The group stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is officially in the books, and the road to the trophy is now clearly mapped out. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the full draw for the highly anticipated Round of 16, setting the stage for a thrilling start to the knockout phase in Morocco.
The Knockout Schedule Takes Shape
The round of 16 matches are scheduled to run from January 2 to January 4, 2026. Teams will have varying amounts of rest, as there is a two-day break between the final group games and the commencement of the single-elimination stage. The fixtures are spread across the four days to maximize fan engagement.
Nigeria's Super Eagles, who were one of only two teams to achieve a perfect record of nine points in the group stage, have been paired with the Mambas of Mozambique. They will clash on the third day of the knockout round. The other flawless team, Algeria's Desert Foxes, landed a potentially tougher draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo on the final day.
Expert's Picks: Four Fixtures You Can't Miss
Top football analyst Rilwan Balogun has highlighted four matches from the round of 16 draw that promise to be proper tournament spectacles. Here is a breakdown of these key encounters:
1. Algeria vs Democratic Republic of Congo
This is a clash between the Group E winners, Algeria, and the runners-up from Group D, DR Congo. Balogun selected this match purely based on the current strength and tactical discipline of both sides. "They are both well-coached teams with quality across the pitch," he noted, suggesting a tight and strategic battle is on the cards.
2. South Africa vs Cameroon
In a battle of second-place finishers, Bafana Bafana will take on the historically successful Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Balogun pointed to the strong performances of both nations in the group stage as the reason for this pick. "South Africa look really strong so far with dedicated players, and Cameroon also look good. It’s also two teams with decent AFCON records," he explained to Legit.ng.
3. Cote d'Ivoire vs Burkina Faso
The defending champions, Cote d'Ivoire, who topped Group F, face a familiar West African foe in Burkina Faso, who finished second in Group E. Balogun frames this as a classic regional duel. "It is West African football - a big duel. Burkina Faso are one of those teams that’s not popular but are very hard to defeat," he stated, predicting a physically demanding contest.
4. Mali vs Tunisia
This fixture pits the runners-up from Group A (Tunisia) against the second-place team from Group C (Mali). According to Balogun, this match promises a fascinating clash of styles. "Mali have a good midfield, Tunisia have a decent defence. They are both good football sides on their day and will be at each other’s throats," he said, indicating a game that could be won in the key battles in the middle of the park.
Full Round of 16 Schedule and Super Eagles Update
The complete fixture list for the first knockout round is as follows:
- Day 1: Senegal vs Sudan, Mali vs Tunisia.
- Day 2: South Africa vs Cameroon, Morocco vs Tanzania.
- Day 3: Egypt vs Benin, Nigeria vs Mozambique.
- Day 4: Cote d'Ivoire vs Burkina Faso, Algeria vs DR Congo.
Ahead of their crucial match, the Nigerian camp is monitoring fitness concerns. After the 3-1 win over Uganda, AFCON debutant Ryan Alebiosu suffered a leg injury requiring hospital attention, while striker Cyriel Dessers is managing a thigh problem. Their availability could be key for the Super Eagles as they aim to continue their perfect run.
