Monday Jan 05, 2026. 20:27
Join AfricanFootball.com for LIVE updates from all 52 matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, as 24 teams battle for glory in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January.
Today’s matches:
18h00 – Egypt v Benin – Match Centre
21h00 – Nigeria v Mozambique – Match Centre
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Updates:
112’ – Benin have an opportunity from a free kick but Tijani’s shot from a layoff cannot find the target.
20h50 – Nigeria and Mozambique have met in five matches dating back as far as 1999. The Super Eagles boast an unbeaten record (four wins, one draw) and claimed a 3-2 triumph in the teams’ most recent meeting, an international friendly in Albufeira (Portugal) in October 2023.
20h45 – Nigeria have made eight changes compared to their 3-1 win over Uganda last Tuesday. Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi and Victor Osimhen retain their places in the starting XI, while Stanley Nwabali, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams come in.
Mozambique have also made eight changes compared to their 2-1 loss to Cameroon last Wednesday. Diogo Calila, Geny Catamo and Elias Pelembe are retained as starters, while Ernan Siluane, Mexer, Reinildo Mandava, Bruno Langa, Guima, Alfons Amade, Witi and Faisal Bangal come into the XI.
20h40 – Line-ups:
Nigeria: S. Nwabali, B. Osayi-Samuel, S. Ajayi, C. Bassey, B. Onyemaechi, F. Onyeka, W. Ndidi, A. Iwobi, A. Lookman, V. Osimhen, A. Adams
Mozambique: E. Siluane, D. Calila, Mexer, Mandava, B. Langa, Guima, A. Amade, G. Catamo, E. Pelembe, Witi, F. Bangal
20h35 – Nigeria earned their place in this round by topping Group C with a 100 percent record, defeating Tanzania (2-1), Tunisia (3-2) and Uganda (3-1).
Mozambique, meanwhile, progressed to the knockout rounds for the first time ever thanks to a third-place finish in Group F.
The Mambas lost to the Ivory Coast (0-1) and Cameroon (1-2), but in between managed a 3-2 triumph over Gabon which was enough to be one of the top-ranked third-place finishers.
20h30 – The Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues with the clash between Nigeria and Mozambique at the Fez Stadium.
106’ – The second half of extra time begins. Benin have 15 minutes to keep their hopes of advancing to the quarter finals alive.
106’ – Extra time half-time: Egypt 2-1 Benin. The Pharaohs have their lead back and are 15 minutes away from advancing as things stand. They will need to ward off Benin’s advances in the coming second half.
97’- GOAL! Egypt 2-1 Benin. Yasser Ibrahim sends a looping header over Dandjinou who, despite his best effort, cannot keep the ball out. The Pharaohs restore their lead.
91’ – Extra time gets underway in Agadir
97’ – Egypt 1-1 Benin. Regulation time comes to an end in Agadir and we are headed for extra time thanks to a late equalizer from the Cheetahs.
83’ – GOAL! Benin equalizes in scrappy fashion as El Shenawy does well to keep out Olaitan’s cross, which came at the goal, but could not get the ball away from his line, allowing Dossou to prod the ball over the line.
80’ – The Cheetahs are throwing all they have at Egypt in the search for an equaliser, which has been unsuccessful so far. 10 minutes of regulation time remain in Agadir.
69’ – GOAL! Egypt takes the lead through a spectacular strike from midfielder Marwan Ateya. Mohamed Hany cuts the ball back from the byline to the edge of the area and Ateya thumps the ball into the top left corner.
64’ – On the other end, The Cheetahs miss an opportunity of their own. Ouorou plays a perfectly weighted ball into the box for Dossou who is denied from close range by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy.
63’ – Zizo plays a dink over the top of Benin’s defence for Salah, whose chip attempt is read perfectly by Dandjinou, who continues to deny Egypt an opener.
55’ – Egypt misses a huge chance to go ahead. The Pharaohs’ corner falls to Rami Rabia in front of goal but his attempt to poke the ball home comes off Dandjinou and is blocked from crossing the line by Tamimou Ouorou.
46’ – Egypt kicks-off to begin the second half in Agadir.
50’ – Half-time: Egypt 0-0 Benin. Both sides have been forced to make changes due to injury. The Pharaohs look the more dangerous of the two sides and have created better chances, however, they have been unable to convert.
45’ – Ahmed Abou El Fotouh replaces Hamdi as five minutes of additional time will be played before the halftime whistle.
41’ – Play is delayed as Mohamed Hamdi is stretchered off after a collision with Rodolfo Aloko, injuring his leg as he lands from an aerial challenge.
32’ – A big loss for the Cheetahs as Aiyegun Tosin is forced off the pitch due to injury. He is replaced by Jodel Dossou.
20’ – The Pharaohs miss another chance to take the lead. Mohamed Hamdi makes a run down the left side of the box, crossing into Salah. The Liverpool forward is swamped by defenders and is unable to finish at the near post.
17’ – Junior Olaitan fires a freekick from distance towards the Egyptian goal, but his effort makes for a routine save for Mohamed El Shenawy.
8’ – Mohamed Salah unleashes Omar Marmoush with a beautiful throughball, but Marmoush fails to beat the rushing Marcel Dandjinou, who does well to stop what should have been an opening goal for the Pharaohs.
1’ – The fifth round of 16 fixtures at the 2025 AFCON is underway as Benin kick-off.
Starting line-ups:
Egypt: M. El Shenawy, M. Hany, Y. Ibrahim, R. Rabia, M. Hamdy, M. Attia, H. Fathy, I. Adel, M. Salah, O. Marmoush, Trézéguet.
Benin: M. Dandjinou, Y. Roche, M. Tijani, O. Verdon, T. Ouorou, H. Imourane, S. D’Almeida, D. Dokou, J. Olaitan, T. Aiyegun, R. Aloko
Egypt, who are competing in the round of 16 for a fourth time, fell at this stage in the last edition in 2023. Benin will be hunting a second victory from open play as they claimed their first in competition history with a 1-0 win over Botswana on matchday two.
One of their previous meetings came at the 2010 AFCON, where the Pharaohs managed a 2-0 win in their group C encounter
The two side have met on four previous occasions, with Egypt claiming three wind and one game ending in a stalemate.
Round of 16 action gets back underway at the 2025 AFCON as Egypt and Benin face off at the Stade Adrar in Agadir.