“This is where it ends” — Sunday Oliseh warns as AFCON 2025 heads into blockbuster quarter-finals

Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has weighed in on the narrative surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Soccernet.ng reports.

He backed the view that the tournament has so far gone largely according to script but warned that the real drama is about to begin.

The AFCON winner with Nigeria in 1994 reacted to an X post by BBC Sport broadcaster John Bennett, who observed that the competition has produced no major shocks heading into the quarter-final stage.

Quoting Bennett’s analysis, Oliseh made a clear hint that the knockout rounds could finally deliver the unpredictability AFCON is known for.

“Spot on. So far, no huge surprises yet! But this is where it ends!” he wrote.

Spot On . So far no huge surprises yet! But this is where it ends! https://t.co/DWWFihNuZc

— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) January 7, 2026

No shocks so far as AFCON heavyweights dominate

Bennett’s post drew attention to the composition of the last eight teams, noting that they all emerged from the tournament’s top two seeding pots used for the group-stage draw.

Pot 1, which featured Africa’s highest-ranked sides and hosts, included Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, and defending champions Ivory Coast. Pot 2 comprised Cameroon, Mali, Tunisia, South Africa, DR Congo, and Burkina Faso.

As it stands, the quarter-finals feature all six Pot 1 teams alongside Cameroon and Mali, widely regarded as the strongest sides from Pot 2.

The outcome, Bennett argued, is a “heavyweight last eight” with no traditional underdogs.

AFCON 2025, hosted by Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, features 24 teams across six groups.

While previous editions often delivered early surprises, this year’s competition has seen the continent’s traditional powerhouses navigate the group and round-of-16 stages successfully.

AFCON 2025 blockbuster quarter-finals set to test reputations

That trend sets up a mouth-watering quarter-final line-up, where reputations will be tested, and margins are expected to be razor-thin.

Quarter-final fixtures (WAT):

Mali vs Senegal – January 9, 5:00 PM, Grand Stade de Tanger (Tangier)

Cameroon vs Morocco – January 9, 9:00 PM, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (Rabat)

Nigeria vs Algeria – January 10, 5:00 PM, Stade de Marrakech (Ouahat Sidi Brahim)

Egypt vs Ivory Coast – January 10, 8:00 PM, Stade Adrar (Agadir)

Oliseh’s warning may prove timely as Africa’s biggest football nations are set to clash. If the group stages were soft, the quarter-finals will definitely display the first real shocks of AFCON 2025.