The 2025/26 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) has entered it’s most decisive phase, as the tournament moves into the Round of 16. With the group stages concluded at the end of December 2025, the knockout rounds have brought up a sharp rise in intensity in Morocco, where every match is now win or go home and the road to continental glory begins to narrow.
The Round of 16 schedule started from Saturday, 3 January and will continue on to Tuesday, 6 January 2026, with early fixtures already setting the tone and more high-stakes encounters still to come. The knockout phase got underway on Saturday, 3 January, when two heavyweight encounters; Senegal faced Sudan in Tangier, while Mali took on Tunisia in Casablanca, marking the official start of AFCON’s knockout round.
Senegal entered the contest as one of the tournament’s traditional powerhouses and notably former finalists, while Sudan’s presence in the knockout stages carried deep emotional significance, given the ongoing conflict in their homeland. For Sudan, simply reaching this stage already represents a historic milestone for the nation.
Attention now turns to Sunday, 4 January, with two blockbuster fixtures scheduled in Rabat.
Hosts Morocco face Tanzania at Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium at 6pm (local time). The ‘Atlas Lions’, carrying both home support and some-what a tournament favourite status will face off against Tanzania, which will be appearing in the knockout rounds for the first time in decades, so they arrive with little to lose and everything to gain
Later on the same day at 9pm, South Africa will meet Cameroon in one of the most eye-catching matchups of the round at Al Madina Stadium. Bafana Bafana, buoyed by strong group-stage momentum, come up against five-time AFCON champions Cameroon, whose experience in high-pressure matches remains a defining asset. It is a classic battle between Bafana Bafana’s youthful energy and The Indomitable Lions’ seasoned experience.
The Round of 16 will continue into the new week, beginning on Monday, 5 January where Egypt will take on Benin in Agadir, as the tournament’s most successful nation faces a Benin side enjoying a rare return to the knockout stages following their first AFCON victory in decades. All eyes will be on whether the Pharaohs can impose their authority or if Benin can extend their fairytale run.
Later that day, Nigeria face Mozambique in Fez at 9pm, with the Super Eagles boasting one of the most potent attacks of the group stage, having scored eight goals. Mozambique, meanwhile, are making their first knockout appearance in many years and will be eager to test themselves against elite opposition.
The Round of 16 concludes on Tuesday, 6 January, with two finely balanced contests.
Algeria meet DR Congo in Rabat, a clash between two sides who both emerged unbeaten from the group stage, making it one of the most unpredictable matches in this stage.
Finally, defending champions Ivory Coast face Burkina Faso in Marrakech, renewing a fierce West African rivalry. With history working against reigning champions — no titleholder has progressed beyond the Round of 16 since 2010.
The rewards are clear and the margins will be unforgiving as quarter-final places only await 8 winners, with the matches scheduled for 9th to 10th January. The single elimination pressure ensures there is no room for error, often producing shock results. Beyond the football, the atmosphere across Morocco has been electric. Fans from across the continent have filled stadiums with colour, songs and unrelenting passion, creating a backdrop worthy of Africa’s biggest football stage.
