The knockout phase of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is now officially mapped out, following the dramatic conclusion of the group stage. The Super Eagles of Nigeria, one of only two teams to navigate the opening round with a flawless record, have discovered their path forward.
Super Eagles Land Mozambique in First Knockout Test
Nigeria, having topped Group C with maximum points, will square off against Mozambique, who advanced as one of the four best third-placed teams from Group F. The match is scheduled for January 5, 2026. The only other team to match Nigeria's perfect group stage run was Algeria, the Group E winners, who will face the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The tournament, which kicked off on December 21, 2025, will resume after a short break. The round of 16, where defeat means instant elimination, begins on January 3, 2026. Eight nations have already been sent packing: Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Zambia, and Botswana.
Complete AFCON 2025 Round of 16 Fixtures
The Confederation of African Football has confirmed the full slate of matches for this critical stage. The action commences with Senegal, the 2021 champions and Group D winners, taking on Sudan, the third-placed team from Group E.
The full schedule is as follows:
- January 3: Senegal vs Sudan; Mali vs Tunisia.
- January 4: Morocco (hosts) vs Tanzania; South Africa vs Cameroon.
- January 5: Egypt vs Benin Republic; Nigeria vs Mozambique; Algeria vs DR Congo; Cote d'Ivoire vs Burkina Faso.
In a tense final group match, the defending champions, Cote d'Ivoire, scored a late winner against Gabon. This crucial result allowed them to avoid a clash with South Africa and instead set up a meeting with Burkina Faso.
Potential Blockbuster Clashes Loom in Later Rounds
Looking ahead, the quarter-final draw promises some mouth-watering potential fixtures. If Nigeria overcomes Mozambique and Algeria defeats DR Congo, the Super Eagles would rekindle a fierce rivalry with the Congolese, reminiscent of their World Cup playoff battles.
Other possible matchups include a heavyweight duel between defending champions Cote d'Ivoire and record winners Egypt. Furthermore, Morocco and South Africa could meet again, with Bafana Bafana looking to repeat their 2023 round of 16 victory over the Atlas Lions.
The semi-finals could see Nigeria face perennial rivals Cameroon, or even South Africa, reigniting tensions from their 2023 AFCON semi-final and ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier group. On the other side of the bracket, a rematch of the 2021 final between Egypt and Senegal is a tantalizing possibility.
As the Super Eagles prepare for their knockout campaign, focus will intensify on key performers like Ademola Lookman and Calvin Bassey, who shone in the group stage. Coach Eric Chelle will demand every player reaches peak performance as the margin for error disappears.
