
Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat
South Africa vs Cameroon
20:00 local time / 19:00 GMT
Stade Al Medina, Rabat
Monday, January 5, 2026
Egypt vs Benin
17:00 local time / 16:00 GMT
Grand Stade de Agadir
Nigeria vs Mozambique
20:00 local time / 19:00 GMT
Complexe Sportif de Fès
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Algeria vs DR Congo
17:00 local time / 16:00 GMT
Stade Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan, Rabat
Côte d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso
20:00 local time / 19:00 GMT
Grand Stade de Marrakech
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