Arab Dream on the Edge: Could AFCON 2025 Deliver the First All-Arab Semifinal?

AFCON 2025 in Morocco could yield an all-Arab semifinal

As the Africa Cup of Nations reaches the end of the group stage in Morocco, the route to the semifinals is becoming clearer by the day.

Five Arab nations have already qualified for the knockout rounds, keeping alive a strong chance to lift a trophy that has eluded Arab teams in the last two editions.

The current edition could mark an unprecedented moment, with four Arab teams potentially reaching the semifinals for the first time in its long history.

In the Round of 16, Tunisia faces Mali, with the winner set to meet the winner of Senegal vs Sudan in the quarterfinals on January 9 at a Tangier venue.

Egypt will take on Benin in the same round, with the winner advancing to play the Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso winner on January 10 in Agadir.

Morocco will face Tanzania next, and then the quarterfinals bring the winner of South Africa vs Cameroon from January 9 in Rabat.

Meanwhile Algeria faces DR Congo in the Round of 16, with the winner meeting Nigeria vs Mozambique in the quarters on January 10 in Marrakech.

Thanks to this layout, a fully Arab semifinal is a real possibility, as there are no direct Arab-vs-Arab quarterfinals except potentially Tunisia vs Sudan, which could open a historic chapter for the tournament.

Punchline 1: If four Arab teams reach the semis, the trophy will be so well guarded that even a sniper would have to blink twice before taking the shot—boom, straight into the net.

Punchline 2: And if humor can win matches, my analysis is so on point it could thread the needle from the corner flag—watch those shots fly true.