AFCON 2025: Full List of Qualified Teams for Quarter-Final, Fixtures As Nigeria Draws Algeria
- The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco has reached the quarter-final stage, with 16 teams already eliminated
- 2025 is a year of no upset in the knockout stages, as the eight teams left in the quarter-final are past winners, except for Mali
- The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Algeria, while hosts Morocco will face Cameroon, amongst other last-eight fixtures
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco has reached the quarter-final stage with eight teams left and 16 already eliminated from the tournament.
This year’s Round of 16 did not offer any surprises, with most top nations progressing to the last eight at the expense of their weaker opponents.
Source: Getty Images
Tanzania, Mozambique, Benin, and Sudan, all of which qualified as third-placed teams, have been eliminated after crushing defeats in the Round of 16.
The Eagles of Mali, which eliminated the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, is the only team which has yet to win the title left in the tournament’s last eight.
DR Congo, South Africa and Burkina Faso are the only other teams that were eliminated in the round of 16.
AFCON 2025 quarter-final teams
AFCON 2025 is set for the quarter-final with the Teranga Lions of Senegal as the first team to book their spot after beating Sudan 3-1 in the first match.
Mali continued their winless and unbeaten run in the tournament, defeating Tunisia on penalties after a 1-1 draw in a thrilling 120 minutes in Casablanca.
Host nation Morocco picked up the third spot after a controversial 1-0 win over the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, thanks to Brahim Diaz’s goal, after which the East Africans were denied a late penalty.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon showed South Africa why they have five stars with a 2-1 win to reach the quarter-final and eliminate Bafana Bafana from the tournament.
Gernot Rohr’s Benin dragged seven-time champions Egypt to extra time, before Yasser Ibrahim and Mohamed Salah scored to crush any hope of an upset.
As noted by the NFF, the Super Eagles gave Mozambique no chance, crushing the knockout stage debutants 4-0 to progress to their 18th quarter-final.
The Leopards of DR Congo made Algeria work for their last-eight spot, dragging the match to extra time before Aldi Boulbina's late strike sent the Desert Foxes through.
Source: Getty Images
Defending champions Cote d'Ivoire did not give Burkina Faso any chance to dream, dispatching the Peregrine Falcons 3-0 to reach the quarter-final.
CAF confirmed the quarter-final fixtures based on the existing knockout stage chart after Cote d'Ivoire’s win over Burkina Faso in the final round of 16 match.
AFCON 2025 QF matches
Mali vs Senegal – Friday, 9 January
Cameroon vs Morocco – Friday, 9 January
Egypt v Cote d'Ivoire – Saturday, 10 January
Nigeria v Algeria – Saturday, 10 January
NFF quells camp rift rumours
Legit.ng reported that the NFF quelled the rumours that there is a tense atmosphere in the Super Eagles camp after the heated exchange between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
The incident escalated in the Nigerian media, but the federation moved quickly to redirect the team’s focus on the quarter-final clash against Algeria.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
