Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-01-28 04:07:01
The knockout stage of the 34th African Cup of Nations is well underway in Cote d’Ivoire, and the second day of matches promises to deliver more nail-biting action. This is the second time that the country has hosted the competition, with the first occasion being in 1984. So far, this year’s AFCON has seen some surprising results, with established African football powerhouses being sent home early by underdog teams. This trend was evident in the group stage, with the likes of Ghana, Algeria, and Tunisia being eliminated from the competition.
Angola extended their impressive run in the competition by defeating Namibia 3-0 in the round of 16 Southern Africa derby. This victory secured them a spot in the quarterfinals, with Dala scoring two goals in the first half. The stage was set for an intense showdown between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions, two teams with a deep historical rivalry.
The Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and the Super Eagles of Nigeria were initially considered favorites in Group A. However, Equatorial Guinea, ranked 88th in World Football, caused a major upset by holding Nigeria to a 1-1 draw and then defeating the Elephants 4-0 in their last group match. This unexpected turn of events saw the Elephants securing a spot in the round of 16 after a 72-hour wait. Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue emerged as the top scorer with five goals.
Group B saw the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde topping the table, ahead of eight-time champions, The Pharaohs of Egypt. Former champion, Black Stars of Ghana, were unable to progress. Meanwhile, Group C, which featured defending champions Senegal, Cameroon, Guinea, and Gambia, produced its own surprising results. Although Senegal finished strongly with three wins out of three, Cameroon and Guinea both ended on four points.
Group D was another shocker, with the highest-ranked team, Algeria, finishing last without a victory, while the lowest-ranked Angola emerged as the group winner. The highest-ranked team in Group E, Tunisia, was also sent packing, while Group F saw Morocco topping the group with seven points.
Looking ahead, Equatorial Guinea will face Guinea, while Egypt faces DR Congo. Cape Verde will take on Mauritania, and the host, Cote d’Ivoire, will go up against Senegal. Mali will battle Burkina Faso, and South Africa will take on Morocco.
As the competition progresses, many football fans are eagerly anticipating more upsets from underdog teams such as Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, and Guinea. The unpredictability of this year’s tournament has left fans on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the outcome of each match.
