The 2025 Africa Cup of Nation, is in full swing, with the group stages set to be wrapped up tonight and attention already beginning to turn towards the knockout rounds.
Nigeria have already secured top spot in Group C, thanks to winning all three group stage fixtures, and in this article, we will be taking a look at the Super Eagles’ potential route through the knockout rounds to the AFCON final on January 18, 2026.
Who impressed you the most in yesterday's win over Uganda?! ? pic.twitter.com/BMaXTNHmNr
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Round of 16
The top two teams from each group, plus the three best third-placed nations from the group stage, make up the 16 sides that enter the knockout rounds.
For some of the nations that placed first in their respective groups, they will face sides that managed to qualify for the knockout rounds as one of the three best third-placed teams, and fortunately for Nigeria, they will be playing one of these third-placed nations.
Nigeria, who won Group C with nine points from nine available, are set to face the third-placed team from Group F, meaning they could face either Mozambique or Cameroon – with Group F still yet to be finalised.
Quarter-final
In the case of a Nigeria victory in the round of 16, the Super Eagles would face up against the winners of the round of 16 clash between Algeria, who won Group E, and DR Congo, who placed second in Group D.
Semi-final
Moving forward, Nigeria would face up against the winners of quarter-final two, which would see the winners of Morocco vs Tanzania in the round of 16 take on the winners of South Africa vs the Group F runners up – which could be any of Ivory Coast, Mozambique or Cameroon.
"I want them in the final so we beat them AGAIN!" ?
— Bet9ja: The home of #betBOOM! ? (@Bet9jaOfficial) December 31, 2025
How the @NGSuperEagles (and others) reacted to yesterday's win over Uganda! #LetsDoItAgain pic.twitter.com/ZZXQjb9Mug
Final
Finally, if Nigeria manage to book their place in the AFCON final in Rabat on January 18, the Super Eagles would match up against a team on the opposite side of the bracket.
As a result, the Super Eagles could match up against any of Senegal, the Group E third-placed finishers (which could be either Burkina Faso or Sudan), Mali, Tunisia, Egypt, Benin and the winners of Group F (which could be Ivory Coast, Cameroon or Mozambique) and the Group E runners-up (which could be either Burkina Faso or Sudan).
