After a thrilling group stage and exquisite Round of 16 battles, the 2025-26 AFCON is now down to eight teams as the battle for the prestigious title intensifies. Except Mali, every other qualified team has won the honor at least once, increasing the excitement of the quarterfinal stage. Among them are the defending champions Ivory Coast who are looking to be just the fourth side in the competition's history to retain the silverware. Record seven time winners Egypt are desperate to get back to their glory days as they seek a first title since 2010 while Cameroon are also aiming to return back at the top after three editions.
Meanwhile, Algeria are seeking their third title in history whereas Senegal compete for their second honor in five years. However, eyes will be on host Morocco if they can repeat the feat of 1976 triumph in front of their home fans with many touting them to win the silverware this time. The last eight stage will cause disappointment for one set of heavyweights of the tie while the others make their place in the semifinals of the competition in unmissable drama. The 2025-26 AFCON quarterfinals will be played on 9th and 10th January with Tanger, Agadir, Marrakech and capital city Rabat hosting the games.
Mali vs Senegal - Stade de Tanger, Tanger (9 January 2026, 21:30)
The first quarterfinal of the 2025-26 AFCON might not be the flashiest like the others but it promises to be a promising encounter. Mali were grouped with hosts Morocco, Comoros and Zambia and they were one of the two sides in the tournament and the sole second place team to qualify for the knockouts without winning a single game. They being the only side to breach Morocco's defence so far in the 1-1 draw was impressive but their most important result came in the last-16. 10 man down inside 26 minutes and conceding a goal in the 88th minute against Tunisia, the Eagles found the equaliser deep into the stoppage time from the spot and then triumphed 3-2 on penalties spectacularly. It was a great show of might and determination from the 1972 finalists who will put themselves into the test against another of competition's favourites.
2021 champions Senegal has been one of the exciting teams in the tournament having a smooth run to the quarterfinals. The Lions of Teranga topped their group by picking up dominating wins over Botswana and Benin, defeating both 3-0, while coming from behind to draw with DR Congo. They required another comeback against Sudan in the Round of 16 stage, who took a shock lead inside six minutes into the game, to win 3-1 fairly comfortably at the end. Sadio Mane was the hero for the side again after providing two assists in the victory having provided an assist in the final group game and also scoring the important leveller against DR Congo. He became the tournament's all-time leading assist-provider suppressing Yaya Toure. Senegal will be counting on him plus their attacking firepower to lift them to the semifinal stage getting a comparatively easier path than the rest.
Prediction: Mali 1-2 Senegal
Mali has pushed above their weight with their solidity causing a headache to the top teams in the tournament including the charming host Morocco and 2026 World Cup qualified team Tunisia, whom they eliminated in the last 16. They would offer a tough fight against another strong unit in Senegal, pushing them till the end. However, Tom Saintfiet's side is favourite for this battle and have enough talent to see them through to continue their journey into the competition even though Mali is expected to give few frustrating moments. Mali has also not gone past the last-eight stage in the last edition so it will be a big shocker for Senegal to exist the competition early having a quality squad, blend with experience and young talents, to win the whole thing.
Cameroon vs Morocco - Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat (10 January 2026, 00:30)
Probably the highlight game among the quarterfinal ties, second most successful AFCON side Cameroon will lock horns with host and the top contender for the title this edition, Morocco in Rabat. The Indomitable Lions come into this fixture unbeaten, escaping a 'group of death' by finishing second with same points as table toppers Ivory Coast and then seeing out a 2-1 win against South Africa in the last-16 stage. Head coach David Pagou has had a positive AFCON campaign so far after appointed in December following Cameroon's failure to get into the World Cup 2026 and they are now hoping to outsmart the host to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2021, when they earned the third place. The team has been a solid unit under him, conceding just twice in the four games while also replacing their lack of scoring touch by netting six times. Now it is left to see whether Cameroon produces a performance to saviour in the quarterfinals having already fend off doubts over their chances in the tournament following injuries and surprise snubs.
Not always the smoothest but effective in their cause, host Morocco has been living on their dreams of clinching their first title since 1976 infront of their home support. The team had not missed their star captain Achraf Hakimi who did not play large chunks of the group stages due to an ankle injury that he suffered in November last year but his assist, in his full start for the side since that injury, in the 1-0 last-16 victory against Tanzania proved crucial. The winner of the tie was scored by Brahim Diaz who has been arguably been the player of the tournament. The Real Madrid winger has scored in all AFCON games for the Atlas Lion turning out to be the deciding factor each time. The team has also conceded just once while scoring seven at the same time, topping their group without a single loss, proving their hunger for success. However, Walid Regragui's side has struggled to convince the high expectations riding on them barely scrapping past Tanzania where most expected them to be dominant. They will also face the first big test of the competition in the quarterfinal stage and they have to hit their best first to avoid a stinging exit.
Prediction: Cameroon 1-1 Morocco (AET) - Morocco wins on penalties
This is going to be a tight affair between the two balanced sides that have not given away too much. Cameroon looks to be clicking again under the new manager and has been productive since he took charge. Historically, the five time winners have been eliminated from the quarterfinals only four times so they will fancy their chances. However, Morocco carries a stunning record of staying unbeaten in competative fixtures at home for 16 years and have shown little sign of having the streak ended here. That being said, it was the indomitable lions who last beat them on their turf while the Atlas Lions have failed to progress from the last AFCON quarterfinal ties. The tie is expected to run until the penalties where Morocco, despite their unsatisfying performance, will have a tid bit enough to move into the semis.
Algeria vs Nigeria - Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech (10 January 2026, 21:30)
A stunning strike from substitute Adil Boulbina, who just made his national team debut in the Arab Cup in December last year, in the final minutes of extra time helped Algeria beat DR Congo 1-0 in a tight and tense Round of 16 affair to qualify for their seventh quarterfinal in their AFCON history. The Desert Warriors already suppressed their disappointing performance in the last two editions, eliminated at the group stages, before the tie with victory ensuring they are back in the conversation of winning the title. They went on to win the trophy in 2019 edition the last time they made it to the stage with Vladimir Petkovic's side wishing for a deep run after a flawless competition so far. Algeria topped their group winning all their games, scoring seven goals and conceding just once. The team is in a fine run of form having not lost a single game since June 2025 or any competitive fixtures in two years.
However, all of those stellar record will be tested against a retrieving Nigeria team who seemed to have found their mojo back after their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Eric Chelle's team has started the AFCON on fire, topping their group by winning all their games and then registered a thumping 4-0 victory over Mozambique to advance to their remarkable 12th quarterfinal in AFCON history since the stage was introduced in the 1992. They missed out on the stage only once in 13 tournaments since then. The Super Eagles are the highest scoring teams in the competition with their star striker Victor Osimhen inspiring them again alongside Ademola Lookman. In the last edition, the Super Eagles ended as runners-up with the hope now to match or overtake the feat to complete their stunning revival. However, they will face a side with pedigree in Algeria, the major test so far, in the last-eight whom they lost in the last AFCON meeting in 2019 in the semifinal stage.
Prediction: Algeria 1-2 Nigeria (AET)
This is another huge quarterfinal tie with a close call as both sides will be difficult to seperate. While Algeria has attacking flair, their campaign progress has been around team organisation and digging out result, typical of a Petkovic's side, with Luca Zidane, son of French legend Zinedine, being excellent between the sticks. The team has been solid defensively but they will be facing a force called Osimhen who has produced the goods even when Nigeria has underperformed. The Super Eagles has been eliminated from the quarterfinal stage only once back in 2008 and their latest resurgence could send them through again. This game will stretch long and possibly penalties could be the outcome but Eric Chelle's side will want to finish the affair early having more fresher legs and days of rest.
Egypt vs Ivory Coast - Stade d'Agadir, Agadir (11 January 2026, 00:30)
The final quarterfinal game of the 2025-26 AFCON will be another cracker as record winners Egypt face defending champions Ivory Coast. The Pharaohs have had a roller coaster ride in this edition requiring several last minute winners to push their way to the quarterfinals. It was their star man Mohamed Salah getting those winners as he did in the 2-1 win against Zimbabwe in the opener, the sole penalty that helped them beat South Africa despite down to 10-men and then scoring the settler in the stoppage time of extra-time to edge out Benin 3-1 in the Round of 16 stage. This is possibly the Liverpool winger's last shot at glory for a trophy with the national team and Egypt seem to be playing to fulfill his dream by hook or crook. The Pharaohs' never die attitude is praiseworthy but it is left to see whether scrappy victories to win ties is sustainable as they take on a severe challenge in the quarterfinals.
While the holders Ivory Coast also had to labour through the group stages amid paired in a tough one with only a 1-0 win against Mozambique, a 1-1 draw against Cameroon and then coming from two goals behind to win 3-2 against Gabon in an emphatic second half showing, they were a completely different side when they took on Burkina Faso for the Round of 16 tie. The Elephants breezed past their opponents with the star of the show, Amad Diallo opened the scoring with his third goal of the tournament before laying the ball for in-demand talent Yan Diomande to finish and later substitute Bazoumana Toure to put the sealer of a fantastic 3-0 win. Coach Emerse Fae will be happy that his side once again hit their best when it mattered having done so in the previous edition where they went all the way to lift the title. They will want to keep the momentum against Egypt as they look to be to defend the AFCON title for the first time in their history.
Prediction: Egypt 1-2 Ivory Coast (AET)
It is also not a straightforward tie to call as the tie could end up in anyone's favour. Egypt has a stellar quarterfinal record under their belt having advanced from this stage each time in the last five attempts at the tournament. To top it off, the Pharaohs have an excellent record in this fixture having not lost a single AFCON battle against Ivory Coast in five meetings since 1998. However, the team is still relying on a 33-year-old Salah to do all the goods for them despite remaining a solid difference maker. Their defence has contained most attacks so far with evergreen goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy once again showing his class in between the posts. However, Ivory Coast's lethal frontline will be a different challenge on its own, especially Amad Diallo who is showing his best in the tournament. Except the Gabon game, the Elephants have stayed mostly solid and that will be a key in this fixture. They have been eliminated from the quarterfinal stage four times but each time they have passed the stage they have ended in the top four. Moreover, Emerse Fae's team has the experience of seeing it all last time so they might be slight favourites here to advance.
