AFCON: Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria complete quarterfinals lineup.

Both teams secured their tickets to setup the rendezvous last Tuesday after eliminating Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 16 stage.

Algeria which emerged champions in 2019 when the AFCON was last hosted in North Africa, knocked out the Democratic Republic of Congo after beating the Leopards 1nil in extra time. 

Cote d’Ivoire had an easier ride in their West African clash with 2013 runners up, Burkina Faso. Manchester United forward, Amad Diallo, led the scoring as the defending champions humbled the Stallions 3nil. 

Stellar quarterfinal lineup

The qualification of the two teams set the stage for what is expected to be four scintillating quarterfinals phase which begins tomorrow Friday, with the cracker between Senegal and Mali and Cameroon’s clash with host, Morocco.

Senegal which claimed the winner’s trophy in 2021, is chasing its second continental trophy. The team is unbeaten in the ongoing tournament.

To go through to the semifinals where it will further get closer to realizing its dreams, the team will need to knock out a Malian selection that has been equally rock solid in the ongoing showpiece.

Mali eliminated 2004 winners Tunisia in the round of 16. The Eagles who have eyes on securing their first trophy in the competition, will face Senegal hoping to be highly cautious with focus on notably avoiding a repeat of the scenario where it conceded late on to get eliminated by host Cote d’Ivoire in the quarterfinals of the 2024 tournament.

Cameroon versus Morocco showdown 

The Indomitable Lions showdown with the Atlas Lions of Morocco is regarded as the key fixture of the quarterfinals. This, many say, is owing to the rich history behind both nations. Morocco is eyeing its second AFCON trophy and its first since 1976. 

After several decades of heartbreak, the Moroccans strongly believe that the ongoing 2025 tournament provides the Atlas Lions with the perfect platform to put an end to the 50-year drought.

However, with Cameroon being one of the powerhouses of the game on the continent, there is fear that the host’s chances may be shattered as early as the quarterfinals by Cameroon.

Asides being the second most decorated team in the AFCON with five trophies, Cameroon is notorious for causing upsets in the AFCON especially against host nations. 

The Indomitable Lions have eliminated host nations a mind-blowing eight times in the AFCON. The Atlas Lions tested the bitterness as early as the late 1980s when Cameroon knocked out the team in the 1988 AFCON in Morocco.

Before the 1988 tourney, Cameroon stopped host Cote d’Ivoire from progressing from the group stages of the 1984 AFCON and repeated the feat in 2017 when it sent Gabon out nine years ago.

Other quarterfinals

The two other quarterfinals series will see joint five-time winners, the Super Eagles of Nigeria, and the Desert Foxes of Algeria facing off on Saturday January 10 while Egypt faces Cote d’Ivoire on the same day.

Algeria eliminated Nigeria in the semifinals in 2019 en route to beating Senegal in the final. Egypt has eyes on bagging its record-extending eighth AFCON trophy and its first since 2010. 

But the team will need to begin by going through a hungry Cote d’Ivoire team which is aiming to join Ghana as the join third most decorated team in the AFCON event with four winners’ titles. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3667 of Thursday January 08, 2026