Overview
- Play runs January 3–6 across Moroccan host cities, starting with Senegal vs Sudan in Tangier, where Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly is suspended after a group-stage red card.
- Host nation Morocco face Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday, with fit-again Achraf Hakimi headlining a squad widely viewed as a title contender.
- Heavyweights advanced almost across the board, setting up ties including South Africa vs Cameroon, Algeria vs DR Congo, Egypt vs Benin and Nigeria vs Mozambique.
- Mozambique and Tanzania progressed as best third-placed teams to reach the knockouts for the first time, while Sudan advanced despite not scoring in open play.
- After Gabon’s group-stage exit, the government dissolved the coaching staff, suspended the national team and excluded Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga.