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The 2025-26 Africa Cup of Nations is into the knockout stage with the quarterfinals getting underway on Friday, Jan. 9 for the tournament being hosted by Morocco.
Mali, Senegal, Egypt, Cameroon, Morocco and Nigeria were the first teams to book their places in the top eight, with the final Round of 16 matches taking place on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Ivory Coast is the reining AFCON champion, defeating Nigeria in the final two years ago.
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This year's final is set for Sunday, Jan. 8 in Rabat and host Morocco is one of the tournament's favorites, fighting to win Africa's continental crown for the second time in history, the first coming back in 1978.
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Africa Cup of Nations bracket
Quarterfinals
Jan. 9
All times eastern.
Mali vs. Senegal – 11 a.m. in Tanger
Cameroon vs. Morocco – 2 p.m. in Rafat
Jan. 10
Algeria/DR Congo vs. Nigeria – 11 a.m. in Marrakech
Egypt vs. Ivory Coast/Burkina Faso – 2 p.m. in Agadir
Semifinals
Jan. 14
Mali/Senegal vs. Egypt/Ivory Coast/Burkina Faso – 12 p.m. in Tanger
Cameroon/Morocco vs. Nigeria/Algeria/Congo – 3 p.m. in Rabat
Third-place match
Jan. 17: Semifinal losers in Casablanca, 11 a.m.
AFCON final
Jan. 18: 2 p.m. at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AFCON bracket 2026, knockout stage schedule for Africa Cup of Nations
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