The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage is set to commence on January 3, 2026, with the Round of 16 kicking off the tournament’s most thrilling phase at venues across Morocco.
Following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations group stage conclusion on December 31, 2025, 16 qualified teams will battle across nine stadiums in six cities for the championship title, with the final scheduled for January 18, 2026 in Rabat.
The knockout phase is single-elimination i.e Round of 16 → Quarter-finals → Semi-finals → Third-place play-off → Final.
- Round of 16: Begins 3 January 2026.
- Quarterfinals & Semifinals: Mid-January (schedule by CAF).
- Final: 18 January 2026, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage Qualified Teams: 16-Team Knockout Format
Who advances to the knockout stage?
Sixteen teams reach the knockout phase:
- The top two teams from each of the six groups (12 teams), plus
- The four best third-placed teams across all groups.
- All 16 contest a single-match elimination bracket.
Group Winner qualified Teams
- Morocco (Group A) – Qualified from Group A
- Egypt (Group B) – First team to qualify, Group B winners
- Nigeria (Group C) – Qualified from Group C
- Senegal (Group D) – Qualified from Group D
- Algeria (Group E) – Qualified from Group E
- Ivory Coast (Group F) – Qualified from Group F
AFCON 2025 Group Stage Additional Qualified Teams
| Group | 1st Place | Pts | 2nd Place | Pts | 3rd Place | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Morocco (H) | 7 | Mali | 3 | – | – |
| B | Egypt | 7 | South Africa | 6 | – | – |
| C | Nigeria | 9 | Tunisia | 4 | Tanzania | 2 |
| D | Senegal | 7 | DR Congo | 7 | Benin | 3 |
| E | Algeria | 9 | Burkina Faso | 6 | Sudan | 3 |
| F | Ivory Coast | 4 | Cameroon | 4 | Mozambique | 3 |
How the Round-of-16 matchups are decided
Because four third-placed teams qualify, the Round-of-16 pairings depend on which groups produce those third-placed qualifiers. CAF (and the tournament draw rules) supply a mapping table that determines who 1A/1B/1C/etc. will play depending on the combination of qualifying third-placed teams.
In other words, the bracket is partly conditional — the identities of the four best third-placed teams determine four specific Round-of-16 ties.
If the best third-placed teams come from groups C, D, A and B, the mapping will place them against particular group winners (e.g., 1A vs 3C, 1B vs 3D, 1C vs 3A, 1D vs 3B).
The official table lists every possible combination and the resulting pairings — this is applied immediately after the group stage ends so the full Round-of-16 bracket can be finalized.
Knockout Stage Schedule: Complete Timeline
Round of 16: January 3-6, 2026
Here are the AFCON 2025 Round of 16 teams placed in the same format (like your screenshot). These fixtures are as published for AFCON Morocco 2025.
Round of 16: January 3–6, 2026
- Match 1: Senegal 3-1 Sudan — 17:00 (Grand Stade de Tangier)
- Match 2: Mali 1(3)-1(2) Tunisia — 20:00 (Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca)
- Match 3: Morocco 1-0 Tanzania — 17:00 (Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat)
- Match 4: South Africa 1-2 Cameroon — 20:00 (Stade Al Medina, Rabat)
- Match 5: Egypt 3-1 Benin — 17:00 (Grand Stade de Agadir)
- Match 6: Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique — 20:00 (Complexe Sportif de Fès)
- Match 7: Algeria 1-0 DR Congo — 17:00 (Rabat)
- Match 8: Côte d’Ivoire 3-0 Burkina Faso — 20:00 (Grand Stade de Marrakech)
Rest Days: January 7-8, 2026
Quarterfinals: January 9-10, 2026
The AFCON 2025 quarterfinal matches will each be played on Friday and Saturday.
- Quarterfinal 1: Mali vs Senegal – 5 pm (16:00 GMT) (Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier)
- Score: Mali 0-1 Senegal
- Quarterfinal 2: Cameroon vs Morocco – 8 pm (19:00 GMT) (Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat)
- Score: Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
- Quarterfinal 3: Algeria vs Nigeria – 5 pm (16:00 GMT) (Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh)
- Score: Algeria 0-2 Nigeria
- Quarterfinal 4: Egypt vs Ivory Coast – 8 pm- (19:00 GMT)(Adrar Stadium, Agadir)
- Score: Egypt 3-2 Ivory Coast
Rest Days: January 11-13, 2026
Semifinals: January 14, 2026
- Semifinal 1: Senegal vs Egypt – 6:00 PM (Tangier)
- Score: Senegal 1-0 Egypt
- Semifinal 2: Nigeria vs Morocco – 8:30 PM (Rabat)
- Score: Nigeria 0(2)-0(4) Morocco
Rest Days: January 15-16, 2026
Third-Place Playoff: January 17, 2026
Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Egypt vs Nigeria– 8:00 PM (Casablanca, Mohammed V Stadium)
Final: January 18, 2026
Sunday, January 18, 2026
AFCON 2025 Champion Determined
- Senegal vs Morocco – 8:00 PM (Rabat, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium – Capacity 69,500)
2025 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage Host Venues: Nine Stadiums Across Six Cities
| City | Stadium | Capacity | Knockout Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabat | Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium | 69,500 | Final, Semifinals, R16 matches |
| Rabat | Moulay Hassan Stadium | 22,000 | Semifinals, Quarterfinals |
| Rabat | Al Barid Stadium | 18,000 | R16 matches |
| Rabat | Stade Olympique Annex | 21,000 | R16 matches |
| Casablanca | Mohammed V Stadium | 45,000 | R16, Semifinals, Third-Place |
| Tangier | Ibn Batouta Stadium | 75,000 | Quarterfinals, Semifinals |
| Marrakech | Grand Stade de Marrakech | 45,240 | R16, Quarterfinals |
| Agadir | Grand Stade d’Agadir | 45,480 | R16, Quarterfinals |
| Fez | Stade de Fez | 45,000 | R16 matches |
Match Format & Rules
Regulation Time: 90 minutes
Extra Time: 30 minutes (if tied at 90 minutes)
Penalty Shootout: If still tied after extra time
Advancement: Only one team advances (no draws in knockout rounds)
Key Tournament Favorites for Knockout Stage
Strongest Contenders:
- Egypt – Group B winners, qualified earliest
- Nigeria – Group C, African football powerhouse
- Algeria – Group E winners
- Morocco – Group A winners, home advantage
- Ivory Coast – Reigning 2024 champions
Significance of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage
The 2025 AFCON knockout stage represents Africa’s most competitive football showcasing. With 16 elite national teams competing across 16 matches over two weeks, the tournament culminates with the crowning of a new champion on January 18, 2026, or reconfirming the defending champion Ivory Coast’s dominance.
When does the AFCON 2025 knockout stage start?
The knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations begins on 3 January 2026, starting with the Round of 16.
How many teams qualify for the AFCON knockout stage?
A total of 16 teams qualify — the top two from each group plus the four best third-placed teams.
Is the AFCON knockout stage single-elimination?
Yes. All knockout matches are single-elimination, with extra time and penalties used if required.
Where will the AFCON 2025 final be played?
The final will be held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on 18 January 2026.
Where to follow results & live coverage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage?
Official CAF match pages and major outlets (Reuters, Sky Sports, local broadcasters) will carry the updated knockout schedule, live scores and match reports. Bookmark CAF’s tournament hub and trusted sports sites for match time confirmations and venue assignments.
What to watch 2025 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage?
- Hosts Morocco: Morocco has been impressive in the groups and will carry home-support momentum into the knockouts — their form and home venues make them a team to watch.
- Traditional powerhouses: Teams like Egypt have looked strong and tactical balance under new management has been a talking point; their knockout performance will be pivotal.
- Third-place drama: With the best four third-placed rule in play, teams in the final group matches might focus as much on goal difference and goals scored as on their position — every small margin could make a big difference.
How can fans buy tickets for the AFCON 2025 Final?
The Final match Tickets for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 are available through CAF’s official ticketing platform and authorized sellers. Fans are advised to book early, especially for quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final, as demand is expected to be high.
