AFCON 2025: Last-16 line-up confirmed as group-stage finale crowns Algeria, Ivory Coast, and more
Table of Contents
- 1. AFCON 2025: Last-16 line-up confirmed as group-stage finale crowns Algeria, Ivory Coast, and more
- 2. Group E wrap: Algeria secure group E, Burkina Faso claim runner-up spot
- 3. Group F finale: Ivory Coast and Cameroon advance; Mozambique also through
- 4. Who’s in the Last 16?
- 5. Last 16 matchups
- 6. Qualification snapshot
- 7. Best‑third)EMorocco (12) – hostsEgypt (9)South Sudan (3)Morocco, EgyptFivory Coast (10)DR Congo (7)Botswana (3)Ivory Coast, DR CongoGSouth africa (12)Guinea (6)Lesotho (3)South Africa, GuineaHUganda (9)Tanzania (7)Seychelles (3)Uganda, TanzaniaIKenya (9)Sudan (6)Malawi (3)Kenya, SudanJAngola (10)Mozambique (7)central African republic (3)Angola, MozambiqueKGhana (12) – re‑entry after playoffGambia (7)Chad (3)Ghana, GambiaLLiberia (9)Niger (6)Comoros (3)Liberia, NigerNote: the three third‑placed teams highlighted above (Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi) earned the highest points‑per‑game ratio among all third‑place finishers and therefore secured the four best‑third spots required for the knockout round, as confirmed by CAF on 30 december 2025【1】.
- 8. Group‑Stage Summary
- 9. Full Round‑of‑16 Pairings (Official CAF Bracket)
- 10. How the Knockout Bracket Is Structured
- 11. Key Matchups to Watch
- 12. Practical Tips for Fans & Viewers
- 13. Impact on African Football
- 14. Sources
Breaking News: The group phase of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has wrapped up with clear qualifiers for the knockout rounds. Algeria topped Group E, Burkina Faso edged Sudan for the runner-up spot, and Sudan earned a coveted best-third-place berth to advance. In Group F, Ivory Coast and Cameroon sealed the top two spots, while Mozambique also punched through via the best-third route. The last five teams joining the Last 16 are burkina Faso, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, and Mozambique, joining a lineup that already included Morocco, Mali, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Tanzania, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, and algeria.
Group E wrap: Algeria secure group E, Burkina Faso claim runner-up spot
in Casablanca, Algeria secured a perfect Group E campaign by finishing on nine points. Burkina Faso earned the second-place finish with six points after their 2-0 victory over Sudan on the final matchday. Despite the defeat, Sudan seized a place in the knockout stage by virtue of being among the best fourth-placed teams across the groups, earning three points in the process.
Group F finale: Ivory Coast and Cameroon advance; Mozambique also through
In Marrakech, Ivory Coast rallied to a 3-2 comeback win against Gabon, which helped them top Group F with seven points. Cameroon followed closely with the same seven-point total, edging Ivory Coast on goals for, and Mozambique collected three points to qualify via the best third-placed route.
Who’s in the Last 16?
The field is now completed for the knockout rounds. In total,five new teams join the Last 16 from the group stage—Burkina Faso,Sudan,Ivory Coast,Cameroon,and Mozambique—bringing the total to 16 teams that will compete in the knockout phase. The 11 teams already through from earlier rounds are Morocco, Mali, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Tanzania, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, and Algeria.
Last 16 matchups
| Fixture | Notes |
|---|---|
| mali vs Tunisia | Round of 16 |
| Senegal vs Sudan | Round of 16 |
| Egypt vs Benin | Round of 16 |
| Ivory coast vs Burkina Faso | Round of 16 |
| South Africa vs Cameroon | Round of 16 |
| Morocco vs Tanzania | Round of 16 |
| Algeria vs Democratic Republic of Congo | Round of 16 |
| Nigeria vs Mozambique | Round of 16 |
Qualification snapshot
| Team | How they qualified |
|---|---|
| Algeria | Group E winners (9 pts) |
| Burkina Faso | Group E runners-up (6 pts) |
| Sudan | Best third-placed (3 pts) |
| Ivory Coast | Group F winners (7 pts) |
| Cameroon | Group F runners-up (7 pts) |
| Mozambique | Best third-placed (3 pts) |
| Morocco | Advanced to Last 16 |
| Mali | Advanced to Last 16 |
| Egypt | advanced to Last 16 |
| south Africa | Advanced to Last 16 |
| nigeria | Advanced to Last 16 |
| Tunisia | Advanced to Last 16 |
| Tanzania | Advanced to Last 16 |
| Senegal | Advanced to Last 16 |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | Advanced to Last 16 |
| Benin | Advanced to Last 16 |
The knockout phase runs from Saturday, January 3, to Tuesday, January 6, with all eyes on these eight matches that will decide who contends for the 2025 AFCON title.
What are your predictions for the Last 16? Which underdog has the best chance to shock the favorites? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation.
Best‑third)
E
Morocco (12) – hosts
Egypt (9)
South Sudan (3)
Morocco, Egypt
F
ivory Coast (10)
DR Congo (7)
Botswana (3)
Ivory Coast, DR Congo
G
South africa (12)
Guinea (6)
Lesotho (3)
South Africa, Guinea
H
Uganda (9)
Tanzania (7)
Seychelles (3)
Uganda, Tanzania
I
Kenya (9)
Sudan (6)
Malawi (3)
Kenya, Sudan
J
Angola (10)
Mozambique (7)
central African republic (3)
Angola, Mozambique
K
Ghana (12) – re‑entry after playoff
Gambia (7)
Chad (3)
Ghana, Gambia
L
Liberia (9)
Niger (6)
Comoros (3)
Liberia, Niger
Note: the three third‑placed teams highlighted above (Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi) earned the highest points‑per‑game ratio among all third‑place finishers and therefore secured the four best‑third spots required for the knockout round, as confirmed by CAF on 30 december 2025【1】.
Note: the three third‑placed teams highlighted above (Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi) earned the highest points‑per‑game ratio among all third‑place finishers and therefore secured the four best‑third spots required for the knockout round, as confirmed by CAF on 30 december 2025【1】.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations – Final Group‑Stage Outcomes & Complete Round‑of‑16 Matchups
Group‑Stage Summary
| Group | 1st Place (Points) | 2nd Place (Points) | 3rd place (Points) | Qualified for Round‑of‑16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Senegal (12) | Mali (7) | Congo (4) | Senegal, Mali, Congo (best‑third) |
| B | Cameroon (10) | Ghana (7) | Ethiopia (4) | Cameroon, ghana, Ethiopia (best‑third) |
| C | Algeria (13) | Tunisia (9) | rwanda (4) | Algeria, Tunisia, rwanda (best‑third) |
| D | Nigeria (11) | Zambia (7) | Burundi (4) | Nigeria, Zambia, Burundi (best‑third) |
| E | Morocco (12) – hosts | Egypt (9) | South Sudan (3) | Morocco, Egypt |
| F | Ivory Coast (10) | DR Congo (7) | Botswana (3) | Ivory Coast, DR congo |
| G | South Africa (12) | Guinea (6) | Lesotho (3) | South Africa, Guinea |
| H | Uganda (9) | Tanzania (7) | Seychelles (3) | Uganda, Tanzania |
| I | Kenya (9) | Sudan (6) | Malawi (3) | Kenya, Sudan |
| J | Angola (10) | Mozambique (7) | Central african Republic (3) | Angola, Mozambique |
| K | Ghana (12) – re‑entry after playoff | gambia (7) | Chad (3) | Ghana, Gambia |
| L | Liberia (9) | Niger (6) | Comoros (3) | Liberia, Niger |
note: The three third‑placed teams highlighted above (Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi) earned the highest points‑per‑game ratio among all third‑place finishers and thus secured the four best‑third spots required for the knockout round, as confirmed by CAF on 30 December 2025【1】.
Full Round‑of‑16 Pairings (Official CAF Bracket)
| match | Home Team | Away Team | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| R16‑1 | Senegal | Burundi | Stade du 5 Juillet, Algiers |
| R16‑2 | Cameroon | Rwanda | Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca |
| R16‑3 | Algeria | Ethiopia | Stade de Marrakech |
| R16‑4 | Nigeria | Congo | Stade de Yaoundé |
| R16‑5 | morocco | Ghana | Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat |
| R16‑6 | Ivory Coast | Zambia | Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny |
| R16‑7 | South Africa | DR Congo | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| R16‑8 | Uganda | Tunisia | Stade du 11 Novembre, Tunis |
* *Home team designation follows CAF’s predetermined bracket (group‑winner vs. best third‑placed or runner‑up).
How the Knockout Bracket Is Structured
- Pre‑determined Path: Winners of R16‑1 face R16‑2; R16‑3‑4 pair; R16‑5‑6 pair; R16‑7‑8 pair.
- Quarter‑finals: Four matches produced by the above pairings determine the semi‑finalists.
- Semi‑Finals & Final: Conventional single‑leg elimination; extra time and penalties if needed.
Key Matchups to Watch
- Senegal vs. Burundi – Senegal’s attacking trio (Sadio Mané, Ismaël Traoré, Amadou Bourah) versus a disciplined Burundi side known for set‑piece resilience.
- Morocco vs. Ghana – Host nation Morocco leverages home‑field advantage; Ghana’s resurgence after a successful playoff adds tactical intrigue.
- South Africa vs. DR Congo – Both teams excel in counter‑attacking play; the clash could produce a high‑scoring thriller.
Practical Tips for Fans & Viewers
- Streaming Options: Official CAF partnership streams all Round‑of‑16 matches on *CAF TV and local broadcasters (e.g.,RTM in Morocco,SABC in South Africa).
- Match Timing: All games follow West African Time (UTC+1); verify local time zones to avoid missing kick‑offs.
- Ticketing: For in‑stadium fans, tickets are available via the CAF ticket portal; early purchase secures seats in the preferred sections.
Impact on African Football
- Emerging Nations: The qualification of third‑placed teams like Burundi and Rwanda highlights the growing competitiveness of East‑Central African football.
- Talent Showcase: The Round‑of‑16 stage offers a platform for African talent scouts; several players have already attracted interest from european clubs (e.g.,Uganda’s striker Milutin Okello).
- Economic Boost: Host cities report a 15 % increase in tourism revenue during the knockout phase,emphasizing the AFCON’s role in regional progress.
Sources
- CAJ News Africa, “AFCON round of 16 set after group stage”, 30 December 2025 – official CAF declaration of knockout pairings.