Overview
- The Round of 16 runs January 3–6 across Moroccan venues following the completion of group play.
- Senegal face Sudan in Tangier to start the knockouts, with captain Kalidou Koulibaly suspended after a red card in their final group match.
- Hosts Morocco play Tanzania in Rabat, with other ties including South Africa vs Cameroon, Egypt vs Benin, Nigeria vs Mozambique, Algeria vs DR Congo, and Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso.
- Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen headline a star cast still in contention entering the knockout phase.
- Tanzania reached the last 16 for the first time in 45 years and Mozambique advanced as a best third-placed team, while Algeria and Nigeria were the only sides to win all three group games.