Overview:
A clean - tranquil Casablanca city wooed me with relatively warm weather from the rains I left in Rabat city during the morning hours. The beautifully crafted art pieces painted onto the tall buildings nearby the stadium also mesmerized me.
Following the successful completion of the grueling group stages at the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament, focus and attention switches to the round of 16 level.
Sadly, my Uganda Cranes is not among the 16 countries to progressed after the first phase of matches.
But, anyway, life continues. On Saturday, 3rd January 2026, I woke up very early to prepare for the day’s work.
From my Hay Al Fath residence in Rabat city which is a stone throw away from the main media center near the gigantic Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, I got to the official pre-match press conferences leading to the Morocco and Tanzania clash.
A full packed press conference, the coaches and team captains for the two countries addressed the media.
After the both press-conferences, I rushed out to catch the Train from Raid station to Casaport (Casablanca city) for a journey that lasted for an hour.
From Casaport, I got a 5 minute cab to the Mohamed V stadium in Casablanca, the venue for the Mali against Tunisia clash in the round of 16.
A clean – tranquil Casablanca city wooed me with relatively warm weather from the rains I left in Rabat city during the morning hours.
The beautifully crafted art pieces painted onto the tall buildings nearby the stadium also mesmerized me with the different country flags also erected outside the stadium.
I have had the experience to watch both countries in action; Mali drawing with Morocco (1-1 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium) as well as Tunisia’s 3-1 win over Uganda Cranes at the Olympic stadium.
To make a prediction for this game is a tall order for me given the physicality, technical and tactical prowess of these two countries in the box.
I expect a mouth-watering clash, full of occasional breaks and quick counter-attacking football.
It is the first match in Casablanca city in the virgin new-year (2026) and I am pretty sure residents will turn up in numbers.
Elsewhere, Senegal will play Sudan in Tangier city before Sunday’s mouthwatering duel between hosts Morocco and Tanzania.
Sunday also has South Africa against Cameroon, still in Rabat city.
The thick of action is just boiling up.
The Round of 16 fixtures
Saturday January 3rd, 2026
- Mali Vs Tunisia – Casablanca
- Senegal Vs Sudan – Tangier
Sunday January 4th, 2026
- Morocco Vs Tanzania – Rabat
- South Africa Vs Cameroon – Rabat
Monday January 5th, 2026
- Egypt Vs Benin – Agadir
- Nigeria Vs Mozambique – Fez
Tuesday January 6th, 2026
- Algeria Vs DR Congo – Rabat
- Ivory Coast Vs Burkina Faso – Agadir