AFCON 2025: Who is playing in the round of 16? All to know

As the New Year begins – and with an action-packed group stage now in the rear view mirror – the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) moves into the knockout phase, with the round of 16 getting under way on Saturday.

Here’s all to know about the eight fixtures:

⚽ Senegal vs Sudan

When: January 3, 5pm/16: 00 GMT
Where: Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier

Pre-tournament favourites Senegal open their AFCON round-of-16 campaign against Sudan, the lowest-ranked side left in the competition and appearing in the knockout stages for the first time in 14 years.

Senegal finished top of Group D with seven points after two wins and a draw, edging the Democratic Republic of the Congo on goal difference.

The 2022 champions, boasting considerable attacking firepower in Nicolas Jackson and Sadio Mane, will start as clear favourites but will be without captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who was sent off in their final group match.

The 117th-ranked Sudan progressed as one of the four best third-placed teams, collecting three points in Group E courtesy of a victory over Equatorial Guinea: a result that marked only their second-ever win at AFCON since lifting the trophy in 1970.

Reaching the last-16 represents a significant achievement for Sudan, whose footballing progress has come amid ongoing turmoil at home. Sudan has been ravaged by war since fighting broke out between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023.

⚽ Mali vs Tunisia

When: January 3, 8pm local/19: 00 GMT
Where: Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca

This round-of-16 showdown brings together two familiar AFCON foes, as Group A runners-up Mali take on Group C’s second-placed side Tunisia.

Mali progressed with three points after drawing all three group matches, while Tunisia advanced with four, courtesy of one win and one draw. Neither side set the group stage alight, but both could use this round as a chance to reset and raise their level.

The two teams have met 15 times across competitive fixtures and friendlies, with Tunisia holding a narrow edge in the head-to-head, claiming seven victories to Mali’s five, while three matches ended in a draw. Their most recent meeting came at AFCON in January 2024, when they played out a 1-1 draw in the group stage.

Mali, who finished runners-up at the tournament in 1972, will be without midfielder Amadou Haidara after he was sent off late in their last game.

⚽ Morocco vs Tanzania

When: January 4, 5pm/16: 00 GMT
Where: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat

Hosts Morocco, Africa’s highest-ranked nation at 11th in the world, have lined up a meeting with Tanzania, who ended a 45-year wait to play in the AFCON knockouts. With just two points from three Group C games, Tanzania squeezed into the last 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams, edging out Angola on goals scored.

Morocco, meanwhile, topped Group A with seven points from two wins and a draw. Despite being tipped as overwhelming favourites, the Atlas Lions faced early criticism after a nervy opening-day win over minnows Comoros and a draw with Mali, before restoring confidence with a convincing 3-0 victory over Zambia in their final group match.

Coach Walid Regragui, who had earlier apologised to frustrated fans for the team’s underwhelming performance, is targeting the country’s second continental crown, 50 years after Morocco’s maiden AFCON triumph.

⚽ South Africa vs Cameroon

When: January 4, 8pm local/19: 00 GMT
Where: Al Barid Stadium in Rabat

Oswin Appollis’s late penalty capped a five-goal thriller against Zimbabwe and sealed South Africa’s passage to the round of 16 as Group B runners-up. Bafana Bafana finished the group stage with two wins and one defeat and now face five-time champions Cameroon.

South Africa, one of the seven AFCON participants to have booked their place at FIFA World Cup 2026, finished third at AFCON 2023 but are yet to fully hit top gear this time. They will be hoping to find their rhythm against Cameroon, who progressed as Group F runners-up after an unbeaten group-stage campaign that included two victories.

Sunday’s contest will mark the 10th meeting between the sides: five of their previous encounters ended in draws, with South Africa claiming three wins and Cameroon prevailing just once.

⚽ Egypt vs Benin

When: January 5, 5pm/16: 00 GMT)
Where: Adrar Stadium in Agadir

An unbeaten group-stage campaign saw Egypt finish top of Group B with seven points. Even with a second-string lineup and key players such as Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush rested, the Pharaohs played out a goalless draw in the final group match against Angola to keep up their momentum.

That consistency has fuelled a belief among the team and fans alike that Egypt could finally convert promise into silverware after years of near misses, as t