Afcon 2025: It’s knockout time

A star-studded cast led by Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen switch to knockout fare from Saturday, when the Africa Cup of Nations resumes in Morocco. After 36 matches spread across six groups, the 16 survivors from 24 hopefuls clash in eight second-round matches over four days. Fit-again Hakimi is set to lead title favourites Morocco against Tanzania, Salah will captain Egypt against Benin and Osimhen-inspired Nigeria tackle Mozambique.The BBC’s John Bennett is joined by African football expert Maher Mezahi and the former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani to look ahead to the last 16.

Delyth Lloyd is joined by Mani Djazmi, former Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker and former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong to reflect on Nigeria's dramatic 3-2 victory over Tunisia in their second Group C match in Fez.Troost-Ekong provides insight on leading the Super Eagles to the AFCON final in 2024 and gives us the inside track on "fearless" Victor Osimhen and his role as a leader in the Nigeria dressing room after a tough upbringing in Lagos.BBC Sport Africa's Rob Stevens also joins the pod from Tangier to reflect on Senegal's 1-1 draw with DR Congo and discuss whether either nation can challenge for the title.Timecodes:01:37 - Has the first week of the AFCON lived up to the expectations 04:40 - Nigeria fans react to 3-2 win over Tunisia 05:43 - Thoughts on Nigeria's win over Tunisia 09:05 - Focus on Nigeria's attacking firepower 10:59 - Victor Osimhen chat 18:17 - Will Nigeria rest players against Uganda? 19:14 - Tunisia favourites to join Nigeria from Group C in the last 16? 20:34 - Rob Stevens joins the pod to reflect on Senegal v DR Congo 22:37 - Can Senegal or DR Congo challenge for the title? 25:29 - Benin claim their first AFCON win 26:35 - Is this AFCON lacking the 'vibes'? 32:13 - Predictions after the first week

In this episode Moroccan football journalist Amine El Amri, the BBC’s John Bennett and the former DR Congo captain Gabriel Zakuani discuss the opening week of the tournament. Including Gab’s reaction to his teams draw against Senegal, Benin’s first ever Afcon win at the sixteenth attempt and an injury update on Morocco’s inspirational captain Achraf Hakimi, who missed their opening win against Comoros.

Lee James is joined by John Bennett, former Nigeria international Seyi Olofinjana and former South Africa captain Dean Furman to reflect on Nigeria's 2-1 victory over Tanzania in their opening Group C match in Fez.The panel also discuss whether talisman Victor Osimhen's histrionics overshadowed Nigeria's win and which of the big teams have impressed so far in the tournament.Timecodes:00:44 - Initial reflections on Nigeria's 2-1 win over Tanzania 04:51 - Thoughts on Victor Osimhen's performance 07:55 - Can Nigeria go all the way based on win over Tanzania? 10:18 - Encouraging performance from Tanzania 10:50 - Which big teams have impressed so far at the Afcon? 13:17 - South Africa v Egypt preview

Can Morocco justify their tag as favourites on home soil? Could Mohamed Salah win an elusive title with Egypt? Can Nigeria bounce back from World Cup playoff disappointment? Could Riyad Mahrez and Sadio Mane be key for Algeria and Senegal? Or can Ivory Coast make it back to back titles?Former South Africa captain Dean Furman and the former Sierra Leone captain Steven Caulker joins Lee James and John Bennett to preview the tournament to answer these questions and more in our Africa Cup of Nations preview.They discuss who could go well at the African Cup of Nations, who could cause an upset and which players could shine at the tournament.Timecodes:04:45 - Interview with Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat 07:30 - Can Morocco win as favourites? 11:00 - Interview with former Zambia forward Kalusha Bwalya 15:25 - Will talk around Mohamed Salah be a distraction for Egypt? 18:00 - Are South Africa good enough to win? 23:00 - Interview with Nigeria’s Frank Onyeka 24:45 - Does Victor Osimhen need to prove he is one of the best players in Africa? 27:50 - Interview with former Tunisia captain Radhi Jaidi 31:10 - Senegal focus 33:30 - DR Congo focus 36:00 - Algeria focus 39:25 - Interview with Sudan’s Abo Eisa 40:30 - Ivory Coast focus 43:05 - Cameroon focus 45:50 - Prediction time - players of the tournament, surprise team and winnersGROUPSGroup A - Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros Group B - Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe Group C - Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania Group D - Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana Group E - Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equitorial Guinea, Sudan Group F - Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique

World Football's Isaac Fanin and Mani Djazmi are joined by the former Liverpool defender Steven Caulker to discuss whether Mo Salah still has a future at Liverpool, following comments suggesting he's fallen out with manager Arne Slot and might be looking to leave Anfield.

27 years after their last World Cup, Norway’s men have finally qualified for another one. With Erling Haaland, who scored 16 goals in eight qualifying matches, and a team that ran in 37 goals during the campaign, should the rest of the world be worried?Former Norway goalkeeper Erik Thorstvedt and journalist Lars Sivertsen join Mani Djazmi to discuss the team’s strengths and weaknesses.Photo: Staale Solbakken, Head Coach of Norway, is lifted into the air by players of Norway as they celebrate victory following the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Credit: Getty Images)

The club versus country row often causes friction, but midfielder Soren Lerby once found a way to satisfy both.He played for Denmark and Bayern Munich on the same day. In different countries.On the afternoon of 13 November 1984 - exactly 40 years ago - Lerby lined up for his national team in Dublin for their final qualifier for the 1986 World Cup.Bayern, meanwhile, had a last-16 German Cup match at Bochum later that evening.Photo: Soren Lerby of Denmark in may 1986 (Credit: VI Images via Getty Images)

Bayern Munich have yet to lose this season in the Bundesliga and the Champions League. The Bavarian club did show signs of vulnerability when they drew 2-2 draw at Union Berlin, which ended their 16-game winning streak from the start of the campaign. The result meant Bayern fell one game short of matching its Bundesliga-record 10-game winning start to the league from 2015. So are they the best team in Europe? Away from Germany, Dutch giants Ajax have sacked manager John Heitinga less than six months after he joined the club from Liverpool. Heitinga have won just five of his 11 Eredivisie matches in charge and the club have lost all four of their Champions League matches this season, including a 3-0 home defeat to Galatasaray on Wednesday. What is going wrong at Ajax.John Bennett is joined by German football writer Constantin Eckner, Dutch football reporter Arthur Renard, the BBC's Mike McCarthy and World Football's Mani Djazmi. (Image: Bayern Munich celebrating, Credit: Getty Images)

Mjallby, a team from a tiny fishing village, are about to become champions of Sweden for the first time.It’s one of the biggest shocks in recent European football history, and defender Tom Pettersson has been telling World Football’s Mani Djazmi how it’s happened.Image: Mjallby's Tom Pettersson against Djurgarden's Haris Radetinac during an Allsvenskan match between Djurgardens IF and Mjallby AIF at Tele2 Arena on May 21, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)