* The standout ties for the quarterfinals is the blockbuster meeting is between Cameroon and Morocco, whose winners will brace for a tougher semifinal against either Algeria or Nigeria
* The highlight semifinal will be Senegal overcoming Mali to meet either the defending champions Côte d’Ivoire or Egypt — the tournament’s most successful nation with seven titles
Maravi Express
The clash of heavyweights in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) Morocco 2025 will continue to be fiercest battles in the semifinals as winners of the encounter between Mali and Senegal are set to meet winners Egypt between Côte d’Ivoire while winners of Cameroon vs Morocco cross paths with Algeria vs Nigeria.
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Following the conclusion of an absorbing Round of 16, the quarterfinals will start on Friday, January 9, when Senegal will be up against Mali (18h00) in a West African derby before the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon facing hosts Morocco (21h00).
Then on Saturday, defending champions Cote d’Ivoire date record seven-time winners Egypt (21:00) after the clash between Algeria and Nigeria (18h00).
To reach this far hosts Morocco — buoyed by home support and their historic status as the first African nation to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final — edged past Tanzania while Cameroon, who are five-time African champions, edged out South Africa.
Egypt, the most successful nation in AfCON history, booked their place with a hard-fought extra-time victory over Benin, while holders Côte d’Ivoire maintained their title defence by overcoming Burkina Faso 3-0 to keep alive hopes of back-to-back crowns.
Egypt
Senegal, who were crowned champions in 2021, extended their impressive consistency with victory over Sudan as Mali continued their reputation as one of the tournament’s most resilient sides by defeating Tunisia on penalties despite spending large periods of the match with 10 men.
Nigeria underlined their attacking credentials with a commanding 4-0 win over Mozambique, inspired by a brace from Victor Osimhen, while Algeria required extra time to see off DR Congo — substitute Adil Boulbina striking late to secure progression.
The standout ties for the quarterfinals is the blockbuster meeting is between Cameroon and Morocco, whose winners will brace for a tougher semifinal against either Algeria or Nigeria
The highlight semifinal will be Senegal overcoming Mali to meet either the defending champions Côte d’Ivoire or Egypt — the tournament’s most successful nation with seven titles.
It will be the second meeting between Mali and Senegal at the AfCON finals as their only previous encounter was at the 2004 edition during group stages that ended 1-1, with Mali. Overall, the sides meet for the 41st time, with Senegal leading the head-to-head with 19 wins to Mali’s eight, while 13 matches have ended in draws.
Senegal, who qualified for the AfCON finals for the first time in 1965, are unbeaten in their last 13 matches against Mali, recording six wins and seven draws.
Mali’s last victory (2-1) over Senegal came in a friendly match on November 26, 1997, in Dakar and their most recent meeting was also a friendly, played on March 26, 2019, in Dakar in which Senegal won 2-1 with goals from Sadio Mané in the 87th and 90th minutes after Adama Traoré had given Mali the lead in the 72nd minute.
For Cameroon and Morocco this will their 4th meeting at the AfCON finals, with Cameroon undefeated against Morocco (W2 D1). It is their first AfCON meeting this century and their first clash at the finals for 39 years, 11 months and 29 days.
Their first AfCON meeting in 1986 ended 1-1 in the group stages before Cameroon eliminating the Atlas Lions in the 1988 semifinals before their third time meeting in 1992, which the Indomitable Lions won 1-0 in group stages.
Côte d’Ivoire
Cameroon went undefeated against Morocco through their first 13 meetings between 1981 and 2017, winning six games and drawing four — while Morocco have won the last two meetings between the sides, including a 2-0 victory in AfCON 2019 qualification in 2018 courtesy of a Hakim Ziyech brace.
Morocco also won their most recent meeting at the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN), defeating Cameroon 4-0 in the semifinals en-route to lifting the title.
Cameroon’s only losses against AfCON hosts came at the 1970 and 1996 group stages, when they lost 2-0 to Sudan and 3-0 to South Africa respectively and are unbeaten in their last six matches against AfCON hosts (W3 D3).
Cameroon have faced hosts in the knockout rounds six times previously, with their only defeat coming in the 1986 final against Egypt. They defeated Senegal 1-0 in the 1992 quarterfinal; Morocco 1-0 in the 1988 semifinal; Mali 3-0 in the 2002 semifinal; Ghana 1-0 in the 2008 Semi-final; and defeated Nigeria on penalties in the 2000 final after a 2-2 draw.
Thus Cameroon have kept nine clean sheets in their 13 AfCON meetings against hosts, including their last three against Mali (2002), Ghana (2008) and Gabon (2017).
Cameroon’s biggest win against a host was a 3-0 victory over Mali in the 2002 semifinal, while their heaviest defeat was a 3-0 loss to South Africa in the 1996 group stage opener.—Reporting by Maravi Express; stats by CAFonline
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