AFCON heating up ahead of blockbuster quarter-finals | OneFootball

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has been entertaining as always and is set to give us a memorable run-in with a fiercely competitive set of quarter-final fixtures.

Of those teams eliminated so far only DR Congo and Tunisia had the potential chops to lift the trophy in 11 days time which allows us to take a look at some tantalising games...

Mali v Senegal

The Eagles defeated the Eagles of Carthage despite being under the cosh for the majority of the game with Woyo Coulibaly sent off in the 26th minute. A 96th-minute Lassine Sinayoko penalty set up and eventual shoot-out with Mali eventually knocking out Tunisia thanks to Djigui Diarra's heroics.

Of course, Mali will need to show more discipline against Senegal with Coulibaly and Amadou Haidara both having been sent off in the competition.

Senegal had a much easier round of 16 tie. Despite conceding a sixth minute goal against Sudan, the Lions of Teranga were by far the better team with Pape Gueye bagging a brace and Ibrahim Mbaye scoring in a 3-1 win.

The winner of this one will face either Egypt or Ivory Coast in the semi-finals.

Cameroon v Morocco

Cameroon had a late scare against South Africa when Evidence Makgopa pulled one back after the Indomitable Lions had taken a two-goal lead through Junior Tchamadeu and Christian Kofane.

While Cameroon do have a formidable squad and are looking to prove a point ahead of a summer without the World Cup, they will face a hostile atmosphere against the hosts.

Brahim Díaz has been the man for Morocco and is the top scorer at AFCON having scored a goal in each of his four appearances at the tournament, including what turned out to be the winner against Tanzania in the round of 16.

After drawing with Mali in the group stages this will be the biggest test for Hoalid Regragui's team who will have extra expectations to win on home turf.

Whoever goes through has Algeria or Nigeria waiting for the next, speaking of which...

Algeria v Nigeria

Both Algeria and Nigeria have won all four of their respective fixtures at AFCON so far but that will change in this quarter-final fixture.

The Fennec Foxes have scored eight goals and conceded just one so far with Riyad Mahrez bagging three of those for his side. Algeria had to wait late to dispatch DR Congo in the last round with Adel Boulebina's 119th-minute eventually securing a spot in the final eight – hopefully that extra half hour of football won't catch up to Vladimir Petkovic's team.

2023's runners-up Nigeria meanwhile had a much easier time of it in the quarter-finals, casually dispatching Mozambique 4-0 and averaging three goals a game in this competition.

The only downside for the Super Eagles is Victor Osimhen's attitude and reported 'temper tantrums' with manager Éric Chelle the man responsible for keeping squad unity ahead of what will be a tough game. Fortunately, even without Osimhen, Nigeria have plenty of attacking talent.

Egypt v Ivory Coast

The record winners take on the current holders of AFCON in the final quarter-final. Egypt should have put Benin to bed in the round of 16 game after Marwan Attia's excellent opener but Jodel Dossou struck late for the underdogs.

It took until extra-time for the Pharaohs to conquer Benin with Yasser Ibrahim putting his side again before Mohamed Salah wrapped things up on the break with his third goal of the tournament so far.

Meanwhile, defending champions Ivory Coast cruised past Burkina Faso in Marrakesh. Manchester United's Amad Diallo, who has had a solid tournament so far, opened the scoring with Yan Diomande and Bazoumana Touré also on the scoresheet.

This one should prove to be a close and fascinating encounter as a part of stacked line-ups of quarter-finals.