A pair of massive quarter-final fixtures light up the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Saturday, completing the draw for the last four.
Algeria and Nigeria are two nations with huge support going head-to-head in the first match of the day at the Stade de Marrakech.
Then it’s the turn of Mohammed Salah and the reigning champions in Agadir, as Egypt attempt to dethrone Cote d’Ivoire and keep their own Afcon dream alive.
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
Quarter-final: Algeria vs Nigeria – 18.00
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has thrown up a quartet of incredible quarter-final draws – and they don’t come much bigger than the clash between Algeria and Nigeria on Saturday.
Marrakech is the venue as Morocco builds towards the sharp end of the tournament.
It’s the Super Eagles who soared through their Round of 16 game against Mozambique on Monday, rattling off a 4-0 victory that saw them breeze into the last eight.
Ademola Lookman broke the deadlock in Fes in the 20th minute, before Victor Osimhen struck five minutes later to put the West African giants firmly in command.
That became an iron grip when Osimhen bagged his second just after half time, with Akor Adams adding a fourth with 15 minutes left on the clock as they cruised home.
Algeria’s passage through the first knockout round could scarcely have been any different.
It was a gruelling night in Rabat for the Fennecs, as they went toe-to-toe with DR Congo without either side being able to break the deadlock at the Stade Moulay El Hassan.
A penalty shootout looked to be on the cards until Adil Boulbina crashed in a 119th-minute winner to crush Congolese dreams.
They had earlier cruised to the top of Group E as one of only two nations to maintain a perfect record.
Equatorial Guinea were brushed aside 3-1 in the final pool match, after Burkina Faso had been edged out following a comfortable opening 3-0 victory over Sudan.
But it was their opponents who were the other side to secure a maximum points haul.
The Nigerians topped Group C after squeezing past Tanzania, holding off a Tunisia fightback for a 3-2 win the second round of matches and coming through strongly to beat Uganda 3-1 to make it nine points out of nine.
Quarter-final: Egypt vs Cote d’Ivoire – 21.00
What a game we have on Saturday to bring the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals to a climax in Morocco, as Egypt face Cote d’Ivoire in Agadir.
It’s a showdown that pits the legendary Mohamed Salah against a nation that remains on course for back-to-back Afcon titles.
Les Elephants had no trouble in reaching the last eight, stampeding to a 3-0 win over Burkina Faso in their Round of 16 tie in Marrakech.
Amad Diallo continued his fine goalscoring form with the opening goal on just 20 minutes, before Yan Diomande picked off a second and youngster Bazoumana Toure added a late third.
Not so straightforward for the Pharaohs, who were taken all the way into extra time by Benin.
Marwan Attia’s goal in the 69th minute looked to have done the trick until the underdogs pulled level with seven minutes left to play in Agadir.
Yasser Ibrahim netted halfway through the first period of the added 30 minutes, before that man Salah made sure with a beautiful curling strike deep into stoppage time.
They had earlier topped Group B with room to spare, allowing a much-changed line up to draw 0-0 in an inconsequential final outing against Angola.
South Africa were vanquished in the second pool match to get them there – and not without plenty of controversy along the way – as Salah scored a match-winning penalty just before half time.
The Liverpool forward came to the rescue in their opening game, too, popping up in injury time to edge out Zimbabwe.
It wasn’t nearly so comfortable for the Ivorians to finish at the summit of Group F, needing Bazoumana Traore’s late winner to cap a 3-2 comeback success over Gabon.
They had earlier drawn with fellow heavyweight Cameroon, whom they eventually pipped to first place, after edging past Mozambique to kick off their Afcon title defence in Marrakech.