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AFCON Round of 16 Kicks Off in Morocco With Heavyweights and First-Timers

Senegal open against Sudan with captain Kalidou Koulibaly suspended, as hosts Morocco prepare to face Tanzania in Rabat.

Overview

  • CAF has confirmed the full last‑16 schedule for January 3–6 across Moroccan venues, setting the path to the quarter-finals.
  • The opener in Tangier features 2021 champions Senegal versus Sudan, with confirmed team lineups and Koulibaly banned after a group-stage red card.
  • Eleven former champions reached the last 16, with only Zambia out, consolidating a bracket dominated by top-ranked teams.
  • Morocco enter as favourites and face first-time knockout qualifiers Tanzania, while fellow debutants Mozambique take on Nigeria.
  • Defending champions Ivory Coast meet Burkina Faso in Marrakech, and Algeria’s clash with DR Congo is among the standout ties to come.