The stage is set and the stakes are real: the Confederation of African Football has confirmed the full lineup for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Round of 16. With two games each day from Saturday, January 3 through Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the continent’s best will clash under prime-time lights across Morocco. This bracket carries heavyweight names, dream-chasing underdogs, and storylines that could define the tournament.

CAF has mapped kickoffs at 5 pm and 8 pm local time (17:00 and 20:00 CET) in Morocco’s top stadiums, giving fans four straight nights of knockout drama. As one release put it, “The knockout phase will run from Saturday, January 3, to Tuesday, January 6, with two matches played daily at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.” The message is clear: be ready for two appointment viewing slots every night.

Last-16 fixtures: who, where, and when

Here is the complete, confirmed Round of 16 schedule, with venues and local kickoff times:

• Saturday, January 3, 2026
  Senegal vs Sudan — 5 pm, Grand Stade de Tangier
  Mali vs Tunisia — 8 pm, Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca
  
  
• Sunday, January 4, 2026
  Morocco vs Tanzania — 5 pm, Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat
  South Africa vs Cameroon — 8 pm, Stade Al Medina, Rabat
  
  
• Monday, January 5, 2026
  Egypt vs Benin — 5 pm, Grand Stade de Agadir
  Nigeria vs Mozambique — 8 pm, Complexe Sportif de Fès
  
  
• Tuesday, January 6, 2026
  Algeria vs DR Congo — 5 pm, Stade Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan, Rabat
  Cote d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso — 8 pm, Grand Stade de Marrakech

Every tie brings its own tension. Senegal, the 2021 champions, open against a stubborn Sudan. Mali meet Tunisia in Casablanca in a meeting of two disciplined, tournament-savvy sides. Hosts Morocco face Tanzania, who punched their ticket as one of the best third-placed teams from Group C, a reminder that the back door can still lead to a deep run.

“This bracket is a minefield—no team gets a free pass here.”

Big names, big pressure: the storylines to watch

Morocco, top of Group A and backed by a passionate home crowd, have both opportunity and pressure. The hosts will be expected to control the pace against Tanzania in Rabat. As one confirmation noted, “Hosts Morocco will face Tanzania on Sunday at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, after finishing top of Group A. Tanzania progressed as one of the four best third-placed teams from Group C.” For the Taifa Stars, it’s a chance to shock the bracket, nothing to lose.

South Africa versus Cameroon has a personal twist. “South Africa will take on Cameroon, in a fixture that will see coach Hugo Broos face the team he led to AFCON glory in 2017.” That’s a rare subplot: a title-winning coach now plotting against his past triumph.

Egypt, the record seven-time champions, meet Benin. The Pharaohs are chasing their first crown since 2010. They know knockout football well and will aim to manage the moment in Agadir. Meanwhile, Nigeria—one of the standouts of this group stage—line up against Mozambique in Fès. As reported, “Nigeria, among the standout teams in the group stage, face Mozambique in Fès, targeting improvement on their silver-medal finish at AFCON 2023.” The Super Eagles don’t just want to get through; they want to show a champion’s edge.

On the final night, Algeria’s meeting with DR Congo in Rabat brings a classic North vs Central Africa matchup with pace and power on both sides. Then, defending champions Cote d’Ivoire see a familiar test in Burkina Faso under the Marrakech lights. It is hard to defend a continental title; every opponent is primed to take you out. The Elephants must be sharp from minute one.

“If Egypt and Nigeria both click, the whole bracket tilts their way—big if, huge upside.”

How they got here: the group-stage picture

The bracket crystallized after a tight group stage that sent several heavyweights and a few resilient third-placed teams through. Here is the snapshot of qualifiers:

• Group B: Egypt, South Africa
• Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Tanzania (best third-placed)
• Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin (best third-placed)
• Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Sudan (best third-placed)
• Group F: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Mozambique (best third-placed)

Some notable names went home early. Botswana fell short in Group D, Equatorial Guinea could not advance from Group E, and Gabon missed out in Group F. Those exits underline how thin the margins are at AFCON—one bad day can end a campaign.

“Third-place lifelines keep the dream alive—Tanzania are proof that belief matters.”

Kickoff windows, venues, and what to expect

Plan for two daily prime-time windows: 5 pm and 8 pm local in Morocco (17:00 and 20:00 CET). Some listings reference 4 pm and 7 pm slots, but the official fixture grid corresponds to the 17:00 and 20:00 CET windows shown above. Either way, fans can lock in two appointment games each night across iconic Moroccan venues, including Rabat’s Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, Casablanca’s Stade Mohammed V, Tangier’s Grand Stade, Agadir’s Grand Stade, Fès’s Complexe Sportif, and Marrakech’s Grand Stade.

The format rewards depth and focus. There are no second legs, no do-overs. For Senegal, the target is a return to the summit they scaled in 2021. For Egypt, it’s the end of a long wait since 2010. Nigeria want to go one better than their 2023 silver. Cote d’Ivoire, as defending champions, carry the weight of the crown. And for challengers like Mali and Tunisia, this bracket is a real shot: one clean run and the trophy is suddenly in reach.

What it all means

AFCON knockout football is simple: survive and advance. But the meaning is bigger. Morocco’s home advantage will lift the noise and expectations. South Africa vs Cameroon brings a rare sideline twist with Hugo Broos. Algeria, DR Congo, and Burkina Faso know they are good enough to beat anyone on their day. Tanzania, Benin, Mozambique, and Sudan all earned their place—now they get 90 minutes to rewrite history.

Every night from January 3 to 6 offers a must-watch doubleheader. The only certainty is that one favorite will blink, and one underdog will dream bigger. That’s AFCON. That’s why the whole continent—and far beyond—will be watching.