The upcoming Round of 16 in the Africa Cup of Nations promises two riveting clashes, set to kick off on Saturday, January 27, 2024.
The spotlight will be on defending champions Senegal, facing the resilient Ivory Coast, and a heavyweight showdown between Cameroon, five-time champions, and Nigeria, triumphant on three occasions.
After an intense group stage lasting 12 days, the curtains fell, eliminating Ghana, four-time champions, Algeria, two-time victors, and Tunisia, the 2004 title holder.
The aftermath led to the dismissal of the coaches of all three teams.
Despite a challenging start for Cameroon, they secured a spot in the Round of 16, setting the stage for a showdown against Nigeria and their standout player, Victor Osimhen, crowned the continent’s best.
The pressure on Cameroon’s coach, Rigobert Song, is immense as he seeks to guide the “unbridled Lions” to their sixth title, the first since 2017.
Cameroon’s defender, Christopher Wouh, emphasized the team’s resilience, stating, “We knew we couldn’t give up.
We had to prove our strength and learn from our mistakes.”
In contrast, Senegal, the only team with a perfect group stage record (9 points), faced a surprising defeat against Ivory Coast.
The hosts, Ivory Coast, secured qualification as the worst third-placed team after a humiliating 0-4 loss to Equatorial Guinea, leading to the dismissal of their French coach, Jean-Louis Gasset.
The Ivory Coast, nicknamed “The Elephants,” faces a tough test against Sadio Mane and his teammates on Monday in Yamoussoukro.
### Morocco Without Rakraki
Morocco, known for its historic achievement in the 2022 World Cup, smoothly advanced and will face the resilient South Africa and their striker Percy Tau (Al Ahly) in the final Round of 16 match in San Pedro.
Although Morocco asserted its dominance on the global stage in the last World Cup, winning hearts, the continental title has eluded them since their lone triumph in 1976.
The Moroccan squad faced a blow to morale with the suspension of coach Walid Rakraki for four matches, two of which are suspended, following a confrontation during the match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Midfielder Sufian Amrabat, speaking after the victory against Zambia, expressed surprise at Rakraki’s absence on the bench, stating, “It was unexpected.
We missed him and looked forward to his return in the next match.”
Looking ahead to the match against South Africa, Amrabat said, “We want to go as far as possible in this tournament.
For us, the tournament starts now, and we promise the fans to bring home the title.”
Equatorial Guinea vs. Cape Verde
After stealing the spotlight in the group stage, Nigeria and Ivory Coast lead the way, and Equatorial Guinea faces Cape Verde on Sunday in Abidjan, aiming to build on past successes.
Although Equatorial Guinea has only participated in the tournament three times before, they reached at least the quarter-finals on each occasion.
Emilio Nsue, the top scorer (5 goals), looks to continue his impressive form.
Emilio Nsue, aged 34, stated before the competition began, “Personally, the last Africa Cup of Nations wasn’t my best.
I’ll try to show a much better performance on the field, and we’ll try to win all the matches.”
In a similar vein, Cape Verde, following an impressive group stage topping Egypt, seven-time champions, and Ghana, faces Mauritania on Monday in Abidjan, showcasing the flair that secured their first-ever qualification in their third appearance after a notable victory against Algeria.
Egypt Without Salah
After a hard-fought qualification with three draws and the loss of Liverpool’s star Mohamed Salah due to a thigh injury, Egypt, the record holders of AFCON titles, faces the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sunday in San Pedro.
If Egypt qualifies, they will meet the winner between Equatorial Guinea and Cape Verde in the quarter-finals.
Midfielder Mahmoud Hassan “Trezeguet” expressed his ambition, saying, “I’m entering my tenth year with the national team. For me, nothing surpasses football.
If God wills it, our generation will leave with the cup because we want to make history.”
Namibia also enters the history books after qualifying for the knockout stage for the first time since their debut in 1998.
They face Angola on Saturday in Bouake.
Mali, enjoying the advantage of playing in Korhogo again, faces Burkina Faso, which ended the group stage disappointingly with a loss to Angola, on Monday.
As the Round of 16 unfolds, anticipation and excitement are palpable, with each team vying for a coveted spot in the quarter-finals and a step closer to claiming the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations title.
