With just 16 teams left standing at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the tournament has entered its most decisive phase. For the first time, AFCON is being staged in December, and while the competition has delivered moments of brilliance, drama and debate, one thing has stood out clearly — the big teams have avoided disaster.

Unlike previous editions known for shock exits, traditional powerhouses such as Nigeria, Egypt, Senegal, Algeria and hosts Morocco all navigated their way safely into the knockout rounds. According to football analyst and podcaster Clinton McDubus, this trend reflects a shift in mentality rather than a lack of competitiveness.

“AFCON has been great in terms of quality, just like the last tournament in Côte d’Ivoire,” McDubus told DAILY POST. “The difference this time is the absence of major upsets, which shows the bigger teams now understand they can’t afford complacency.”

He added that while the gap between Africa’s elite and emerging nations is narrowing, experience and tactical discipline have made the difference. Players like Azzedine Ounahi, Brahim Diaz, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Maza and Ernan have stood out as the tournament’s early stars.

However, McDubus highlighted a recurring concern — poor stadium attendance. “It affects the atmosphere. It’s not a football issue alone; it goes beyond the sport and remains difficult to solve,” he noted.

Blockbuster Fixtures Ahead

With most heavyweights still in contention, the Round of 16 is shaping up to deliver mouth-watering clashes. While Senegal and Morocco appear to have relatively favourable matchups, the fixture that has caught the eye of many pundits is South Africa versus Cameroon.

“I’m predicting South Africa vs Cameroon to be the game of the round,” McDubus said. “South Africa can be impressive, but Cameroon are never a team you write off. Despite internal issues and missing key players, they remain formidable. It’ll be a tight tactical battle, decided by fine margins.”

Nigeria in Focus

For Nigerian fans, attention firmly shifts to Monday’s last-16 clash against Mozambique. The Super Eagles are the only team to win all three of their group games, a feat that has raised expectations back home.

“Mozambique are fearless and daring,” McDubus warned. “They’ve troubled every opponent they’ve faced. But defensively, they have weaknesses Nigeria can exploit.”

He believes Eric Chelle’s side are built to adapt and dominate. “Nigeria are very good at matching their opponents. I expect a dominant performance that forces Mozambique into surrender. A semi-final place is very achievable.”

Looking further ahead, a potential showdown with hosts Morocco looms, but McDubus remains confident. “Morocco don’t scare me. They haven’t looked as impressive as their winning streak suggested. This Nigerian team is underrated, and they have a genuine chance of winning the trophy.”

Opinion: AFCON 2025 may not have delivered early shocks, but that only sets the stage for a thrilling knockout phase. With experience meeting ambition and tactics clashing with raw talent, the tournament now feels primed for unforgettable nights. For Nigeria, the pieces finally seem to be falling into place — but as AFCON history has taught us, nothing is guaranteed until the final whistle.