Top stars set for AFCON last 16 knockout battles
A host of football stars, including Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah, and Victor Osimhen, are leading their teams into the Africa Cup of Nations knockout phase in Morocco. The competition features 16 teams who advanced after 36 group matches. Fans can expect exciting clashes as top talents face off for a spot in the quarter-finals and a shot at a record $10 million prize. Several high-profile matchups and standout players are set to define the next round.
Match highlights
- Achraf Hakimi was crowned African player of the year in November, with Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen as runners-up.
- Title favourites Morocco, led by fit-again Hakimi, face Tanzania, while Salah captains Egypt against Benin and Osimhen leads Nigeria against Mozambique.
- Senegal, featuring Sadio Mane and 17-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye, topped Group D and will play Sudan, who advanced despite not scoring any goals themselves.
- South Africa and Cameroon meet again after their historic clash 30 years ago, with young talents like Christian Kofane and Lyle Foster in the spotlight.
- Other key matchups include Mali vs Tunisia, Algeria vs DR Congo, and Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso, with several teams boasting in-form stars and strong defences.
