AFCON 2025 Preview: Senegal face Sudan, Mali take on Tunisia in Round of 16

The knockout stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 kicks off with two big clashes in the AFCON matches today lineup:

Senegal vs Sudan | 18:00 CAT

Senegal, unbeaten Group D winners, face Sudan, who finished third in Group E, in the Round of 16 at the Grande Stade de Tangier on 3 January (17h00 local / 16h00 GMT).

This is their first AFCON meeting, but history favours Senegal. In seven previous clashes, the Teranga Lions are undefeated (W4 D3), scoring eight goals and conceding just one. Four of those encounters came in 2025, including World Cup qualifiers where Senegal won 2–0 at home after a goalless draw away.

Senegal have a strong record against East African sides at AFCON: six matches, five wins, one draw, 15 goals scored, one conceded. Sudan, meanwhile, have struggled against West African opposition, losing their last two such encounters.

Head-to-head:
Senegal – P7 W4 D3 L0 GF8 GA1
Sudan – P7 W0 D3 L4 GF1 GA8

Mali vs Tunisia | 21:00 CAT

Mali and Tunisia clash in the Round of 16 at Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca on Saturday, 3 January (20h00 local / 19h00 GMT) after finishing runners-up in Groups A and C respectively.

This will be their 16th meeting overall (Tunisia W7, Mali W5, D3) and their fifth AFCON encounter but the first in the knockout stage. Mali remain unbeaten against Tunisia at AFCON (W2 D2), with all previous meetings coming in the group phase.

The sides have met at four consecutive AFCON tournaments (2019, 2021, 2023, 2025). Mali won in 1994 (2–0) and 2021 (1–0), while the other two ended 1–1. Mali have scored first in all four AFCON clashes and netted five goals to Tunisia’s two.

Head-to-head:
Overall – Tunisia: P15 W7 D3 L5 GF13 GA11 | Mali: P15 W5 D3 L7 GF11 GA13
AFCON – Tunisia: P4 W0 D2 L2 GF2 GA5 | Mali: P4 W2 D2 L0 GF5 GA2