The Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco delivered drama, dominance, and defining moments as Africa’s finest nations booked their places in the quarter-finals, setting up a mouth-watering last-eight stage.
Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire underlined their credentials with an emphatic 3–0 victory over Burkina Faso in Marrakech. Amad Diallo continued his impressive form, scoring once and providing an assist as the Ivorians eased through with authority. Their reward is a blockbuster quarter-final clash against Egypt, seven-time champions, in Agadir, a repeat of the iconic 2006 final.
Egypt secured their place after a hard-fought 3–1 extra-time win over Benin, with Yasser Ibrahim’s towering header and a Mohamed Salah breakaway goal proving decisive in a tense encounter.
Algeria also needed late drama to advance, edging past the Democratic Republic of Congo 1–0 thanks to a 119th-minute strike from substitute Adil Boulbina in Rabat. The victory sets up a heavyweight quarter-final showdown with Nigeria, who cruised through the round of 16 with a commanding 4–0 win over Mozambique, barely breaking sweat.
Hosts Morocco delighted home fans as a solitary strike from Brahim Díaz secured a narrow 1–0 victory over Tanzania, sending the Atlas Lions into the quarter-finals. Díaz etched his name into AFCON history by becoming the first Moroccan player to score in four consecutive tournament matches. Morocco will now face Cameroon, who overcame South Africa 2–1 to keep their title hopes alive.
In an all-West African battle, Senegal fought back from behind to defeat Sudan 3–1, while Mali, reduced to ten men, showed remarkable resilience to edge Tunisia 3–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. The results set up an enticing Senegal-Mali quarter-final clash, promising intensity and regional pride.
With the Round of 16 concluded, the quarter-finals now bring together continental giants and fierce rivals, as the race for the AFCON 2025 crown intensifies across Morocco.
