Overview
- Egypt secured first place in Group B after a 0-0 draw with Angola, leaving Angola third on two points and at risk of missing the last-16 as a best third.
- South Africa beat Zimbabwe 3-2 with an 82nd‑minute penalty from Oswin Appollis to finish second in Group B and qualify, while Zimbabwe exited without a win.
- Algeria topped Group E and reached the round of 16 with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso thanks to a Riyad Mahrez penalty, marking their first knockouts since 2019.
- Nigeria advanced by defeating Tunisia 3-2 in Fès as Ademola Lookman delivered two assists and a goal in a standout display.
- Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon drew 1-1 to sit on four points each, eliminating Gabon after its 3-2 loss to Mozambique, while officiating from Nigeria–Tunisia and South Africa coach Hugo Broos’s criticism of stadium access kept organizational issues in focus.