The Africa Cup of Nations reaches a blockbuster quarterfinal stage on Friday, once again underlining the long-standing dominance of North and West African football, with Cameroon standing as the lone representative from Central Africa.

Hosted in Morocco, this edition of AFCON has largely followed expectations and is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded tournaments in the competition’s history. Eight of the teams in the last eight feature in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) top ten rankings.

With the exception of Mali, a perennial contender, all remaining sides are former AFCON champions.

The quarterfinal action begins with eighth-ranked Mali locking horns with Senegal’s Teranga Lions, who are second in the CAF rankings, at the Grande Stade de Tanger.

Later on Friday, ten-time African heavyweights Cameroon, ranked tenth, face hosts Morocco—the continent’s top-ranked side—at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Although Morocco have lifted the AFCON trophy just once, 50 years ago in Ethiopia, they arrive with a golden generation that captured global attention by becoming the first African nation to reach the FIFA World Cup semifinals in 2022. Tournament top scorer Ibrahim Díaz, with four goals, headlines their attack, while Ayoub El Kaabi has thrilled fans with two stunning bicycle-kick finishes.

Cameroon, meanwhile, remain Africa’s most successful nation with five AFCON titles to their name.

Saturday’s fixtures promise equal excitement, as third-ranked Algeria take on fifth-ranked Nigeria. Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez and Nigeria stars Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen have all netted three goals so far in the tournament.

In Agadir, four-time champions Egypt, ranked fourth, will battle defending champions Ivory Coast, who sit seventh in the CAF rankings. Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo share three goals each and have rediscovered their best form on the international stage.

With elite talent, historic rivalries and continental pride at stake, the quarterfinals are set to deliver high drama and top-quality African football. The semifinals will be played on Wednesday, with the final scheduled for Sunday.

As the tournament builds toward its climax, Morocco’s Atlas Lions will be dreaming of lifting their long-awaited second AFCON title on home soil.