The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) enters the knockout phase as the new year rolls along, with the start of the round of 16 on Saturday, with an action-packed group stage now in the backseat.
What is the complete history of the eight fixtures?
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Senegal vs. Sudan
When: January 3, 5pm/16: 00 GMT
Where: Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier
Senegal, the lowest-ranked team in the competition and making its debut in the knockout stages for the first time in 14 years, kicks off their AFCON round-of-16 campaign against Sudan, the tournament’s opening opponent.
Senegal defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo on goal difference to finish top of Group D with seven points.
The 2022 champions will start as clear favorites with the addition of Kalidou Koulibaly, who was sent off in their final group game, despite having strong attacking firepower in Nicolas Jackson and Sadio Mane.
Equatorial Guinea defeated the 117th-ranked Sudan, making it one of the four best third-placed teams to earn three points in Group E. This marked only their second-ever victory at AFCON since 1970, when they won the trophy.
Sudan’s football team’s progress in the last-16 comes amid ongoing hostility at home, which is a significant accomplishment. Since fighting broke out between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, war has  been ravaged by Sudan.
Tunisia vs. Mali
When: January 3, 8pm local/19: 00 GMT
Where: Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca
As Group A runners-up Mali take on Group C’s second-placed Tunisia in this round-of-16 showdown, two well-known AFCON opponents square off against one another.
Tunisia advanced with four points thanks to one win and one draw while Mali won all three of their group games. Although neither side intentionally elevated the group stage, both could use this as a reset and raise their level.
Tunisia and Mali have met 15 times in a row in both competitive and friendly matches, with Tunisia holding a slight lead with seven victories over Mali’s five, with three games ending in draws. Their most recent meeting took place at AFCON in January 2024, when they finished the group stage 1-1.
Amadou Haidara, who was sent off late in Mali’s previous game, will miss the tournament because he finished second overall in 1972.
Morocco vs. Tanzania
When: January 4, 5pm/16: 00 GMT
Where: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat
Morocco, the host country in Africa, is scheduled to meet with Tanzania, who has completed a 45-year wait to qualify for the AFCON knockouts. With just two points from its first three Group C games, Tanzania edged out Angola in the final 16 behind the top four third-placed teams in the scoring table.
Morocco, on the other hand, won Group A with seven points from two victories and a draw. The Atlas Lions won their final group game 3-0 over Zambia despite being tipped to be the overwhelming favorites, but they faced early criticism after a grueling defeat to minnows Comoros and a draw with Mali.
50 years after Morocco’s first AFCON triumph, coach Walid Regragui is aiming for the nation’s second continental crown, which he had previously apologised to irritable fans for for the team’s underwhelming performance.
Cameroon vs. South Africa
When: January 4, 8pm local/19: 00 GMT
Where: Al Barid Stadium in Rabat
A five-goal thriller against Zimbabwe was ended by Oswin Appollis’ late penalty, which sealed South Africa’s place in Group B. With two victories and one defeat, Bafana Bafana now faces Cameroon, who is five-time champion.
South Africa placed third at AFCON 2023, one of the seven AFCON participants who has already secured a spot there for the 2026 event. They have not yet fully recovered from this feat. They will be hoping to find their groove when they face Cameroon, which finished Group F with two victories and an unbeaten group stage campaign.
The sides’ 10th previous meetings on Sunday will be marked by South Africa winning three games and Cameroon winning just once. Five of their previous encounters ended in draws.
Egypt vs. Benin
When: January 5, 5pm/16: 00 GMT)
Where: Adrar Stadium in Agadir
Egypt came out on top of Group B with seven points after a failed campaign in the group stage. The Pharaohs drew 0-0 in their final group game against Angola despite a second-string lineup and returning key players like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush to maintain their momentum.
After years of near misses, the team and fans are now convinced that Egypt could finally turn promise into silver as the record-seven-time champions chase a first AFCON title since 2010.
By contrast, Benin made it to the last 16 with a single victory in Group D over Botswana, which also represented their first victory in the AFCON finals. Despite reaching the quarterfinals in 2019, it took them 16 attempts to achieve that breakthrough following their debut in 2004.
Benin will attempt to double that number in face-to-power Egypt and spring another AFCON shock.
Mozambique vs. Nigeria
When: January 5, 8pm local/19: 00 GMT
Where: Fez Stadium in Fez
With a flawless group-stage record, Nigeria were the first to claim their spot in the round of 16 and asserted their dominance early on.
The Super Eagles have quickly put their disappointment at missing the World Cup behind them, flying to Morocco on the back of a talented squad made up of well-known players like Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Osimhen.
The Group C winners now face Mozambique, who finished third with three points and will represent their country for the first time in the AFCON knockout stage. By defeating Gabon 3-2, the Mambas put an end to a 40-year search for a title in the continental finals.
With four defeats and five draws in their previous meetings against the former champions, Mozambique is facing its most difficult test yet on Monday.
DR Congo vs. Algeria
When: January 6, 5pm/16: 00 GMT
Where: Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat
Algeria was the only other team to successfully complete the group stage campaign, dominating Group E with class thanks to Riyad Mahrez and Ibrahim Maza’s flawless finishing. The North Africans have depth in their squad and demonstrated their standing as title contenders, but their first knockout assignment presents a challenging challenge to DR Congo.
With two victories and a draw, DR Congo produced disciplined displays on both ends of the pitch to finish second overall in Group D. The most intriguing tie in this round-of-16 matchup pits two top-notch teams who have yet to experience defeat in Morocco.
Algeria, who have won two games and drawn four against DR Congo, are unbeaten in six previous encounters. Their first meeting in seven years will take place on Tuesday.
Burkinabe versus Ivory Coast
When: January 6, 8pm local/19: 00 GMT
Where: Marrakesh Stadium in Marrakesh
After winning their final group game, titleholder Ivory Coast came out on top with seven points, finishing ahead of Cameroon in goals scored. In the group stage, Amad Diallo, one of the team’s standout performers, netted two of the team’s five goals.
The Ivorians wrap up their Group E victory streak with two victories and one defeat against Burkinabe, who finished second.
Source: Aljazeera
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