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The last 16 of the the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is compete and some mouth-watering quarter-finals are now on the horizon at a tournament being held across Christmas and New Year for the first time.
Host nation Morocco are bidding to secure a first continental title since 1976, although their world-record 19-match winning run in international football came to an end with a draw against Mali in their second match of an enthralling group stage.
The pressure is on the Atlas Lions, who are Africa's highest-ranked nation at 11th in the world and came through a scare or two in their first knockout game, beating a Tanzania side 101 places below them.
Five-time champions Cameroon, fellow heavyweights Nigeria and Algeria, 2021 winners Senegal and Mali have all booked their place in the last eight.
Mohamed Salah – still seeking his first Afcon title – scored to help Egypt join them and take another step towards a record-extending eighth continental crown, having been runners-up at the 2017 and 2021 editions.
The Pharaohs will face Ivory Coast in the last eight after the defending champions eased past West African rivals Burkina Faso.
But when are the other knockout fixtures? Where are matches being played and when do they kick off?
BBC Sport Africa provides you with all the information on the 35th edition of Africa's biggest sporting event.
Who has made it through?
The 24 teams at the finals were split into six groups of four, with the top two in each group and the four best-ranked third-placed teams advancing to the last 16.
Group A: Morocco (Q), Mali (Q), Zambia, Comoros
Group B: Egypt (Q), South Africa (Q), Angola, Zimbabwe
Group C: Nigeria (Q), Tunisia (Q), Tanzania (Q), Uganda
Group D: Senegal (Q), DR Congo (Q), Benin (Q), Botswana
Group E: Algeria (Q), Burkina Faso (Q), Sudan (Q), Equatorial Guinea
Group F: Ivory Coast (Q), Cameroon (Q), Mozambique (Q) Gabon
What happened in the last-16 ties?
Senegal came from behind to beat Sudan in the first tie of the round of 16 on Saturday, followed by Mali knocking out 2004 champions Tunisia on penalties despite being reduced to 10 players early on, conceding the first goal in the 88th minute and falling behind in the shootout.
Reigning African Footballer of the Year Hakimi then made his much-anticipated full return from injury to set up Brahim Diaz's winner against the Taifa Stars, booking a quarter-final against Cameroon, who ousted South Africa.
On Monday, Salah's side saw off the Cheetahs after extra time and three-time champions Nigeria continued their perfect start from the group stage by thrashing Mozambique.
The last-16 ties culminated on Tuesday when Algeria netted a 119th-minute winner to see off DR Congo and Ivory Coast saw off Burkina Faso 3-0.
What are the Afcon quarter-final ties?
A tournament where the big guns have done well has provided some last-eight ties with heavyweight clashes across the board.
All the sides at this stage of the tournament are ranked among the top 10 sides on the continent – with all except Mali former Afcon champions.
The quarter-final line-up scheduled for Friday and Saturday is as follows:
Friday, 9 January
- Mali vs Senegal
- Cameroon vs Morocco
Saturday, 10 January
- Algeria vs Egypt
- Egypt vs Ivory Coast
Who has impressed – and who hasn't?
Morocco remain favourites and have Real Madrid playmaker Diaz in formidable form, making history as their first player to score in four successive Afcon games, alongside three for Ayoub El Kaabi during the group stage.
A Champions League winner last season, inspirational Hakimi's creative presence and productivity on the flank against Tanzania will give coach Walid Regragui added confidence that the best is yet to come from his squad.
Cameroon only appointed coach David Pagou last month as part of an uncertain build-up, but the Indomitable Lions held Ivory Coast in their second game and saw off South Africa in the last 16, helped by a forward line featuring Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo and 19-year-old newcomer Christian Kofane, scorer of two goals so far.
Senegal have been playing impressive football this year under Pape Thiaw and have shown their considerable squad depth, with two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane contributing one goal and three assists.
Their last-eight opponents Mali have got this far without winning a game, having drawn with Zambia, Morocco and Comoros in the group stage and then edging out Tunisia on penalties after being reduced to 10 men in the first half.
Algeria and Nigeria are the only sides remaining with a 100% record after four games, but both have faced their challenges.
Former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez scored three goals as Algeria won Group E, although they only narrowly avoided a penalty shootout against DR Congo in the last 16 before Adil Boulbina’s stunning late winner.
Nigeria's fortunes dipped sharply in World Cup qualifying without Victor Osimhen, and the striker’s double against the Mambas will fuel belief that the talisman can lead the Super Eagles through the tougher-looking half of the draw.
Egypt and Salah are yet to hit peak form, the forward netting an added-time winner in their opener against Zimbabwe, scoring the only goal from the spot as they held on to beat South Africa with 10 players and striking in the 124th minute against Benin.
Ivory Coast went unbeaten through World Cup qualifying but only won Group F with a late comeback against eliminated Gabon – a performance they built on against Burkina Faso when Amad Diallo netted his third goal at the finals and laid on another.
With seven different winners in the past eight editions, the tournament is likely to have more surprises on the way.
- Who has been called up for Afcon 2025?
Afcon 2025 schedule and kick-off times
The round of 16 concludes on 6 January, followed by four quarter-final matches on 9 and 10 January, starting at 16:00 and 19:00.
Both semi-finals are on Wednesday, 14 January, starting at 17:00 and 20:00, with the third-placed play-off on Saturday, 17 January at 16:00.
The final on Sunday, 18 January will kick off at 19:00.
Who is the Afcon 2025 top scorer?
Morocco playmaker Diaz leads the scoring charts after strikes against Comoros, Mali, Zambia and Tanzania.
However, a stack of big names are right behind the 26-year-old.
4 goals: Brahim Diaz (Morocco)
3 goals: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco), Lassine Sinayoko (Mali), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman (both Nigeria), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)
Afcon 2025 venues: Where is it being played?
Morocco has pumped vast sums of money into renovating stadiums to host Afcon 2025 while also preparing to co-host the 2030 Fifa World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
Nine stadiums are being used in six host cities, with four venues in the capital Rabat.
- Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (capacity 69,500)
- Olympic Stadium, Rabat (capacity 21,000)
- Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat (capacity 22,000)
- Stade El Barid, Rabat (capacity 18,000)
- Grand Stade d'Agadir, Agadir (capacity 45,480)
- Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes (capacity 45,000)
- Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech (capacity 45,240)
- Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (capacity 67,000)
- Grand Stade de Tangier, Tangier (capacity 75,600)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 fixtures
All times GMT
Sunday, 21 December
Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Monday, 22 December
Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia, Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca
Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola, Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech
Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe, Grand Stade d’Agadir, Agadir
Tuesday, 23 December
Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana, Grand Stade de Tangier, Tangier
Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin, Stade El Barid, Rabat
Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania, Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes
Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda, Olympic Stadium, Rabat
Wednesday, 24 December
Group E: Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea, Casablanca
Group E: Algeria 3-0 Sudan, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
Group F: Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique, Marrakech
Group F: Cameroon 1-0 Gabon, Agadir
Friday, 26 December
Group B: Angola 1-1 Zimbabwe, Marrakech
Group B: Egypt 1-0 South Africa, Agadir
Group A: Zambia 0-0 Comoros, Casablanca
Group A: Morocco 1-1 Mali, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Saturday, 27 December
Group D: Benin 1-0 Botswana, Olympic Stadium
Group D: Senegal 1-1 DR Congo, Tangier
Group C: Uganda 1-1 Tanzania, Stade El Barid
Group C: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia, Fes
Sunday, 28 December
Group F: Gabon 2-3 Mozambique, Agadir
Group E: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Sudan, Casablanca
Group E: Algeria 1-0 Burkina Faso, Moulay El Hassan Stadium
Group F: Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon, Marrakech
Monday, 29 December
Group B: Angola 0-0 Egypt, Agadir
Group B: Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa, Marrakech
Group A: Comoros 0-0 Mali, Casablanca
Group A: Zambia 0-3 Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Tuesday, 30 December
Group C: Tanzania 1-1 Tunisia, Olympic Stadium
Group C: Uganda 1-3 Nigeria, Fes
Group D: Benin 0-3 Senegal, Tangier
Group D: Botswana 0-3 DR Congo, Stade El Barid
Wednesday, 31 December
Group E: Equatorial Guinea 1-3 Algeria, Moulay El Hassan Stadium
Group E: Sudan0-2 Burkina Faso, Casablanca
Group F: Gabon 2-3 Ivory Coast, Marrakech
Group F: Mozambique 1-2 Cameroon, Agadir
Afcon 2025 second round schedule
Saturday, 3 January
SR1: Senegal 3-1 Sudan, Tangier
SR2: Mali 1-1 Tunisia (AET, 3-2 on pens), Casablanca
Sunday, 4 January
SR3: Morocco 1-0 Tanzania, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
SR4: South Africa 1-2 Cameroon, Stade El Barid
Monday, 5 January
SR5: Egypt 3-1 Benin (AET), Agadir
SR6: Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique, Fes
Tuesday, 6 January
SR7: Algeria 1-0 DR Congo (AET), Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat (16:00)
SR8: Ivory Coast 3-0 Burkina Faso, Marrakech
Afcon 2025 quarter-finals
Friday, 9 January
QF1: Mali vs Senegal, Tangier (16:00)
QF2: Cameroon vs Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (19:00)
Saturday, 10 January
QF3: Algeria vs Egypt, Marrakech (16:00)
QF4: Egypt vs Ivory Coast, Agadir (19:00)
Semi-finals
Wednesday, 14 January
SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4, Tangier (17:00)
SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (20:00)
Third place play-off
Saturday, 17 January
SF1 vs SF2 losers, Casablanca (16:00)
Afcon 2025 final
Sunday, 18 January
SF1 vs SF2 winners, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (19:00)
