All you need to know about Afcon 2025

The last 16 of the the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is complete and some mouth-watering quarter-finals are now on the horizon at a tournament being held across Christmas and New Year for the first time.

Host nation Morocco are bidding to secure a first continental title since 1976, although their world-record 19-match winning run in international football came to an end with a draw against Mali in their second match of the group stage.

Having last won Afcon in 1976, the pressure is on the Atlas Lions, Africa's highest-ranked nation at 11th in the world, after they came through a scare or two in their first knockout game in which they beat a Tanzania side 101 places below them.

Five-time champions Cameroon, fellow heavyweights Nigeria and Algeria, 2021 winners Senegal and Mali have all booked their place in the last eight.

Mohamed Salah - still seeking his first Afcon title - scored to help Egypt join them and take another step towards a record-extending eighth continental crown, having been runners-up at the 2017 and 2021 editions.

The Pharaohs will face Ivory Coast after the defending champions eased past West African rivals Burkina Faso.

But where are matches being played and when do they kick off? And when are the later knockout fixtures?

BBC Sport Africa provides you with all the information on the 35th edition of Africa's biggest sporting event.

The 24 teams at the finals were split into six groups of four, with the top two in each group and the four best-ranked third-placed teams advancing to the last 16.

Group A: Morocco (Q), Mali (Q), Zambia, Comoros

Group B: Egypt (Q), South Africa (Q), Angola, Zimbabwe

Group C: Nigeria (Q), Tunisia (Q), Tanzania (Q), Uganda

Group D: Senegal (Q), DR Congo (Q), Benin (Q), Botswana

Group E: Algeria (Q), Burkina Faso (Q), Sudan (Q), Equatorial Guinea

Group F: Ivory Coast (Q), Cameroon (Q), Mozambique (Q) Gabon

Senegal came from behind to beat Sudan 2-1 in the first tie of the round of 16 on Saturday, followed by Mali knocking out 2004 champions Tunisia on penalties despite being reduced to 10 players early on, conceding the first goal in the 88th minute and falling behind in the shootout.

Reigning African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi then made his much-anticipated full return from injury to set up Brahim Diaz for the only goal against the Taifa Stars, booking a quarter-final against Cameroon, who ousted South Africa 2-1.

On Monday, Salah's side saw off Benin 3-1 after extra time and three-time champions Nigeria continued their perfect start from the group stage by thrashing Mozambique 4-0.

The last-16 ties culminated on Tuesday when Algeria netted a 119th-minute winner to overcome a stubborn DR Congo 1-0 and Ivory Coast saw off Burkina Faso 3-0.

A tournament where the big guns have done well has provided some last-eight ties with heavyweight clashes across the board.

All the sides at this stage of the tournament are ranked among the top 10 sides on the continent - with all except Mali former Afcon champions.

The quarter-final line-up scheduled for Friday and Saturday is as follows:

Friday, 9 January

Saturday, 10 January

Morocco remain favourites and have Real Madrid playmaker Diaz in formidable form, making history as their first player to score in four successive Afcon games, alongside three goals for striker Ayoub El Kaabi during the group stage.

A Champions League winner last season, the inspirational Hakimi's creative presence and productivity on the flank against Tanzania will give coach Walid Regragui added confidence that the best is yet to come from his squad.

Cameroon only appointed coach David Pagou last month as part of an uncertain build-up, but the Indomitable Lions held Ivory Coast in their second game and saw off South Africa in the last 16, helped by a forward line featuring Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo and 19-year-old newcomer Christian Kofane, scorer of two goals so far.

Senegal have been playing impressive football this year under Pape Thiaw and have shown their considerable squad depth, with two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane contributing one goal and three assists.

Their last-eight opponents Mali have got this far without winning a game, having drawn with Zambia, Morocco and Comoros in the group stage and before edging out Tunisia on penalties.

Algeria and Nigeria are the only sides remaining with a 100% record after four games, but both have faced their challenges.

Former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez scored three goals as Algeria won Group E, although they only narrowly avoided a penalty shootout against DR Congo in the last 16 before Adil Boulbina's stunning late winner.

Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine Zidane, is yet to concede a goal in his four matches for Les Fennecs.

Nigeria's fortunes dipped sharply in World Cup qualifying without Victor Osimhen, and the striker's double against the Mambas will fuel belief that the talisman can lead the Super Eagles through the tougher-looking half of the draw.

Egypt and Salah are yet to hit peak form, the forward netting an added-time winner in their opener against Zimbabwe, scoring the only goal from the spot as they held on to beat South Africa with 10 players and striking in the 124th minute against Benin.

Ivory Coast went unbeaten through World Cup qualifying but only won Group F with a late comeback against eliminated Gabon - a performance they built on against Burkina Faso when Amad Diallo netted his third goal at the finals and laid on another.

With seven different winners in the past eight editions, the tournament is likely to have more surprises on the way.

The four quarter-final matches take place on 9 and 10 January, starting at 16:00 and 19:00.

Both semi-finals are on Wednesday, 14 January, starting at 17:00 and 20:00, with the third-placed play-off on Saturday, 17 January at 16:00.

The final on Sunday, 18 January will kick off at 19:00.

Morocco playmaker Diaz leads the scoring charts after strikes against Comoros, Mali, Zambia and Tanzania.

However, a stack of big names are right behind the 26-year-old.

4 goals: Brahim Diaz (Morocco)

3 goals: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco), Lassine Sinayoko (Mali), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman (both Nigeria), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)

Morocco has pumped vast sums of money into renovating stadiums to host Afcon 2025 while also preparing to co-host the 2030 Fifa World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

Nine stadiums are being used in six host cities, with four venues in the capital Rabat.

All times GMT

Sunday, 21 December

Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat

Monday, 22 December

Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia, Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca

Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola, Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech

Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe, Grand Stade d'Agadir, Agadir

Tuesday, 23 December

Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana, Grand Stade de Tangier, Tangier

Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin, Stade El Barid, Rabat

Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania, Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes

Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda, Olympic Stadium, Rabat

Wednesday, 24 December

Group E: Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea, Casablanca

Group E: Algeria 3-0 Sudan, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat

Group F: Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique, Marrakech

Group F: Cameroon 1-0 Gabon, Agadir

Friday, 26 December

Group B: Angola 1-1 Zimbabwe, Marrakech

Group B: Egypt 1-0 South Africa, Agadir

Group A: Zambia 0-0 Comoros, Casablanca

Group A: Morocco 1-1 Mali, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

Saturday, 27 December

Group D: Benin 1-0 Botswana, Olympic Stadium

Group D: Senegal 1-1 DR Congo, Tangier

Group C: Uganda 1-1 Tanzania, Stade El Barid

Group C: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia, Fes

Sunday, 28 December

Group F: Gabon 2-3 Mozambique, Agadir

Group E: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Sudan, Casablanca

Group E: Algeria 1-0 Burkina Faso, Moulay El Hassan Stadium

Group F: Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon, Marrakech

Monday, 29 December

Group B: Angola 0-0 Egypt, Agadir

Group B: Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa, Marrakech

Group A: Comoros 0-0 Mali, Casablanca

Group A: Zambia 0-3 Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

Tuesday, 30 December

Group C: Tanzania 1-1 Tunisia, Olympic Stadium

Group C: Uganda 1-3 Nigeria, Fes

Group D: Benin 0-3 Senegal, Tangier

Group D: Botswana 0-3 DR Congo, Stade El Barid

Wednesday, 31 December

Group E: Equatorial Guinea 1-3 Algeria, Moulay El Hassan Stadium

Group E: Sudan 0-2 Burkina Faso, Casablanca

Group F: Gabon 2-3 Ivory Coast, Marrakech

Group F: Mozambique 1-2 Cameroon, Agadir

Saturday, 3 January

SR1: Senegal 3-1 Sudan, Tangier

SR2: Mali 1-1 Tunisia (AET, 3-2 on pens), Casablanca

Sunday, 4 January

SR3: Morocco 1-0 Tanzania, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

SR4: South Africa 1-2 Cameroon, Stade El Barid

Monday, 5 January

SR5: Egypt 3-1 Benin (AET), Agadir

SR6: Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique, Fes

Tuesday, 6 January

SR7: Algeria 1-0 DR Congo (AET), Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat (16:00)

SR8: Ivory Coast 3-0 Burkina Faso, Marrakech

Friday, 9 January

QF1: Mali vs Senegal, Tangier (16:00)

QF2: Cameroon vs Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (19:00)

Saturday, 10 January

QF3: Algeria vs Egypt, Marrakech (16:00)

QF4: Egypt vs Ivory Coast, Agadir (19:00)

Wednesday, 14 January

SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4, Tangier (17:00)

SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (20:00)

Saturday, 17 January

SF1 vs SF2 losers, Casablanca (16:00)

Sunday, 18 January

SF1 vs SF2 winners, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (19:00)