The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16 comes to an end on January 6, with two high-stakes matches, including the clash between Algeria and Congo, from 7 PM EAT at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
The other match sees the Elephants of Ivory Coast facing off against Burkina Faso at Stade de Marrakech in Marrakech from 10 PM EAT.
Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso
Ivory Coast enters the match seeking a third consecutive quarterfinal appearance, while Burkina Faso aims to repeat its 2021 semifinal run.
The winner will advance to face Egypt in the quarterfinal on January 10 at 10:00 PM in Agadir.
Ivory Coast finished second in Group B with 6 points from two wins and one loss, scoring 5 goals and conceding 3.
Burkina Faso finished second in Group C with 4 points from one win, one draw, and one loss, scoring 3 goals and conceding 3.
Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso have met nine times in AFCON history and qualifiers.
Ivory Coast holds five wins, Burkina Faso has two wins, and there have been two draws.
Their last AFCON meeting was in 2015, ending 2-0 in favor of Ivory Coast.
Also Read: Cost of Hiring Kasarani, Nyayo, Ulinzi and Other Stadiums Across Kenya
The winner of this match will join Nigeria, Egypt, Mali, Senegal, Cameroon, and Morocco in the quarterfinal bracket.
Algeria Vs Congo DR
Algeria approaches the match with much confidence, having qualified from Group E with three wins in three matches.
The fixture is one of the most anticipated encounters of the knockout stage, bringing together two sides with contrasting group-stage performances and a history of competitive rivalry.
The tie is the nations’ first AFCON meeting in 26 years, with Algeria winning 1-0 in 1998 and drawing 0-0 in 2000.
The winner of this knockout clash will advance to meet Nigeria on January 10, following the Super Eagles’ 4-0 victory over Mozambique.
The team scored 7 goals and conceded 1, recording victories against Equatorial Guinea, Angola, and Zambia.
This was Algeria’s first perfect group stage since 2019 and its highest goal tally in the group phase since 1990.
Congo DR advanced as Group D runners-up, finishing behind Senegal. The team collected 5 points from one win and two draws, scoring 4 goals and conceding 3.
Congo DR defeated Guinea-Bissau and drew against Senegal and Tanzania.
Also Read: Meet Crispin “Goj” Odhiambo, Kenyan Draughts Player Ranked Fifth in the World
The side demonstrated attacking depth with four different scorers and ranked among the top five teams for shots on target during the group stage.
Algeria and the DR Congo have met seven times in all competitions.
Algeria has three wins, four draws, and no defeats against Congo DR. The goal tally stands at 10–4 in Algeria’s favor.
The most recent encounter between the two sides was a 1–1 draw in October 2019 during an international friendly.
AFCON 2025 Top Performers
The top goalscorer at AFCON 2025 is Morocco’s Brahim Diaz with four goals, followed by Lassine Sinayoko (Mali), Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco), and Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) each on three goals.
Other players on two goals include Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Nicolas Jackson (Senegal), and Ademola Lookman (Nigeria), among others, leaving the Golden Boot race open as knockout matches progress.
Leading assist providers include Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) and Sadio Mané (Senegal), each with 4 assists, supported by creators like Alex Iwobi (Nigeria) and others on multiple assists.
For AFCON 2025, CAF has not yet publicly disclosed the exact cash prize for the Golden Boot winner, but previous editions have ranged between $10,000–$20,000 (Ksh1,288,500-Ksh2,577,000).
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
