The contours of the knockout stages in the Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Ivory Coast, are starting to take shape, marked by the miraculous advancement of the host nation following two initial defeats.
Algeria and Tunisia bid farewell to the tournament at the group stage, delivering disappointing performances and results.
Meanwhile, three Arab teams—Egypt, Mauritania, and Morocco—secured their places in the Round of 16.
Morocco is set to face South Africa in the Round of 16, with a potential quarter-final clash against the winner of the Mauritania vs. Cape Verde match.
The victor of this encounter will then brace themselves for a semi-final showdown against one of the four remaining teams: Cameroon, Nigeria, Angola, or Namibia.
The Atlas Lions, considered one of the tournament’s strongest contenders, absent from the trophy cabinet since 1976, may find themselves in a formidable final match against Egypt if they advance on their path.
Egypt, in turn, will lock horns with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Round of 16. Should they emerge victorious, their next challenge awaits in a match against the winner between Guinea and Equatorial Guinea.
Progressing beyond the quarter-finals would entail overcoming one of the following four teams: Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, or Ghana, in the quest for a spot in the final.
As the competition intensifies, anticipation grows for the intriguing matchups that will determine the fate of these African football powerhouses.
