Nigeria, Dec. 26 -- The second round of group-stage matches at the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is set to push the tournament beyond early promise and into true competitive intensity, as pedigree, pressure and psychology begin to outweigh opening-day momentum.

After a first round that delivered 29 goals across 12 matches, alongside six clean sheets, AFCON has already shown its familiar balance between attacking ambition and defensive discipline. Now, with margins tightening and qualification equations beginning to form, the next set of fixtures could separate genuine contenders from early pretenders.

From historic rivalries to heavyweight clashes involving Africa's most decorated nations, the coming days promise to shape the narra...