* Senegal’s defensive solidity — conceding just one goal in the group stage — contrasts sharply with Sudan’s struggle for attacking output, but knockout football has a habit of resetting form
* Mali and Tunisia have crossed paths at four previous tournaments, with Mali unbeaten in those encounters, though Tunisia arrive buoyed by recent attacking improvement and penalty efficiency
Maravi Express
The Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) Morocco 2025 moves into its decisive phase this evening as the Round of 16 gets under way, with eight high-stakes matches spread across four days and the margin for error now gone — starting with Senegal against Sudan (18h00) followed by Mali and Tunisia (21h00).
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After a group stage that produced drama, tight qualification races and historic breakthroughs, Africa’s biggest football tournament shifts from accumulation to elimination.
Senegal, unbeaten and dominant in Group D, face Sudan, who progressed with the lowest points total of any team still standing. Senegal’s defensive solidity — conceding just one goal in the group stage — contrasts sharply with Sudan’s struggle for attacking output, but knockout football has a habit of resetting form.
Later on Mali and Tunisia meet in Casablanca in a fixture steeped in AfCON familiarity as the sides have crossed paths at four previous tournaments, with Mali unbeaten in those encounters, though Tunisia arrive buoyed by recent attacking improvement and penalty efficiency.
Tomorrow brings two headline fixtures in Rabat when the hosts Morocco face Tanzania, a nation appearing in the knockout rounds for the first time.
Morocco have dominated this fixture historically, but recent Round of 16 exits underline the pressure on the Atlas Lions to deliver.
Later, South Africa will meet Cameroon in a tie rich in history and narrative, including coach Hugo Broos facing the side he led to AfCON glory in 2017 — and on Monday, Egypt’s long wait for an 8th continental crown continues against Benin in Agadir.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos
Nigeria — the tournament’s most prolific attacking side so far — take on Mozambique in Fès on Monday aiming to build on a strong group-stage showing and the Round of 16 concludes on Tuesday with Algeria facing DR Congo in Rabat, followed by Côte d’Ivoire’s defence of their title against Burkina Faso in Marrakech — a clash that could define the balance between pedigree and momentum.
With quarter-final places at stake, margins are thin, pressure is high and reputations are on the line. The knockout phase begins with no guarantees — only opportunity.
Former champions, tournament favourites and first-time knockout participants all remain in the hunt as the road to the final in Rabat begins to take shape — with defending champions Côte d’Ivoire still alive, but the path ahead is unforgiving.
Hosts Morocco carry the weight of expectation, while heavyweights such as Senegal, Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria aim to translate group-stage consistency into knockout authority.
Alongside them are ambitious challengers including Sudan, Tanzania and Mozambique, all hoping to extend unlikely journeys.
The Round of 16 fixtures
Today, January 3
* Senegal vs Sudan @ Grand Stade de Tangier (18h00); Mali vs Tunisia @ Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (21h00)
Tomorrow, January 4
* Morocco vs Tanzania @ Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (18h00); South Africa vs Cameroon @ Stade Al Medina, Rabat (21h00)
Monday, January 5
* Egypt vs Benin @ Grand Stade de Agadir (18h00); Nigeria vs Mozambique @ Complexe Sportif de Fès (21h00)
Tuesday, January 6
* Algeria vs DR Congo @ Stade Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan, Rabat (18h00); Côte d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso @ Grand Stade de Marrakech (21h00).—Reporting by CAFonline; edited by Maravi Express
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