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January 2, 2026
Africa Cup of Nations: tie-by-tie analysis of the last-16 matches
After a group stage that delivered an average of 3.6 goals a game we look at the match-ups in Morocco that start on Saturday
TL;DR
- The Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage begins Saturday.
- Senegal, winners in 2022, are favored against Sudan, who qualified despite war.
- Mali faces Tunisia in a highly anticipated match, with Mali showing more depth.
- Host nation Morocco plays Tanzania, expected to be an easier game for the hosts.
- South Africa's coach Hugo Broos faces his former team Cameroon, in a closely contested match.
- Egypt is expected to have an easy game against Benin, but Benin is ready for a challenge.
- Nigeria, with a strong strike force, is favored against Mozambique.
- Algeria and DR Congo face off in a tactical battle.
- Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire take on Burkina Faso in a close contest between neighboring countries.
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