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Nigeria sharpshooters Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman will provide a stern test to the flawless record of Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, a son of French football icon Zinedine Zidane, in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals in Morocco.

Zidane is the only first-choice goalkeeper amongst the eight quarter-finalists to have kept a clean sheet in all of his tournament matches so far, but the task facing him in Marrakesh on Saturday will not be easy.

Former African player of the year award-winners Osimhen and Lookman have tormented defences during the tournament, scoring three goals each.

Zidane, 27, kept clean sheets in group matches against Sudan and Burkina Faso before being rested against Equatorial Guinea.

He was recalled for a last-16 clash with the Democratic Republic of Congo and once again was unbeaten during a dramatic extra-time victory.

Former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, his Spanish wife and another son have been among the crowds in each match Luca played for the Desert Foxes.

“It is special when your family come to watch,” said Luca Zidane, who began his career with Real Madrid B in 2016 and now plays for Spanish second-tier side Granada.

Born in France, Zidane represented his country of birth at five age-limit levels. Under FIFA rules he could also play for Spain or Algeria, where his grandparents were born.

Zidane chose Algeria, debuting in a 2026 World Cup qualifying victory over Uganda last November and, when an injury ruled first choice Alexis Guendoez out of the AFCON, he was promoted.

“I am proud to represent Algeria and play in the Africa Cup of Nations. It is a great experience,” he told reporters.

And he insists that he is not weighed down by his famous family name.

“I try to be myself, to build my career on my terms, step by step,” he said.

READ ALSO: AFCON 2025 Quarter-Finals: Fixtures, Dates, Times, Venues [FULL LIST]

AFP Sport looks at the quarter-finals on Friday and Saturday, which feature seven winners of the AFCON. All eight are among the top 10 in the African rankings.

Mali v Senegal

Mali are the only survivors who have not been AFCON champions and they reached the last eight without winning. After drawing three group matches, they beat Tunisia in a penalty shoot-out.

Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet calls his players “national heroes”, referring to playing Tunisia for 94 minutes with 10 men following the sending off of Woyo Coulibaly.

Senegal welcome back centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly after a one-match ban. He, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, midfielder Idrissa Gueye and forward Sadio Mane are the long-serving core of the side.

Ibrahim Mbaye is an exciting addition to the Teranga Lions. The 17-year-old came off the bench to score against Sudan — the second youngest player to do so at an AFCON.

Cameroon v Morocco

Older Moroccan supporters have bitter memories of Cameroon, who won a 1988 semi-final in the kingdom and went on to claim the second of five AFCON titles.

Cameroon have never lost to Morocco in an AFCON. They are also the last team to triumph in the kingdom, winning a World Cup qualifier there in 2009.

But while the statistics offer comfort to the Indomitable Lions, they will be underdogs against the competition favourites.

Full-back Achraf Hakimi has recovered from an ankle injury to lead the Atlas Lions, and forward Brahim Diaz has scored in each of his four matches.

Algeria have been an AFCON bogey team for Nigeria, winning four and drawing two of nine meetings, including a 5-1 drubbing of the Super Eagles en route to winning the 1990 tournament at home.

The Desert Foxes have put successive group-stage exits behind them under Bosnian coach Vladimir Petkovic and substitute Adil Boulbina unleashed a thunderbolt to eliminate DR Congo.

Nigeria are the 12-goal leading scorers in Morocco with Osimhen, Lookman and Akor Adams forming a potent frontline.

But coach Eric Chelle will be concerned that the three-time champions have conceded four — the most among the eight title hopefuls.

Egypt v Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast, the first defending champions to reach the quarter-finals since 2010, have a dismal AFCON record against Egypt, losing seven of 11 matches and winning only one.

But an impressive 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso, with Manchester United winger Amad Diallo outstanding, provides hope of further progress.

While the Ivorians were cruising to a last-16 victory, Egypt battled to overcome minnows Benin, ensuring victory only after 124 minutes when talisman Mohamed Salah scored.

Having  won every English competition, the Champions League and Club World Cup with Liverpool, Salah wants to go one step further in Africa after twice being an AFCON runner-up.

 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrickcould each hold fresh talks with Manchester United as the club seeks to appoint an interim head coach after the sacking of Ruben Amorim, according to British media reports.

The two former United players are believed to have held a first round of informal discussions with sporting director Jason Wilcox on Tuesday, ahead of United’s Premier League match at Burnley.

READ ALSO: Manchester United: Potential Candidates For Old Trafford Hotseat After Amorim Sacking

Another former United star, Darren Fletcher, who is in charge of the Under-18 side, has been named interim head coach and will be in charge for the game.

It is now being suggested that both Carrick and Solskjaer could feature in a new backroom team at Old Trafford after Amorim was dismissed on Monday following a reported row with Wilcox last Friday.

If Solskjaer is named as Amorim’s successor, it would represent a return to the United hotseat.

The former United and Norway forward initially took charge on an interim basis in December 2018 after the dismissal of Jose Mourinho, before he was appointed full-time the following March.

Solskjaer, however, was sacked in November 2021, with ex-England midfielder Carrick placed in temporary charge.

United head into the Burnley match sixth in the Premier League, with eight wins from their 20 English top-flight matches so far this season.

Amorim’s Reign

Amorim was sacked on Monday as manager 14 months after arriving at Old Trafford.

United said in a statement that the Portuguese had left his role, with the club’s leadership having “reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change”.

“This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.

“The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future,” the club added.

After a 1-1 draw at Leeds on Sunday, an irate Amorim stressed he was United’s manager rather than just the coach during an eye-catching press conference in which he told the scouting department and director of football, Jason Wilcox, “to do their job”.

The 40-year-old had alluded to frustration behind the scenes in the build-up to the match as the United boss refused to clarify his recent comments about the club’s transfer plans.

He had looked downbeat when he sidestepped those questions but was more forthcoming when asked on Sunday if he still felt he had confidence from the board.

Amorim was appointed in November 2024 and led the team to the Europa League final in Bilbao in May, losing to Tottenham Hotspur, but they finished 15th in the Premier League last season.

His 14-month stint is the shortest reign of a permanent manager at United since David Moyes was sacked just eight months into his tenure in 2014.

In their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last-16 tie on Tuesday, Algeria defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0, setting up a quarter-final showdown with Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen on Saturday.

A tense encounter at Rabat’s Moulay El Hassan Stadium was settled by a late goal by substitute Adil Boulbina in the 119th minute.

The 22-year-old Al-Duhail international forward, who is released on the left, advanced into the area and unleashed a powerful shot into the net, causing 837 of the 18, 837 spectators to erupt in a flurry of cheers.

Boulbina, who was playing off the bench for the tournament for the second time, was overcome with emotion following the game.

“I have always wanted to play for the country,” I said. Every Algerian has the goal of playing for their country and succeeding. The most crucial thing is that we won and were selected for the following round, he said, knowing that I had a chance and scored.

The 2019 champions, who won all of their group-stage matches, now appear to be strong contenders for a third continental title.

However, DR Congo’s victory came as a bitter blow to the country’s aspiring World Cup qualifier, which had intended to face Nigeria after winning on penalties in a November play-off.

“The outcome obviously detracts us. I thought it was a top-notch encounter between two excellent rivals. The players provided everything. Unfortunately, our fight to the end was insufficient, according to DR Congo coach Sebastien Desabre.

With few clear chances in the first half, the match itself did not live up to its name. Ibrahim Maza fired a narrow header past the goal, while Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe headed just wide from a corner for DR Congo.

Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane was put on by Edo Kayembe with a long-range effort in the second half, but the score remained goalless, preventing extra time.

Algeria’s threat increased in the extra-time period, with Lionel Mpasi’s goalkeeper making some excellent saves from Fares Chaibi and Baghdad Bounedjah in the 111th minute. Before Ramiz Zerrouki released Boulbina with a precise pass, a winning goal appeared unattainable for the substitute.

Victory of Nigeria vs. Mozambique

In Fes on Monday, Nigeria defeated Mozambique 4-0, continuing their dominant run in Morocco.

Victor Osimhen scored twice, and Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams each added one more goal to ease Super Eagles’ passage to the last eight.

After 20 minutes, Lookman opened the scoring before scoring Osimhen’s first goal in the 25th minute.

The Galatasaray striker doubled the lead just before half-time, and Lookman, who assisted with the assist, sealed the win decisively in the 75th minute.

“A fantastic team effort was made.” The victory gives us momentum heading into the quarter-finals, said a delighted Osimhen, who created chances and finished them.

Since Egypt defeated Algeria by the same score in the same AFCON knockout match in 2010, the 4-0 result was the largest winning margin in the tie.

Mozambique lost to a much-changed Nigerian side that had previously introduced key players like Lookman after the group stage rotation.

Following Algeria’s 6-2 extra-time victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 has now largely been confirmed.

In Rabat, Algeria outshot DR Congo 10-0, with substitute Anis Boulbina scoring the winning goal in the 119th minute to keep them in the top eight.

With a convincing 4–0 victory over Mozambique, Nigeria will now face them in the quarter-finals.

READ MORE: Algeria Beats DR Congo In Extra Time to Face Nigeria in Quarter-Finals

In that game, Victor Osimhen scored twice to win the Super Eagles.

Senegal, Mali, Morocco, Cameroon, Egypt, and Côte d’Ivoire defeated Burkinabe 3–0 with goals from Amad Diallo (20), Yan Diomande (32), and substitute Bazoumana Touré (87).

Quarter-Final Fixtures

Friday, January 9th,

Grand Stade de Tanger, Tangier, 5 p.m. WAT vs. Mali

9 p.m. WAT at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium between Cameroon and Morocco.

Saturday, January 10th,

Ouahat Sidi Brahim vs. Algeria at 5 p.m. WAT vs. Nigeria

8 p.m. WAT – Egypt vs. Côte d’Ivoire – Stade Adrar, Agadir

Results for AFCON Round 16 in 2025

Algeria 1–0 DR Congo (Boulbina 119′) – aet, Rabat

Ivory Coast 3–0 Burkina Faso (Diallo 20′, Diomande 32′, Toure 87′), Marrakesh

Egypt 3–1 Benin (Attia 69′, Ibrahim 97′, Salah 120+4′, Dossou 83′) – aet, Agadir

Nigeria 4–0 Mozambique (Lookman 20′, Osimhen 25′, 47′, Adams 75′), Fes

Morocco 1–0 Tanzania (Diaz 64′), Rabat

Cameroon 2–1 South Africa (Tchamadeu 34′, Kofane 47′, Makgopa 88′), Rabat

Senegal 3–1 Sudan (P. Gueye 29′, 45+3′, Mbaye 77′, Abdallah 6′), Tangier

Mali 1–1 Tunisia (Sinayoko 90+6-pen, Chaouat 88′) – aet, Mali won 3–2 on penalties, Casablanca

Leading Scorers After Round 16

Diaz (MAR) scored 4 goals.

Lookman, Osimhen (NGR), Diallo (CIV), El Kaabi (MAR), Mahrez (ALG), Salah (EGY), and Sinayoko (MLI) all scored.

His team were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations in agonising fashion on Tuesday, but the Democratic Republic of Congo’s human statue Michel Kuka Mboladinga will be remembered as the tournament’s most remarkable supporter.

Amad Diallo, a winger for Manchester United, led the Ivory Coast to victory over Burkinabe 3-0 on Monday, making them the first African Cup of Nations defending champions since 2010.

Before half-time, Diallo scored the opening goal and Yan Diomande’s second. In Marrakech’s final minutes, substitute Bazoumana Toure put the finishing touches on the score.

Ivory Coast will now travel south to Agadir, Morocco, to take on Egypt in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Seven title holders have failed to make the last eight since Egypt successfully defended the title in Angola 16 years ago.

After the group stage, Egypt and Nigeria failed to qualify for the tournament, and Senegal and Cameroon and Senegal made last-16 exits, while Zambia, Ivory Coast, and Algeria were eliminated.

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After just five minutes of fouling Diallo, Burkinabe defender Adamo Nagalo was sent yellow. The Red Devil, however, was disappointed with the resultant free kick, which aimed embarrassingly wide.

When Franck Kessie attempted to direct a shot into the roof of the net, the Ivory Coast were occupying the lead.

The title-holders advanced 20 minutes later with a sense of inevitability. Before striking the ball past goalkeeper Herve Koffi, Diallo swung his way past several defenders.

A VAR review confirmed the Sudanese referee’s decision to grant the goal, despite Burkinabe claiming Nagalo had been body checked by Evann Guessand and Evann Guessand.

Ouattara woodworking is

The Ivorians’ dominance was so great that it was surprising when they jumped on top 32 minutes, at the foot of the Atlas mountain range, on a cold, dry night, at the foot of the Atlas mountains.

This time, Diallo provided the service. Diomande, 19, was given no chance when he passed the ball across the box as it flew into the left corner with a superbly bent shot.

Burkinabe almost nearly halved the amount in a eponymous raid.

deficit as Brentford’s Dango Ouattara struck the base of the post from the right. Yahia Fofana, a relief goalkeeper, grabbed the rebound.

As half-time approached, Burkinabe coach Brama Traore replaced Nagalo with midfielder Blati Toure. Georgi Minoungou replaced Lassina Traore in a different substitution during the break.

The Burkinabe had more success when play resumed and almost scored on the hour mark despite being out of possession for the first 45 minutes.

Fofana quickly reacted at his near post as Ouattara connected with a low cross to save the ball from danger.

With 20 minutes left, Burkinabe Sunderland’s Bertrand Traore was introduced. He made his AFCON debut in 2012 as a 16-year-old, and he is now taking the tournament six times.

Diallo had a fantastic chance to score again thanks to an Ivorian counterattack, but Koffi used his leg to prevent a corner with a close-range shot.