It’s time for the first pair of quarter-finals at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Friday, as we discover the first nations to make it into the last four.
A mouthwatering derby between West African duo Mali and Senegal kicks off the quarters.
They’re followed by host nation Morocco in the later game, who will be backed by an expectant home crowd for their contest with Cameroon.
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
Quarter-final: Mali vs Senegal – 18.00
We’re into the business end of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and Friday’s first quarter-final has thrown up a tasty derby, as Mali face Senegal in Tangier.
It’s a perfect opportunity to renew a rivalry between the neighbouring nations, who haven’t faced each other since a friendly in 2019.
And there’s plenty of contrast to pick out of their respective routes to the last eight.
Senegal have been strong without fully hitting their straps, coming through their Round of 16 tie 3-1 despite having fallen behind to shock qualifiers Sudan.
Pape Gueye was at the double for the Lions of Teranga, while wonderkid Ibrahim Mbaye killed the contest with his breakaway third in the 77th minute.
Mali took part in a maddening contest with Tunisia, eventually squeaking through 3-2 in the penalty shootout that followed the 1-1 draw between the sides.
And that’s only the half of it.
Woyo Coulibaly’s red card for a raking challenge in just the 26th minute left them right up against it, even more so when Firas Chaouat netted in the 88th minute for the Carthage Eagles.
But Lassine Sinayoko squeezed in a 96th-minute penalty following a handball to take the contest into extra time, after which El Bilal Toure scored the winning kick following a pair of saves from Djigui Diarra.
It means the Eagles have made it this far without winning a single Afcon match, having drawn all three pool games to sneak through to the knockouts.
They first drew 1-1 with Zambia before matching that result, to their credit, against host nation Morocco, before a drab goalless stalemate with minnows Comoros.
The Senegalese polished off Group D with a 3-0 success against Benin.
It saw them pip DR Congo to top spot after the pair drew 1-1 in the second round of matches, with Botswana no match in a 3-0 opening triumph for Sadio Mane and Co.
Quarter-final: Cameroon vs Morocco – 21.00
The excitement keeps coming in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, as host nation Morocco face the challenge of Cameroon in Rabat.
It’s another game with home advantage stacked in favour of the Atlas Lions, as they step out at the raucous Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium once more.
They do so after seeing off Tanzania in the Round of 16 at the same venue.
But only just, as Brahim Diaz scored what proved to be the only goal midway through the second half, making it a streak of four successive games for the Real Madrid star.
Cameroon survived an early onslaught from South Africa to come through their own last 16 tie by the odd goal.
Junior Tchamadeu pounced after a lucky break in the penalty area before Christian Kofane scored straight after half time to put the Indomitable Lions in command, meaning Evidence Makgopa’s late reply proved only a consolation.
Victory over Mozambique put the cap on their safe passage from Group F alongside reigning champions Cote d’Ivoire.
They had earlier drawn 1-1 with the Elephants in what could have been a pivotal match, after opening up with a slender win over Gabon.
Diaz scored the first goal of the tournament for Morocco en route to a 2-0 stroll over Comoros, with Ayoub El Kaabi’s overhead kick doubling the advantage.
They could only draw 1-1 with Mali, but put three past Zambia as they clicked into gear on home turf, boosted by the return from injury of captain Achraf Hakimi.