As the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco edges closer to its business end, the picture around the quarter-finals is finally coming into focus.
One more intense night of football has reshaped the tournament, and fans can now start circling dates for some mouth-watering last-eight clashes.
Algeria Snatch a Late Win to Stay Alive
One of the biggest talking points from the Round of 16 came from Rabat, where Algeria had to dig deep to overcome a stubborn DR Congo side.
After 90 minutes failed to separate both teams, the match dragged into extra time, testing nerves and stamina.
With penalties looming, substitute Anis Boulbina stepped up in dramatic fashion, finding the net in the 119th minute to hand Algeria a hard-fought 1–0 victory.
That late strike booked the Desert Foxes a place in the quarter-finals and set up a blockbuster meeting with Nigeria.
Nigeria Cruise Through With Osimhen Leading the Charge
Nigeria, on the other hand, made their intentions clear much earlier.
The Super Eagles booked their quarter-final spot in style on Monday night after sweeping aside Mozambique in a dominant 4–0 performance.
Victor Osimhen was the star of the show, scoring twice and reminding everyone why Nigeria remain one of the tournament favourites.
That emphatic win now sees the Super Eagles preparing for a high-stakes showdown with Algeria.
Familiar Heavyweights Already Through
Before Algeria’s dramatic qualification, several big names had already secured their places in the last eight.
Senegal, Mali, host nation Morocco, Cameroon and Egypt all progressed earlier, underlining the quality and experience still left in the competition.
With seven teams now confirmed, only one Round of 16 tie remains to decide the final quarter-finalist.
One Final Spot Still Up for Grabs
The last unanswered question rests on the Côte d’Ivoire versus Burkina Faso clash.
As of Tuesday night, the defending champions, Côte d’Ivoire, were firmly in control, leading 2–0 in the 35th minute.
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo opened the scoring in the 20th minute, before Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig doubled the advantage just 12 minutes later.
If the scoreline holds, the Elephants will move one step closer to defending their crown.
Teams Already Qualified for the Quarter-Finals
Here are the nations that have sealed their places so far:
- Senegal
- Mali
- Morocco
- Cameroon
- Egypt
- Nigeria
- Algeria
Confirmed Quarter-Final Match-Ups and Schedule
The stage is set for some thrilling encounters across two action-packed days:
Mali vs Senegal
- Date: Friday, January 9
- Venue: Grand Stade de Tanger, Tangier
- Kick-off: 5pm WAT
Cameroon vs Morocco
- Date: Friday, January 9
- Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
- Kick-off: 9pm WAT
Egypt vs Winner of Côte d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso
- Date: Saturday, January 10
- Venue: Stade Adrar, Agadir
- Kick-off: 8pm WAT
Nigeria vs Algeria
- Date: Saturday, January 10
- Venue: Stade de Marrakech, Ouahat Sidi Brahim
- Kick-off: 5pm WAT
What Happens Next?
Once the Côte d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso match is concluded, the final quarter-final pairing will be confirmed.
From there, attention will fully shift to Friday and Saturday, when Africa’s best go head-to-head for a place in the semi-finals of AFCON 2025.
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