Confirmed teams set for cutthroat showdowns in AFCON's round of 16

With the 16 teams for the knockout phase of AFCON 2025 locked in, epic showdowns are about to begin—where dreams are chased, and others dashed.

After Tuesday's round of group games, the teams that advanced to the knockout stage were confirmed.

Excitement around the tournament is building, although fans must wait until Wednesday evening to learn the complete fixture list after the final round of group matches.

The group stage has seen intense competition, with the ranking of the top third-placed teams fluctuating dramatically based on match results.

Three sides, Botswana from Group D, Equatorial Guinea from Group E, and Gabon from Group F, saw their AFCON dreams end before the last matchday, paving the way for a nail-biting conclusion on Tuesday.

Notably, in a dramatic encounter, Uganda's aspirations were dashed when they fell behind to Nigeria in the 28th minute and then faced a 10-man disadvantage in the second half.

With Nigeria sealing a dominant 3-1 victory, the spotlight turned to the battle for the last knockout spot between Tanzania and Tunisia.

Tanzania's Feisal Salum emerged as a hero in their contest against Tunisia, scoring an equaliser in the 48th minute that secured the team's progression to the next round.

The match ended 1-1, allowing Tanzania to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time in its history, thanks to its goal-difference advantage over Angola.

For Angola, the path ended; a victory for Tunisia was imperative to advance. By maintaining the draw, Tanzania effectively extinguished Angola's hopes, demonstrating the sometimes-cruel nature of knockout tournament football.

On a brighter note, Nigeria completed a clean sweep of victories in the group stage, becoming the first team in AFCON 2025 to win all three group matches.

Meanwhile, Mozambique, Benin, and Sudan also secured their spots in the round of 16, finishing third in their respective groups with enough points to progress.

However, the competition has not been without its casualties. Botswana, eliminated after just two matches, became the first team to exit AFCON 2025.

Their misfortunes were soon mirrored by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, whose early exits underscored the challenges many teams face in the tournament's early stages.

Comoros was the first of the third-placed teams to be eliminated, followed closely by Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Uganda, all of whom finished last in their groups.

The cutthroat nature of the tournament has been laid bare as these teams prepare for an early departure.

The final group-stage matches are scheduled for Wednesday evening, with the full knockout draw expected to be revealed shortly after. The round of 16 begins on Saturday.

One fixture is already confirmed: Mali will face Tunisia in a thrilling contest sure to resonate throughout the continent.

AFCON's round of 16 qualified teams

Group A: Morocco, Mali

Group B: Egypt, South Africa

Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Tanzania

Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin (order to be determined)

Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Sudan (the order of the second and third may change)

Group F: Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mozambique (order to be determined)