After a breathtaking group stage led by Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Morocco’s Brahim Díaz, Africa’s finest once again rose to the occasion in a thrilling Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
North Africa continues to bask in footballing euphoria, with elite talents lighting up the tournament and setting the tone for a captivating knockout phase.

The Round of 16 kicked off in the coastal city of Tangier, where Senegal faced Sudan in a dramatic opener. The underdogs stunned the reigning champions early when Aamir Abdallah curled a stunning effort into the top corner within five minutes. Senegal responded through Pape Gueye, whose left-footed strike followed a moment of brilliance from Sadio Mané.

Despite seeing two goals ruled out, Les Lions de la Teranga eventually took control, with Gueye grabbing his second just before half-time. Substitute Ibrahim Mbaye sealed a 3–1 win in the 77th minute, calmly finishing another Mané assist.
Mali and Tunisia then delivered a tense encounter filled with late drama. Mali were reduced to ten men after Woyo Coulibaly’s red card in the 26th minute but showed immense resilience. Tunisia thought they had won it late on, only for Lassine Sinayoko to convert a last-gasp penalty and force extra time. The match went to a shootout, where El Bilal Touré struck the decisive penalty to send Tom Saintfiet’s Mali into the quarter-finals.

Tournament hosts Morocco maintained their momentum with a narrow win over a stubborn Tanzanian side. Real Madrid star Brahim Díaz scored the only goal of the match, continuing a historic tournament by becoming the first Moroccan player to score four goals at a single AFCON.

Sunday’s action continued with an entertaining clash between South Africa and Cameroon. Bafana Bafana created several chances but were punished for their wastefulness as Cameroon struck in the 34th minute and again shortly after the break. A late tap-in from Evidence Makgopa gave South Africa hope in the 88th minute, but the equaliser never arrived.

Seven-time champions Egypt were made to work hard by a spirited Benin side on Monday. With the scores level at 1–1, Egypt avoided penalties thanks to defender Yasser Ibrahim’s looping header in extra time, before Mohamed Salah sealed the win. The goal marked Salah’s 10th in AFCON history.

Nigeria, runners-up at the last tournament, continued their flawless run with a commanding 4–0 victory over Mozambique. Victor Osimhen led the charge with a brace as the Super Eagles remained the only team with a perfect record.

The Round of 16 concluded on Tuesday with Algeria and reigning champions Côte d’Ivoire completing the quarter-final lineup. DR Congo frustrated Algeria throughout regulation time but eventually succumbed in extra time, when Adil Boulbina produced one of the goals of the tournament with a stunning late strike from the edge of the box.

With the final eight now confirmed, the stage is set for even more drama. African football is in full flow—showcasing not just extraordinary talent, but the tactical maturity and intensity that make AFCON one of the world’s most compelling tournaments.