Overview
- The knockout stage runs January 3–6 across Moroccan stadiums, beginning with Senegal vs Sudan in Tangier and Mali vs Tunisia in Casablanca.
- Senegal will be without suspended captain Kalidou Koulibaly, while Sudan advanced as a best third‑placed team after coach James Kwesi Appiah rested key players for this fixture.
- Morocco meet Tanzania in Rabat with Hakimi back and forwards Brahim Díaz and Ayoub El Kaabi among the tournament’s most productive attackers.
- The other last‑16 ties are South Africa vs Cameroon, Egypt vs Benin, Nigeria vs Mozambique, Algeria vs DR Congo, and Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso.
- Tanzania and Mozambique reached the knockouts for the first time, Mali’s Amadou Haidara is suspended, and Gabon’s government imposed sweeping sanctions after a winless group‑stage exit.