Overview
- The AFCON knockout schedule is confirmed for Jan. 3–6 in Morocco, opening with Senegal vs. Sudan and Mali vs. Tunisia and closing with Algeria vs. DR Congo and Ivory Coast vs. Burkina Faso.
- Other last‑16 ties include Morocco vs. Tanzania, South Africa vs. Cameroon, Egypt vs. Benin, and Nigeria vs. Mozambique.
- Ivory Coast rallied from 0–2 to beat Gabon 3–2 and top Group F, while Mozambique advanced as one of the four best third‑placed teams.
- Gabon’s sports minister announced the suspension of the national team, the dismissal of the coaching staff, and the exclusion of Pierre‑Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga.
- The government’s video of the announcement was briefly taken down before being reposted, and Aubameyang had already returned to Marseille for medical reasons and missed Gabon’s final match.