{"id":110168,"date":"2026-01-07T08:41:39","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T08:41:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=110168"},"modified":"2026-01-07T08:41:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T08:41:39","slug":"afcon-2025-how-the-last-eight-made-the-quarter-finals-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=110168","title":{"rendered":"AFCON 2025: How the last eight made the quarter-finals list"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The first knockout phase of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 ended on Tuesday night and with the Round of 16 now concluded, the quarter-final places have been decided.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Africa\u2019s biggest football tournament moves into its most decisive stage, the results have underlined both the quality of the favourites and the fine margins that continue to define AFCON football.<\/p>\n

The Round of 16 marked the start of straight knockout competition, where the outcome of the matches have reshaped the competition.<\/p>\n

After an unpredictable group stage that opened the door for several contenders, the last-16 ties have decided who remains on course for continental glory and who sees their journey come to an abrupt end.<\/p>\n

Eight teams have secured their places in the quarter-finals, each doing so in contrasting fashion but with the same objective achieved: staying alive in the title race.<\/p>\n

Senegal<\/strong>\u00a0were the first nation to book a quarter-final spot on Saturday. The former African champions extended their impressive unbeaten run at the tournament by overcoming Sudan, confirming their status as one of the most consistent sides on the continent.<\/p>\n

Later in the day,\u00a0Mali<\/strong>\u00a0secured their place in the quarter-finals when they defeated Tunisia on penalties despite playing large parts of the game with ten men<\/p>\n

Tournament hosts\u00a0Morocco<\/strong>\u00a0followed on Sunday, edging past Tanzania with a narrow but controlled 1\u20130 victory in Rabat. In front of a passionate home crowd, the Atlas Lions showed patience and maturity, with\u00a0Brahim D\u00edaz<\/strong>\u00a0providing the decisive moment.<\/p>\n

The win not only kept Morocco\u2019s title hopes alive but also reinforced their growing belief that this could finally be their year, 50 years after their last AFCON triumph.<\/p>\n

Cameroon<\/strong>\u00a0then joined the list of quarter-finalists later in the day after a dramatic 2\u20131 win over South Africa. The Indomitable Lions, five-time African champions, once again showcased their pedigree in knockout football, finding a way through in a fiercely contested encounter.<\/p>\n

Their reward is a mouth-watering quarter-final clash against hosts Morocco, a fixture that promises intensity, history and continental heavyweight status.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere on Monday Egypt defeated Benin 3-1 after extra-time with Mohammed Salah scoring with the last kick of the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nigeria<\/strong>\u00a0also secured their place in the quarter finals on Monday night after hammering\u00a0Mozambique<\/strong>\u00a04-0 with Victor Osimhen scoring a brace to help the Super Eagles to advance.<\/p>\n

Algeria<\/strong>\u00a0beat\u00a0DR Congo\u00a0<\/strong>1-0 in extra-time to secure their place in the quarter-final thanks to a fantastic long-range strike by substitute Adil Boulbina on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Later in the day defending champions\u00a0C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire<\/strong>\u00a0defeated neighbours\u00a0Burkina Faso\u00a0<\/strong>3-0 to secure the final place in the last eight of the competition.<\/p>\n

The quarter-finals of AFCON 2025 will be played on Friday 9 January and Saturday 10 January, with the competition building towards the final on 18 January at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.<\/p>\n

Confirmed quarter-final fixtures<\/strong><\/h3>\n