This weekend — today and tomorrow — the teams in the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be down to four with the quarter-finals concluded. The last eight matches promise to be battles of titans with all but one being former champions, including record winners Egypt — a level of historical concentration rarely seen at this stage of the competition, and one that sets the tone for a fiercely competitive run-in to the final.
The quarter-finals bring together a collection of teams whose combined pedigree underlines the scale of the challenge ahead, with the nations having collectively won the continental title 22 times.
Seven of the eight quarter-finalists are former African champions,
First to line up in an all-West African clash are the Eagles of Mali, who are chasing their first title, contending for semifinal ticket with Senegal, winners of Cameroon 2021.
Mali shook the tournament by eliminating 2004 champions Tunisia in the Round of 16, forcing the game into 1-1 through Lassine Sinayoko, who converted from the spot in the sixth minute of added time. The Eagles then held on at extra time, and prevailed 3-2 in the shootout.
Mali had emerged second from Group A behind hosts Morocco despite recording draws against the Atlas Lions, Zambia and Comoros. The Malians had been in the semifinals on six occasions — 1972 (runners-up), 1994, 2002 (as hosts) 2004, 2012 and 2013.
Inspired by Sadio Mané, Senegal’s Lions of Teranga went all the way in Cameroon to lift their first title in 2021 and were emphatic in Group D in the ongoing edition, winning two and sharing honours in the third to win the group that had DR Congo, Benin Republic and Botswana. The Senegalese then smashed Sudan 3-1 at the first knockout phase to set up the meeting with Mali.
Also today will be Cameroon, who had won the championship five times, against hosts Morocco, who are eager to lift the crown after waiting for 50 years since their only hurrah at Ethiopia 1976 — 25 editions ago. Cameroon queued behind Cote d’Ivoire in Group F, only on inferior goal difference, winning two and drawing the other. The Indomitable Lions last won the title at Gabon 2017 and are tasty for more.
Morocco beat Comoros and Zambia in the preliminary stage and played 1-1 with Mali to reach the Group of 16. The Atlas Lions were expected to overrun Tanzania but managed a lone goal result.
On Saturday, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, who had been troubled by match bonus issues, will go up against familiar foes, the Desert Warriors of Algeria.
In the 1980 final of AFCON hosted by Nigeria, the then Green Eagles walloped Algeria 3-0 to win and become champions for the first time. But the Algerians had their revenge in 1990 when they also hosted, beating their Nigerian opponents by a lone goal.
Both sides also clashed at Angola 2010 in the third placed with Nigeria prevailing 1-0.
It’s the Algerians’ seventh quarterfinal qualification after winning all their matches in Morocco 2025, just like the Super Eagles, the only two teams to maintain a 100% record in the ongoing competition.
Record seven-time winners Egypt will face defending champions Cote d’Ivoire. Significantly, the Pharaohs of Egypt have not won the competition since Angola 2010. They were top of Group B, ahead of South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe, and went through in the Round of 16 beating Benin Republic via penalties.
The Ivorian Elephants were winners in 1992, 2015 and 2023 (as hosts), and were top of Group F, edging Cameroon only by superior goals scored. They then dispatched Burkina Faso 3-0 in the second round.
So far in Morocco 2025, all six group winners — Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria — progressed to the quarterfinals, reinforcing the sense that the tournament’s leading contenders have asserted themselves at the decisive stage.
Cameroon and Mali, both runners-up in their groups, also advanced, while all teams that qualified as best third-placed sides were eliminated in the Round of 16.
Quarter-final fixtures
(All kick-off West African Time)
Friday, 9 January
5 pm — Mali vs Senegal
8 pm — Cameroon vs Morocco
Saturday, 10 January
5 pm — Algeria vs Nigeria
8 pm — Egypt vs Côte d’Ivoire
