India, Jan. 2 -- TANGIER, Morocco, January 2, 2026 - Today marks the start of the crucial knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with 16 teams vying for the continental football championship in the Round of 16.Senegal vs.Sudan at the Ibn Batouta Stadium is the first of several high-stakes games among Africa's best players.

The 16 teams advancing from the group stage are Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Tunisia, DR Congo, Benin, Mali, and Tanzania. Stars like Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) are still there, while notable players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) and Patson Daka (Zambia) were eliminated.

The knockout matches ru...