By: Levi Ugochukwu
The group stage of the Total Energies African cup of Nations Cote D’ivoire 2023 rounded off on Wednesday night setting up interesting fixtures in the knockout stage and prominent among which is Nigeria vs Cameron.
The match slated for January 27, at the Felix Houphouet Boigny stadium in the capital city of Abidjan is undoubtedly a clash of the Titans and a renewal of old rivalry. Two heavy weights in the continental football, the Super Eagles and the indomitable Lions who have met several times in the knockout stages of this competition including the grand finale will trade tackles once again.
Some AFCON Round of 16 Fixtures
Both teams met last in the knockout stage of the 2019 edition where Nigeria won the encounter 3-2 and later won bronze at the end of the tournament. So all things being equal, it will not be an easy encounter for anyone.
Other fixtures are Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea. The Syli Stars of Guinea will have a challenge dealing with the tournament highest goal scorer so far, Emilio Nsue.
Angola vs Namibia which also promises to spring up surprises especially from Namibia who is qualifying for the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time since their debut in 1998 facing Angola, a two time quater finalist. It is worthy of note that the first shocker of the tournament came from Namibia against the cartage Eagles of Tunisia.
Cape Verde vs Mauritania is a dicey encounter with winning predictions tilting to the side that beat the black Stars during the group opener, Cape Verde. This fixture is special because both teams are in the same group and this will be the second time both teams are meeting in this tournament with the first fixture ending in favour of the group leaders, Cape Verde. In any case, Mauritania is not an underdog in this fixture having shocked Ghana in less than ten minutes to be here.
Group stage unbeaten Mali will face Burkina Faso on January 29 at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly stadium while Egypt will face Dr Congo. The Pharaohs drawing all their group matches does not undermine the fact that they are still a big threat to anyone in this competition and being the most successful team in the history of this tournament is worthy of note. They will face DR Congo on January 28.
Senegal vs Cote d’ivoire is a game seen by many as done and dusted by the defending champions who is yet to drop a point and also considering the lackluster performance of the host especially the 4:0 thrashing by an underdog, Equatorial Guinea.The game is on January 29 at Charles Banny stadium.
Moroco vs South Africa. The Quater 2022 FIFA world cup semifinalist will have a point to prove against the Bafana Bafana but notwithstanding, the North Africans will have to brace up for the prolific striking force of Percy Tau and Zwane.
The group stage was full of surprises as the underdogs did not only bark but also bite.
Teams like Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania that levelled up two goals deficit in less than ten minutes to snatch qualification ticket from the black Stars shocked the continent with sterling performances. Namibia also is not left out spoiling the party for the cartage Eagles of Tunisia in that 1:0 win during the group opener.
The question is will the underdogs continue to bite as the tournament enters the critical stage? I guess time shall tell.