The picture for the round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is becoming clearer as several teams confirm their places in the knockout stage following the conclusion of key group matches in Morocco.
Egypt set the pace by becoming the first nation to secure qualification, sealing progress with a crucial victory over South Africa in Group B and underlining their status as one of the tournament favourites.
The Pharaohs’ qualification was followed by confirmation of other group winners and contenders as the expanded 24 team format again delivered a tightly contested group phase.
Morocco topped Group A after a strong series of performances, with Mali joining them as runners up to book an early place in the last 16.
In Group B, Egypt finished ahead of South Africa, who also advanced to the knockout round. South Africa’s qualification reflected their resilience across the group stage, as they accumulated enough points to finish second and avoid reliance on third place calculations.
Nigeria led Group C with a perfect record, finishing top ahead of Tunisia, while Tanzania progressed as one of the best third placed teams.
The Super Eagles’ dominance ensured early qualification, while Tunisia’s experience proved decisive in securing second place. Tanzania benefited from the tournament format that allows the four best third placed sides to advance, keeping their campaign alive despite not finishing in the top two.
Group D also produced three qualifiers, with 2021 champions Senegal topping the group. DR Congo followed in second place, while Benin advanced as a best third placed team.
In Group E, Algeria confirmed their place in the round of 16, while the remaining qualification spots were picked by Burkina Faso and Sudan – sealing a third best spot.
Group F remains similar, with Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Mozambique all progressing.
The round of 16 will feature a blend of traditional heavyweights and emerging contenders, highlighting the depth of competition across the continent.
The knockout phase is scheduled to begin on Saturday, January 3, 2026, and will run through to Tuesday, January 6, setting the stage for decisive encounters as teams chase a place in the quarter finals.
