The Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal lineup is completed

By: The Associated Press Posted: 5:42 PM CST Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — And then there were eight.

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RABAT, Morocco (AP) — And then there were eight.

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This article was published 06/01/2026 (264 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — And then there were eight.

The Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal lineup was finalized Tuesday with Algeria and defending champion Ivory Coast booking the last places.

Algeria needed a brilliant strike from Adil Boulbina at the end of extra time to beat Congo 1-0, and Amad Diallo and Yan Diomande both scored and set up each other’s goals as Ivory Coast progressed with a 3-0 win over Burkina Faso. Bazoumana Touré sealed the Elephants’ win.

Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

The defending champion next faces Egypt in Agadir in the last quarterfinal on Saturday, after Algeria plays Nigeria in Marrakech.

Mali faces 2021 winner Senegal in the first quarterfinal in Tangier on Friday, before host nation Morocco entertains five-time winner Cameroon in Rabat’s near 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where the winner will also play the semifinal and final on Jan. 18 if it progresses that far.

The winner of Morocco’s quarterfinal against Cameroon will face the winner of Algeria vs. Nigeria on Jan. 14.

The other semifinal — between the winners of Mali vs. Senegal and Egypt vs. Ivory Coast — will be played on the same day earlier in Tangier.