Morocco vs Cameroon

The Lions’ Roar: Morocco and the Elite Eight Prepare for AFCON 2025

Quarter-Finals

As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) reaches its fever pitch, the tournament host, Morocco, finds itself among the final eight teams in a bracket stacked with continental heavyweights. After an intense Round of 16, the stage is now set for a series of high-stakes encounters across four iconic Moroccan cities.

The quarter-final stage, scheduled for Friday, January 9, and Saturday, January 10, features some of the most anticipated matchups in recent tournament history.

Morocco's Quest for Glory

The "Atlas Lions" have carried the weight of a nation’s expectations with composure. Following a solid group stage, Morocco edged past Tanzania in the Round of 16 with a 1–0 victory, thanks to a decisive strike by Brahim Díaz. For the hosts, the mission is clear: to secure their first AFCON title since 1976. However, standing in their way is a familiar and formidable foe: Cameroon.

The Quarter-Final Lineup

The schedule for the quarter-finals is split over two days, with matches taking place at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM local time (GMT+1).

Friday, January 9, 2026

The opening day of the quarter-finals features a West African derby and a North-versus-Central clash.

● Mali vs. Senegal

○ Time: 11:00 AM ET / 4:00 PM Local (GMT+1)

○ Venue: Grand Stade de Tanger, Tangier

○ The Matchup: The reigning champions, Senegal, have looked dominant, but they face a resilient Mali side that has proven difficult to break down, even when playing with ten men in previous rounds.

● Cameroon vs. Morocco

○ Time: 2:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM Local (GMT+1)

○ Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat

○ The Matchup: This is the undisputed "Match of the Round." The five-time champion Indomitable Lions of Cameroon face the hosts in front of a sold-out crowd in Rabat. It

is a battle of pedigree versus momentum.

Saturday, January 10, 2026

The second day sees the tournament’s most successful nations and the most clinical attacking forces take the field.

● Nigeria vs. Algeria

○ Time: 11:00 AM ET / 4:00 PM Local (GMT+1)

○ Venue: Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech

○ The Matchup: Two giants of African football collide. Nigeria’s Super Eagles, led by a firing Victor Osimhen, will test their attacking prowess against a disciplined Algerian side that has yet to concede many goals.

● Egypt vs. Côte d'Ivoire

○ Time: 2:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM Local (GMT+1)

○ Venue: Grand Stade d'Agadir, Agadir

○ The Matchup: A repeat of many classic AFCON finals. Record-holders Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, face the defending champions, Côte d'Ivoire. This match promises tactical depth and individual brilliance.

The Road to the Final

The winners of these matches will advance to the semi-finals on January 14. With the "Big Six" of African football—Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire—all still in the hunt, AFCON 2025 is living up to its billing as the most competitive edition in the history of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.

The atmosphere in Morocco is electric, and as the quarter-finals kick off this Friday, the eyes of the world will be on Tangier, Rabat, Marrakech, and Agadir to see who will take the next step toward the trophy on January 18.