Morocco's AFCON Final Path: A Potential Maghreb Derby Against Algeria

The Moroccan national team enters the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with growing confidence and high ambitions, setting its sights on reaching the final and strongly competing for the continental title, following an impressive performance in the group stage.

The Atlas Lions successfully secured their passage to the knockout stages by topping Group A with 7 points, after achieving deserved victories against Comoros and Zambia, in addition to a draw against Mali.

In the Round of 16, Morocco will face Tanzania, who qualified as one of the best third-placed teams from Group C. Walid Regragui's men aim to continue their positive run and confirm their readiness to advance further in the tournament.

The match between Morocco and Tanzania is scheduled for Sunday, January 5, 2026, at 5:00 PM, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the capital, Rabat.

Should Morocco overcome Tanzania, they will meet the winner of the strong clash between South Africa and Cameroon in the quarter-finals, signaling a tough test on their quest for the title.

If they reach the semi-finals, their path could lead to heavyweight encounters, notably against the winner of the match between Algeria and DR Congo, as well as the winner of Nigeria versus Mozambique.

This opens the door to a potential heated Maghreb derby between Morocco and Algeria in the semi-finals, emphasizing that the road to the final will not be easy, but rather full of strong challenges until the very last stage.