Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-01-31 12:57:06
The ongoing Africa Cup of Nations has been one of the most unpredictable major international football tournaments in recent memory. The last 16 concluded with South Africa knocking out Morocco, the continent’s top-ranked team and 2022 World Cup semi-finalists, after a missed penalty by Achraf Hakimi. Ivory Coast, the tournament hosts, narrowly escaped elimination in the group stage, making a remarkable resurgence in the competition. Traditional powerhouses such as Egypt, Cameroon, and Ghana have been eliminated, with none of Africa’s representatives at the 2022 World Cup advancing further. The reigning champion trend was continued as Senegal was also knocked out.
This unpredictable turn of events can be attributed to the increased depth and competitiveness across African football. The decision to expand the competition to 24 teams has allowed smaller nations to become more competitive. Nigeria and Ivory Coast stand out as top contenders for the title, but the competition has shown that logical predictions may not hold true.
Underdog successes have been a highlight, with Angola, Guinea, and Cape Verde making their mark. Cape Verde, in particular, has been outstanding, defeating strong teams like Ghana and drawing with Egypt. This unexpected success reflects a shift in African football, where so-called smaller teams are playing with heart and quality, challenging the traditional powerhouse nations. The unpredictable nature of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations has made it an exciting and unprecedented tournament.
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