The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations belonged to the underdogs, with the likes of Cape Verde, Angola, Guinea, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo shining. In the 2025 edition, order has been restored with heavyweights such as Egypt, Cameroon, Morocco, Algeria and Senegal vying for overall success. The quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Africa’s premier soccer competition, are set to deliver some electric battles between several of the continent’s powerhouses.
All four encounters could easily be finals, with seven of the contenders being former African champions. Only Mali, who face 2021 champions Senegal in the last eight, have never lifted the coveted continental trophy. The two West African nations will battle each other on Friday, 9 January, in what is the curtain-raising quarterfinal.
The match begins at 6pm South African time. Boasting some of the best African players of their generation, such as former Liverpool star Sadio Mané and former Napoli captain Kalidou Koulibaly, the Senegalese will be overwhelming favourites to best their neighbours. Even though they have only clashed once at Afcon before (during a match that ended in a 1-1 draw during the 2004 group stages) the teams are not strangers.
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They have played 40 times before. In those clashes, the Senegalese enjoy bragging rights with 19 victories to Mali’s eight. The other 13 matches ended in stalemates.
Senegal dumped out Sudan with a 3-1 thrashing to reach the last eight, while the Malians showed why they are one of the most respected sides on the African continent with a 3-2 penalty victory over former champions Tunisia. This was despite the fact that they spent the majority of that round of 16 match with 10 men after Woyo Coulibaly was sent off. The road will not become any easier for the team that wins that West African derby.
The victorious side in the clash will have to confront either seven-time Afcon champions Egypt, or reigning kings of Africa, Ivory Coast. The Pharaohs and the Elephants will close off the quarterfinals with the tastiest clash of this star-studded quarterfinal buffet when they do battle on Saturday at 9pm. It will be the 22nd meeting between the two giants of African soccer.
From previous clashes, Egypt boast the bragging rights. The North Africans have won 11 times to Ivory Coast’s six successes. Only four matches have ended in stalemates – a clear indication that neither nation will pull its punches on Saturday night.
Record Afcon champions Egypt booked their place in the quarterfinals with a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time victory over Benin, while the Elephants maintained their title defence by beating Burkina Faso 3-0. Senegal talisman Mané says he and his teammates are ready for whoever comes next, be it Egypt or Ivory Coast – if they can navigate past the stubborn Malians, that is.
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