The fixtures for the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have been confirmed following the conclusion of key group-stage matches on Tuesday.
Defending champions Senegal booked their place in the knockout round after a convincing 3–0 victory over Benin in Tangier, finishing top of Group D. Goals from Abdoulaye Seck and Habib Diallo put the Teranga Lions in control before captain Kalidou Koulibaly was sent off in the second half. Cherif Ndiaye later sealed the win with a penalty.
Senegal’s closest rivals in the group, the Democratic Republic of Congo, also secured a 3–0 win over already-eliminated Botswana in Rabat. Both teams finished the group with seven points, but Senegal claimed first place on superior goal difference, edging DR Congo by two goals.
As group winners, Senegal now enjoy a more favourable route in the knockout phase and will remain in Tangier to face the third-placed team from Group E on Saturday, January 3. That opponent will be decided after the Group E clash between Burkina Faso and Sudan in Casablanca.
DR Congo, who finished second in Group D, will face a tough test against Algeria in what is expected to be one of the standout ties of the Round of 16.
AFCON 2025 Round of 16 Fixtures (All times GMT)
Saturday, January 3
Tangier:
Senegal vs 3rd Place, Group E (16:00)
Casablanca:
Mali vs Tunisia (19:00)
Sunday, January 4
Rabat:
Morocco vs Tanzania (16:00)
South Africa vs 2nd Place, Group F (19:00)
Monday, January 5
Agadir:
Egypt vs Benin (16:00)
Fes:
Nigeria vs 3rd Place, Group F (19:00)
Tuesday, January 6
Rabat:
Algeria vs DR Congo (16:00)
Marrakesh:
1st Place, Group F vs 2nd Place, Group E (19:00)
The Round of 16 line-up will be fully confirmed after the final group matches on December 31. Any drawn matches at the end of regulation time will proceed to extra time and, if necessary, penalty shootouts. Winners will advance to the quarter-finals scheduled for January 9 and 10.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.