The quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations (Morocco 2025 edition), scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday, January 9 and 10, promise the continent and the world a high-level football spectacle, where competition intersects with history. Four decisive matches, eight top-tier teams, and one goal that cannot be divided: reaching the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
In the last two decades, nine out of ten continental titles have gone to teams that reached the quarter-finals of this thirty-fifth edition. The sole exception was Zambia, led by Hervé Renard, which defied all expectations and claimed the title in 2012.
With the exception of Mali, the other seven teams competing in this round have previously touched the continental cup.
This “historical” data is enough to outline the features of a quarter-final among the giants of the continent, where every match turns into a premature final, and the details on the pitch become the sole deciding factor, far from any calculations.
Senegal, led by its star Sadio Mané, kicks off these clashes on Friday at five o’clock in the evening, facing Mali in a derby between neighbors whose paths have crossed many times.
The Mali Eagles, who have yet to ascend the winners’ podium, enter the clash with the ambition to break the historical curse, against the “Lions of Teranga,” who have solidified their position as a football reference in the continent in recent years.
Between the Malian enthusiasm and the Senegalese composure, the balance seems delicate and the tension present in this type of match, which is decided by tactical intelligence, patience, and discipline.
At eight o’clock in the evening, attention turns to one of the most classic clashes, which will gather Cameroon and Morocco. Giants of the continent, with rich records and clear identities. On one side, the instinct and pride of the “Indomitable Lions” are based on their deep-rooted history.
On the other hand, the rigor of the Atlas Lions and their ambition based on a clear methodology have made them, in recent years, a model of continuity and international prominence.
The high pace continues on Saturday afternoon, with a confrontation between Algeria and Nigeria, in a clash between two different styles, with the “Desert Foxes” playing a technical and organized game, against the “Green Eagles,” who combine physical strength with free offensive breaks capable of turning the tide, which have often been decisive.
The matches of this round conclude with a heavyweight clash at eight o’clock in the evening, bringing together Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire, where history meets the present. The “Pharaohs,” the record holders for the number of titles, face the “Elephants,” the reigning champions, in a match heavy with symbolism and memory.
In this round of competition, there is no margin for error or recovery, as precision in details, tactical discipline, and effectiveness are sufficient to open the doors to the semi-finals and continue the continental dream.
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