The curtain has fallen on the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, after a series of intense, competitive and exciting football matches that saw four of the continent’s top teams qualify for the semi-finals, in an edition that once again highlights the competitiveness and rivalry that characterise African football.
The quarter-finals were full of decisive moments, with Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria and Egypt succeeding in imposing their personalities and securing their places in the semi-finals, setting up some exciting fixtures. amid great public anticipation for heavyweight clashes on the road to the final and the continental title.
Africa Cup of Nations: the quarter-finals
Senegal 1–0 Mali
The Senegalese team dominated the Africa Cup of Nations match thanks to the experience of its players and their defensive organisation, with Eliman Ndiaye scoring the winning goal in the first half from a defensive error by Mali. Mali tried to come back, but the sending off of their player Bissouma before the end of the first half hampered any attempt to put pressure on Senegal, who calmly and steadily secured their place in the final.
Morocco 2–0 Cameroon
In a match in which the hosts put in an impressive performance, Brahim Diaz opened the scoring early on and Ismail Sabari added a second goal in the second half. Morocco dominated possession and put constant pressure on the Cameroonian defence, which was unable to create any real danger, allowing the hosts to advance to the semi-finals with great confidence in front of their fans.
Nigeria 2–0 Algeria
Nigeria dominated Algeria’s midfield from the opening whistle and took the lead through Victor Osimhen before Akor Adams doubled the score in the second half after a well-organised counterattack. Algeria tried unsuccessfully to get back into the game, and Nigeria sealed the victory thanks to their attacking efficiency and tactical discipline.
Egypt 3–2 Côte d’Ivoire
The Africa Cup of Nations match between Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire was one of the most fiercely contested quarter-finals, with an exchange of attacks and exciting goals. Egypt took an early lead with a goal from Omar Marmoush, and Rami Rabia added a second before Côte d’Ivoire reduced the deficit. In the second half, Mohamed Salah scored the third goal to seal Egypt’s qualification, while Côte d’Ivoire’s second goal came too late to change the outcome of the match.
Semi-finals: elite clashes
Senegal vs Egypt
An exciting Africa Cup of Nations clash between former African champions Senegal and Egypt, who are aiming for the final. Senegal relies on the experience and dynamism of its players in midfield and attack, while Egypt relies on Mohamed Salah’s speed and counter-attacking instincts to break through the Senegalese defence. A balanced tactical match will be decided by decisive moments and individual opportunities.
Morocco vs Nigeria
Morocco will play the match on home turf with tremendous fan support, while Nigeria will seek to utilise its speed on the counterattack and the effectiveness of Osimhen and Adams. The match promises to be tactically diverse, with control of the midfield and pressure on the defences being the keys to victory.
- Semi-final dates: Wednesday, 14 January 2026
- Final date: Sunday, 18 January 2026
African tournaments remain a constant source of excitement, and the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations promise top-level clashes between the continent’s giants on the road to a new title.
By Alaa Shamali
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