The stage is set for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) semi-finals as a tournament which was held across Christmas and New Year for the first time reaches its endgame.
Host nation Morocco are still in the hunt to secure a first continental title since 1976, having eased past five-time champions Cameroon in the last eight.
The Atlas Lions are into the last four for the first time since 2004, when they went on to lose against Tunisia in the final.
Africa’s highest-ranked nation at 11th in the world, Walid Regragui’s team will now take on a free-scoring Nigeria side.
Senegal, Afcon champions in 2021, are also through to the semi-finals after seeing off 10-man Mali on Friday.
The Teranga Lions will face Mohamed Salah’s Egypt in a repeat of the final from four years ago which saw the West Africans triumph on penalties.
Salah – still seeking his first Afcon title – will be out for revenge as he looks to help the Pharaohs to a record-extending eighth continental crown, having also been a runner-up at the 2017 edition.
But where are matches being played and when do they kick off? And when are the later knockout fixtures?
BBC Sport Africa provides you with all the information on the 35th edition of Africa’s biggest sporting event.
When are the Afcon 2025 semi-finals?
A tournament where the big guns have done well has provided two heavyweight ties in the last four.
All the sides that have reached this stage in North Africa are former champions, with 12 titles between them.
All are ranked among the top five sides on the continent.
The semi-final line-up scheduled is as follows:
Wednesday, 14 January
Senegal vs Egypt (17:00 GMT)
Morocco vs Nigeria (20:00 GMT)
What happened in the quarter-finals?
All of the quarter-finalists are ranked in Africa’s top 10, but three of the games turned out to be one-sided contests.
Senegal became the first side through to the last four with a 1-0 win over 10-man Mali, with Iliman Ndiaye slotting in the winner before Eagles captain Yves Bissouma was sent off on the stroke of half-time.
Host nation Morocco then saw off Cameroon later on Friday, as a goal in each half from Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari saw Walid Regragui’s men to a comfortable victory in front of a fervent home crowd in Rabat.
Three-time champions Nigeria registered a 2-0 win over Algeria on Saturday afternoon, with second-half goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams doing the damage for the Super Eagles.
And Egypt completed the semi-final line-up as Mohamed Salah netted what proved to be the winner in a thriller against holders Ivory Coast.
Efforts from Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia put the Pharaohs 2-0 up but the Ivorians pulled one back through an Ahmed Fatouh own goal before the break.
Salah made it 3-1 early in the second half but the Elephants could not mount a comeback despite Guela Doue pulling one back.
What happened in the last-16 ties?
Senegal came from behind to beat Sudan 3-1 in the first tie of the round of 16 on 3 January, followed by Mali knocking out 2004 champions Tunisia on penalties despite being reduced to 10 players early on, conceding the first goal in the 88th minute and falling behind in the shootout.
Reigning African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi then made his much-anticipated full return from injury to set up Brahim Diaz for Morocco’s only goal against Tanzania, booking a quarter-final against Cameroon, who ousted South Africa 2-1.
On Monday, Egypt saw off Benin 3-1 after extra time and three-time champions Nigeria continued their perfect start from the group stage by thrashing Mozambique 4-0.
The last-16 ties culminated on Tuesday when Algeria netted a 119th-minute winner to overcome a stubborn DR Congo 1-0 and Ivory Coast saw off Burkina Faso 3-0.
Who made it through the group stage?
The 24 teams at the finals were split into six groups of four, with the top two in each group and the four best-ranked third-placed teams advancing to the last 16.
Group A: Morocco (Q), Mali (Q), Zambia, Comoros
Group B: Egypt (Q), South Africa (Q), Angola, Zimbabwe
Group C: Nigeria (Q), Tunisia (Q), Tanzania (Q), Uganda
Group D: Senegal (Q), DR Congo (Q), Benin (Q), Botswana
Group E: Algeria (Q), Burkina Faso (Q), Sudan (Q), Equatorial Guinea
Group F: Ivory Coast (Q), Cameroon (Q), Mozambique (Q) Gabon
Who has impressed – and who hasn’t?
Morocco remain favourites and have Real Madrid playmaker Diaz in formidable form, making history as their first player to score in five successive Afcon games, alongside three goals for striker Ayoub El Kaabi during the group stage.
A Champions League winner last season, the inspirational Hakimi is returning to peak form having made his return from an almost two-month injury lay-off against Zambia at the end of the group stage.
Senegal have been playing impressive football this year under Pape Thiaw and have shown their considerable squad depth, with two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane contributing one goal and three assists.
Nigeria are the only side remaining with a 100% record after five games, but have faced their challenges.
The Super Eagles faced a scare against Tanzania in their opener and almost let a 3-0 lead slip against Tunisia in the group stage.
However Eric Chelle’s side – who failed to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup – have scored a total of 14 goals at the finals and Osimhen, Adams and Ademola Lookman form a potent front three.
Egypt have shown characteristic mettle to reach the semi-final stage, with Salah coming alive as the tournament progressed.
The Pharaohs captain netted an injury-time winner in their opener against Zimbabwe and scored the only goal from the spot as they held on to beat South Africa with 10 men in the group stage.
Salah then struck in the 124th minute against Benin to settle their last 16 tie, and scored the winner against Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals.
With seven different winners in the past eight editions, will this Afcon deliver more surprises in the closing stages?
- Who has been called up for Afcon 2025?
- Published22 December 2025
Afcon 2025 schedule and kick-off times
Both semi-finals are on Wednesday, 14 January, starting at 17:00 and 20:00 respectively
The third-placed play-off will be on Saturday, 17 January at 16:00, with the final on Sunday, 18 January will kick off at 19:00.
Who is the Afcon 2025 top scorer?
Morocco playmaker Diaz leads the scoring charts after strikes against Comoros, Mali, Zambia, Tanzania and Cameroon.
However, a number of big names are chasing the 26-year-old.
5 goals: Brahim Diaz (Morocco)
4 goals: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria), Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
3 goals: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria), Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco), Lassine Sinayoko (Mali), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)
Afcon 2025 venues: Where is it being played?
Morocco has pumped vast sums of money into renovating stadiums to host Afcon 2025 while also preparing to co-host the 2030 Fifa World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
Nine stadiums are being used in six host cities, with four venues in the capital Rabat.
- Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (capacity 69,500)
- Olympic Stadium, Rabat (capacity 21,000)
- Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat (capacity 22,000)
- Stade El Barid, Rabat (capacity 18,000)
- Grand Stade d’Agadir, Agadir (capacity 45,480)
- Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes (capacity 45,000)
- Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech (capacity 45,240)
- Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca (capacity 67,000)
- Grand Stade de Tangier, Tangier (capacity 75,600)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 fixtures
All times GMT
Sunday, 21 December
Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Monday, 22 December
Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia, Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca
Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola, Grand Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech
Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe, Grand Stade d’Agadir, Agadir
Tuesday, 23 December
Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana, Grand Stade de Tangier, Tangier
Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin, Stade El Barid, Rabat
Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania, Complexe Sportif de Fes, Fes
Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda, Olympic Stadium, Rabat
Wednesday, 24 December
Group E: Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea, Casablanca
Group E: Algeria 3-0 Sudan, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
Group F: Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique, Marrakech
Group F: Cameroon 1-0 Gabon, Agadir
Friday, 26 December
Group B: Angola 1-1 Zimbabwe, Marrakech
Group B: Egypt 1-0 South Africa, Agadir
Group A: Zambia 0-0 Comoros, Casablanca
Group A: Morocco 1-1 Mali, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Saturday, 27 December
Group D: Benin 1-0 Botswana, Olympic Stadium
Group D: Senegal 1-1 DR Congo, Tangier
Group C: Uganda 1-1 Tanzania, Stade El Barid
Group C: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia, Fes
Sunday, 28 December
Group F: Gabon 2-3 Mozambique, Agadir
Group E: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Sudan, Casablanca
Group E: Algeria 1-0 Burkina Faso, Moulay El Hassan Stadium
Group F: Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon, Marrakech
Monday, 29 December
Group B: Angola 0-0 Egypt, Agadir
Group B: Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa, Marrakech
Group A: Comoros 0-0 Mali, Casablanca
Group A: Zambia 0-3 Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Tuesday, 30 December
Group C: Tanzania 1-1 Tunisia, Olympic Stadium
Group C: Uganda 1-3 Nigeria, Fes
Group D: Benin 0-3 Senegal, Tangier
Group D: Botswana 0-3 DR Congo, Stade El Barid
Wednesday, 31 December
Group E: Equatorial Guinea 1-3 Algeria, Moulay El Hassan Stadium
Group E: Sudan 0-2 Burkina Faso, Casablanca
Group F: Gabon 2-3 Ivory Coast, Marrakech
Group F: Mozambique 1-2 Cameroon, Agadir
Afcon 2025 second round schedule
Saturday, 3 January
SR1: Senegal 3-1 Sudan, Tangier
SR2: Mali 1-1 Tunisia (AET, 3-2 on pens), Casablanca
Sunday, 4 January
SR3: Morocco 1-0 Tanzania, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
SR4: South Africa 1-2 Cameroon, Stade El Barid
Monday, 5 January
SR5: Egypt 3-1 Benin (AET), Agadir
SR6: Nigeria 4-0 Mozambique, Fes
Tuesday, 6 January
SR7: Algeria 1-0 DR Congo (AET), Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat (16:00)
SR8: Ivory Coast 3-0 Burkina Faso, Marrakech
Afcon 2025 quarter-finals
Friday, 9 January
QF1: Mali 0-1 Senegal, Tangier
QF2: Cameroon 0-2 Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (19:00)
Saturday, 10 January
QF3: Algeria 0-2 Nigeria, Marrakech (16:00)
QF4: Egypt 3-2 Ivory Coast, Agadir (19:00)
Semi-finals
Wednesday, 14 January
SF1: Senegal vs Egypt, Tangier (17:00)
SF2: Morocco vs Nigeria, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (20:00)
Third place play-off
Saturday, 17 January
SF1 vs SF2 losers, Casablanca (16:00)
Afcon 2025 final
Sunday, 18 January
SF1 vs SF2 winners, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat (19:00)
source:BBC NEWS