AFCON 2025: The best is reserved for the last 8

The battle towards the semi-finals will be very tough. Since the 8 teams that qualified for the quarter-finals have shown great things since the beginning of the competition. Matches that are completely open.

Mali - Senegal or the derby between neighbors

Pragmatic since the beginning of the tournament, Mali will face Senegal in the quarter-finals. It will be this Friday at 16h GMT at the Ibn-Batouta Stadium in Tangier. It is a derby between two countries bordering West Africa. 
If Mali showed a defensive solidity and a mental especially against Tunisia in the round of 16 with an inferior number, Senegal remained within their standards. The Lions showed an offensive strength that was able to make the difference in every match. It’s a complete team that can roar at any time. Sudan paid the price in the round of 16 when the Senegalese team raised their level. 

Senegal and Mali faced each other on a single occasion in the final phase of the AFCON. Meeting that dates back to 2004 and which led to a draw between Lions and Eagles (1-1).

Morocco against an unpredictable team from Cameroon

This same Friday at 19h GMT at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat, Morocco plays Cameroon. This is a real trap game for the Atlas Lions. The latter, who have not been fully convincing since the beginning of the competition and who struggled to eliminate Tanzania (1-0) in the eighth final, must do better against the Indomitable Lions. The Cameroonian team is unpredictable and difficult to move under David Pagou. The team explodes at the recovery of the ball and demonstrates extreme solidarity in low times. A real test for the men of Walid Regragui. 

Who will win the Lions' duel? Historically, Cameroon leads the debates after 13 games with 7 wins, 2 defeats and 4 draws.

 

Algeria - Nigeria or the clash between two seductive selections

Algeria and Nigeria are two teams that impressed by the game produced during this competition. They have won all the 4 matches played so far with 9 points taken in the first round. These two selections compete this Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 4 PM GMT, at the Grand Stade in Marrakech. 
The Fennecs have scored 7 goals for only one conceded in 4 games. They are unbeaten, strong defensively and efficient on the offensive side. As for Nigeria, they did a lot offensively with 12 goals scored. Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman carry the Super Eagles. They however conceded 4 goals. 

It will be a very open match between two firing attacks. Algeria and Nigeria have met 20 times. The record is 9 wins for the Fennecs, 7 wins for the Super Eagles and 4 draws. The Algerians scored 27 goals against 26 for the Nigerians. 

Côte d'Ivoire to finally break the spell against Egypt

The figures are evocative. Egypt is clearly the bête noire of Ivory Coast. Especially in the African Cup of Nations, the Pharaohs have systematically taken over the Elephants. After 11 matches between the two teams in AFCON, the balance is largely in favor of the Egyptian selection with 10 wins and only one defeat. The only victory for the Ivorians dates back to March 2, 1990 (3-1). Emerse Faé’s men must end this curse this Saturday at 19h GMT at the Adrar stadium in Agadir. 

The Ivorian selection is in the best shape to finally beat Egypt. The Elephants were demonstrative against Burkina Faso in the eighth final with a very easy victory (3-0). They have a very high-level attack with young twirlers like Amad Diallo, Yan Diomandé... and a midfielder embodied by the gem Christ Inao Oulai. Unlike the Pharaohs who have not shown a seductive face since the beginning of the CAN. They suffered before taking out Benin in the last 16. 

Out of all the meetings between the two nations, Egypt is still ahead. After 24 games, the Pharaons have 13 wins, 7 wins for the Elephants and 4 draws.