Following an action-packed AFCON group stage that saw top teams like Tunisia, Algeria, and Ghana take untimely trips back to their home soils, the knockout stage is underway. Sixteen African nations will participate in the first phase of the AFCON knockout stages.
This comes after the addition of the four best losers to the twelve teams who took first and second positions in their respective groups. Hosts, Ivory Coast, alongside Namibia, Guinea, and Mauritania, were able to sneak into the knockout phase as the best losers.
AFCON Knockout Stages Results So Far…
Angola 3:0 Namibia
Nigeria 2:0 Cameroon
REVIEWS
Angola 3:0 Cameroon
Thanks to a brace from Gelson Dala, Angola was able to dust off a discouraging setback earlier in the game. Angolan goalkeeper, Neblu, was sent off in the 17th minute for handling a shot outside the box. But Dala wasn’t going to experience any discouragement from that, tapping in the ball to give his side a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute.
Two minutes after his goal, Namibian defender, Haukongo was sent off after his second booking of the game, ensuring both sides maintain the same number of men on the pitch. Two minutes after his dismissal, Dala scored again, powerfully heading home Fredy’s freekick. Midway through the second half, a swift counterattack from the Angolan found Mabululu, who did justice to the opportunity by giving his team the neatest of finishes to set up their quarter-final clash against Nigeria on Friday.
Nigeria 2:0 Cameroon
An age-long, household fixture in AFCON, popular for its competitiveness and the strength of both teams, ended on a sad note for the Cameroonians. Ademola Lookman was the man of the day for the Nigerians, netting both goals to see Nigeria through to the next round.
A threatening press from Victor Osimhen forced a mistake from a Cameroonian defender that culminated in Osimhen sending a fine pass to Lookman, who in turn sent it under the keeper’s arms to give Nigeria the lead. That was just after the half-hour mark. Just towards the end of the game, one minute to stoppage time, Lookman finishes a cross from the left-hand side brilliantly to double Nigeria’s lead and send the fans into endless jubilations. Nigeria face Angola on Friday, 2nd February, in their quarterfinal fixture.
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AFCON Knockout Stages Fixtures
SUNDAY, 28TH JANUARY, 2024
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea 18:00
Egypt vs DR Congo
MONDAY, 29TH JANUARY, 2024
Cape Verde vs Mauritania 18:00
Senegal vs Ivory Coast 21:00
TUESDAY, 30TH JANUARY, 2024
Mali vs Burkina Faso 18:00
Morocco vs South Africa 21:00
AFCON Knockout Stages Previews
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea
Equatorial Guinea has been a surprisingly outstanding team so far, and expectations are on them to continue what’s been an impeccable tournament for them. After defeating the hosts 4-0 and being the only team to score four goals in more than one game in the group stage, it’s easily expected that they make it through to the next round. Guinea, on the other hand, qualified as one of the best losers after losing their last group game to defending champions, Senegal. Though it’s expected that they put up a fight, all eyes are on Equatorial Guinea to steal the win.
Prediction: Equatorial Guinea 2:1 Guinea
Egypt vs DR Congo
Both teams haven’t had the best of games this time, both drawing all of their games so far in the competition and qualifying to the knockout phase with 3 points each. Fingers are crossed and eyes are fixed to see who comes out on top in the game of the AFCON draw kings. All it takes to win such games is one moment and we hope any of them finds this moment. However, a draw, again, is the likeliest outcome.
Prediction: Egypt 1-1 DR Congo (Egypt win on penalties)
