West African rivals Mali and Senegal face off this Friday in Tangier in what is undoubtedly the most anticipated quarter-final of the tournament.
The Lions of Teranga continue their march toward a second title, while the Eagles of Mali enter the last eight after a heroic defensive display that has captured the continent’s imagination.
Senegal reached this stage with a clinical 3-1 victory over Sudan. Mali’s path was far more dramatic; they eliminated Tunisia in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout in Casablanca, having played with ten men for nearly 100 minutes after a 26th-minute red card.
It’s closing in. Now down to eight. 🏆
Who makes the semi-finals?#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | @1xBet_Eng pic.twitter.com/FwqPHPEVUT
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 6, 2026
Match details: Time and venue
The Quarter-Final double-header kicks off in the north of Morocco at the Grand Stade de Tanger, where Senegal has played all their matches so far, effectively making it their home ground.
- Date: Friday, 9 January 2026
- Kick-off: 16:00 GMT (17:00 local time)
- Venue: Ibn Batouta Stadium (Grand Stade de Tanger), Tangier
AFCON 2025: Schedule, results and standings of the Africa Cup of Nations
Where to watch the game globally
The 2025 edition of AFCON has reached the final eight. Fans can follow this massive derby through the following major providers:
- UK: Channel 4 (Free-to-air) on 4Seven and the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel.
- USA & Canada: beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español. Streaming via Fubo, Sling TV, and Fanatiz.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport (English/Portuguese) and Canal+ Afrique (French).
- Senegal: RTS (Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise).
- Mali: ORTM (Office de Radiodiffusion-Télévision du Mali).
- Australia & NZ: beIN SPORTS CONNECT.
Team news
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has been the tactical mastermind of the tournament. The Lions are led by the clinical Nicolas Jackson, who has three goals to his name, and 17-year-old breakout star Ibrahim Mbaye, who scored the sealer against Sudan. Captain Kalidou Koulibaly anchors a defense that has conceded only twice in four games.
Mali, under Tom Saintfiet, will be forced to reshuffle their defense as right-back Woyo Coulibaly is suspended following his red card against Tunisia. However, the Eagles have found a hero in goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, who made two vital saves in the shootout. Yves Bissouma remains the heartbeat of the midfield, while Lassine Sinayoko is the primary threat upfront.
Rivalry of survival
History heavily favors the defending champions. Senegal is unbeaten in their last 13 encounters against Mali, a streak dating back to 1997.
However, Mali showed incredible spirit to survive the Round of 16, and they remain the only non-former champion left in the competition.
Tom Saintfiet believes his team’s siege mentality is their greatest weapon:
“After playing with ten men for over an hour and winning, my players feel they can achieve anything,” Saintfiet said. “Senegal has the stars, but we have the soul of a team that refuses to die.”
Quarter-finals: Friday fixtures
| Match | Venue | Time (GMT) |
| Mali vs Senegal | Tangier | 16:00 |
| Cameroon vs Morocco | Rabat | 19:00 |
