The quarter-final stage of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) begins on Friday, January 9, 2026, with eight teams battling for places in the semi-finals of the tournament.

The action on January 9 will see Mali take on Senegal at 4:00 pm, followed by a highly anticipated clash between Cameroon and Morocco at 7:00 pm.

The quarter-final matches will continue on Saturday, January 10, 2026, with Algeria facing Nigeria at 4:00 pm, before the defending champions Ivory Coast lock horns with Egypt at 7:00 pm.

The last-eight line-up features a mix of former champions and strong contenders, underlining the quality and competitiveness of this year’s competition.

Football analysts believe the matches will be closely fought, with fine margins likely to separate the teams as the tournament moves into its decisive phase.

Fans across the continent are expected to follow the games closely as the race for the AFCON trophy heats up.

The winners of the quarter-final matches will advance to the semi-finals of the competition.