AFCON 2025: Full List of Round of 16 Matches As Nigeria Draws Mozambique
- The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 matches have been confirmed after the completion of the group stage
- Nigeria and Algeria, the two teams with a perfect record, will face Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Defending champions Cote d'Ivoire scored a late winner against Gabon to avoid South Africa and draw Burkina Faso
The Round of 16 matches for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been confirmed as teams set to battle in a stage where there is no second chance after a defeat.
AFCON 2025 kicked off on December 21, 2025 and at the close of the year and entry into the new year 2026, it is set to kick off the second round of the tournament.
Source: Getty Images
24 teams started the competition, and eight have already been eliminated: Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Zambia and Botswana.
Benin Republic, Tanzania, Sudan and Mozambique reached the knockout stages as the four best third-placed teams from Group B, C, E and F.
As noted by France 24, the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Desert Warriors of Algeria are the only teams that maintained a perfect record in the group stage, while Mali and Tanzania reached the round of without a win.
AFCON 2025 Round of 16 draw
CAF has confirmed the full matchup for the round of 16 of AFCON 2025, which is set to kick off on January 3, 2026, after a two-day break.
The 2021 winners and Group D winners, Senegal, will open the matches on January 3, taking on Group E's third-placed team, Sudan. On the same day, Group A and C runner-ups Mali and Tunisia will face off.
Host nation and Group A winners Morocco will take on Group C’s third-placed team, Tanzania, on January 4, while Group B and F runner-ups South Africa and Cameroon will clash.
On January 5, Group B winners Egypt will face Group D’s third-placed team Benin, while Group C winners Nigeria will battle Group F's third-placed team Mozambique.
Group E winners Algeria will face Group D runner-up DR Congo, and Group F winners and defending champion Cote d'Ivoire will face Group E runner-up Burkina Faso.
Some interesting potential matches await in the quarter-final. Nigeria and DR Congo could rekindle their World Cup playoff rivalry if they both beat Mozambique and Algeria.
Cote d'Ivoire could face Egypt, while Morocco and South Africa could meet again after Bafana Bafana eliminated the Atlas Lions in the Round of 16 in 2023.
Source: Getty Images
The semi-final also has some potential crackers. Nigeria could renew their rivalry with Cameroon, while Egypt and Senegal could meet in a repeat of the 2021 final, which the Teranga Lions won.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria could meet South Africa in the semi-final, the same stage they met in 2023 and also rekindle their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier group stage beef.
Super Eagles' standout players
Legit.ng analysed the standout players for the Super Eagles during the group stage of AFCON 2025, during which they had a perfect record.
Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey are some of the best players, and in the knockout stage, Eric Chelle would need every player to be at their best.
Source: Legit.ng
