Full AFCON 2025 Knockout Bracket Confirmed: Nigeria and Algeria Could Clash in Quarter-Finals After Perfect Group Campaigns

The AFCON 2025 knockout bracket has been confirmed following the conclusion of the group stage, with 16 teams left standing after 36 matches.

Nigeria and Algeria were the standout sides of the opening phase — the only two teams to finish with a perfect nine points — and have been placed on the same side of the draw, meaning they could meet as early as the quarter-finals, with hosts Morocco potentially awaiting the winner in the semi-finals.

Eight of the 24 teams that started AFCON 2025 were eliminated during the group stage, with Comoros, Zambia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Botswana, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon all going no further.

But the 16 remaining nations can now all see their potential routes to the final on January 18.

AFCON 2025 knockout bracket

Nigeria vs Algeria looks set to be the pick of the quarter-finals, if the round of 16 goes with form. The Super Eagles and the Fennecs each won all three of their group matches, scoring 15 goals between them.

The other quarter-final in the bottom half of the draw could also be a heavyweight clash. Should Morocco beat Tanzania, the hosts would face either South Africa or the runner-up from Group F in the last eight.

In the top half of the draw, Senegal will have the luxury of remaining in Tangier up to and including the semi-finals. Sadio Mane and co spent their entire Group D campaign in the coastal city, taking seven points from matches against Botswana, DR Congo and Benin.

But the level of opposition is likely to rise quickly, with Mali or Tunisia awaiting in the quarter-finals should Senegal progress, followed by a potential semi-final showdown with Egypt — who started the tournament top of the all-time AFCON table.

AFCON 2025 round of 16 fixtures

Date	Kick-off	Match	City
Jan 3, 2026	5pm	Senegal vs Sudan	Tangier
Jan 3, 2026	8pm	Mali vs Tunisia	Casablanca
Jan 4, 2026	5pm	Morocco vs Tanzania	Rabat
Jan 4, 2026	8pm	South Africa vs Cameroon	Rabat
Jan 5, 2026	5pm	Egypt vs Benin	Agadir
Jan 5, 2026	8pm	Nigeria vs Mozambique	Fez
Jan 6, 2026	5pm	Algeria vs DR Congo	Rabat
Jan 6, 2026	8pm	Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso	Marrakesh

Quarter-finals

There will be two days without AFCON action between the round of 16 and the quarter-finals, which will be held between January 9 and 10.

Tangier, Rabat, Marrakesh and Agadir will host the four matches during this stage. The biggest crowd is expected to be at Rabat’s 69,500-seater Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where Morocco will be playing, provided they avoid a shock defeat by Tanzania in the previous round.

AFCON 2025 quarter-final fixtures

Date	Kick-off	Match	City
Jan 9, 2026	5pm	Mali/Tunisia vs Senegal/Sudan	Tangier
Jan 9, 2026	8pm	Egypt/Benin vs Ivory Coast/Burkina Faso	Agadir
Jan 10, 2026	5pm	South Africa/Cameroon vs Morocco/Tanzania	Rabat
Jan 10, 2026	8pm	Algeria/DR Congo vs Nigeria/Mozambique	Marrakesh

Semi-finals

Both semi-finals are taking place on January 14, meaning that two of the teams will have been afforded an extra day off following their last match.

If the knockout matches were all won by the team with the higher FIFA world ranking then the semi-finals would be Senegal vs Egypt and Morocco vs Algeria.

AFCON 2025 semi-final fixtures

Date	Kick-off	Match	City
Jan 14, 2026	6pm	Mali/Tunisia/Senegal/Sudan vs Egypt/Benin/Ivory Coast/Burkina Faso	Tangier
Jan 14, 2026	9pm	South Africa/Cameroon/Morocco/Tanzania vs Algeria/DR Congo/Nigeria/Mozambique	Rabat

Third-place play-off

Unlike at the Euros, there is still a third-place play-off at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The third-place play-off will take place at 5pm on January 17 — 27 hours before the final — and will be held at Casablanca’s Stade Mohammed V, where the capacity is 45,000.

Final

The final of AFCON 2025 will be the seventh game at the tournament to be held at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. It will kick off at 8pm on January 18.

As well as receiving a shiny gold trophy and the title of champions of Africa, the winner of the final will take home $7 million of the total $32m AFCON 2025 prize money.

The final — just like every game during the knockout phase — will go to extra time if scores are level at full time, followed by a penalty shootout if the teams remain tied after extra time.