The Africa Cup of Nations has been thrilling with underdogs causing upsets, and producing surprising results against continental bigwigs.
Morocco came into the tournament as favourites but bowed out at the hands of a resilient South African side that comprised 10 African-based players in the starting XI – the most by any side that is participating in this year’s continental showpiece.
Aliou Cisses’s Lions of Teranga also fell to hosts Ivory Coast in a scintillating round of 16 fixture that was decided on post-match penalties after a 1-1 all-draw in regular time and after extra time.
DR Congo eliminated record holders Egypt after a shootout while Nigeria sent Cameroon packing in the first knockout round. Other giants like Ghana, Algeria, and Tunisia never made it out of the group stages highlighting how full of surprises the tournament has been.
Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui acknowledged the challenging nature of this year’s AFCON terming it ‘difficult’.
“This cup is really difficult. Lots of surprises,” he said after his side departed from the tournament at the hands of South Africa.
The fact that none of the quarter-finalists in AFCON 2021- Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Cameroon, Egypt and Morocco – made it to the last eight underscores Regragui’s sentiments.
Of the remaining teams, four (Mali, Guinea, Cape Verde, and Angola) have never won the continental trophy and will be hoping to defy the odds and bag a maiden title. Hosts Ivory Coast, Nigeria, DR Congo, and South Africa complete the last eight.
The quarter-finals kick off on Friday and here’s a look at the fixtures.
Nigeria vs Angola
Three times AFCON winners, Nigeria will be hoping to bag another trophy with their last success coming in 2013 when they beat Burkina Faso in the final. Jose Peseiro’s charges have grown into the tournament and boast the best defensive record having only conceded once in the tournament, against Equatorial Guinea.
Nigeria’s talisman, Victor Osimhen has only scored once in the tournament but his impressive work upfront hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Angola’s last appearance in the last eight was in 2008 when they bowed out at the semifinals. Through the inspiration of Gelson Dala and Mabolulu, the Sable Antelopes remain unbeaten in the tournament and have managed to repel giants such as Burkina Faso and Algeria on their way to the quarter-finals.
This tie will be played on Friday at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
DR Congo vs Guinea
Congo are two times winners of the AFCON with their last trophy coming in 1974. The Leopards are yet to win a game in regular time and overcame Egypt after post-match penalties with custodian Lionel Mpasi slotting home the winning kick.
Guinea scored late into stoppage time to overcome an impressive Equatorial Guinea side that threw everything at them. They were lucky to escape as AFCON’s current top scorer, Emilio Nsue missed from the spot to the detriment of the Equatoguineans who played for long periods of the second half with 10 men.
Guianea were finalists in 1976 and will be hoping to bag a maiden title in this year’s showpiece.
The game will played at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Friday.
Ivory Coast vs Mali
Ivory Coast have Morocco to thank as their win against Zambia ensured that the Elephants make the last 16 as one of the four third-placed teams. The hosts took the chance with both hands eliminating defending champions and tournament favourites, Senegal in the last round. Belief is building up among the fanbase and the team that they can bag a third title after their successes in 1992 and 2015 when they beat Ghana on post-match penalties on both occasions to walk away with the top prize.
The Elephants will be drawing inspiration from Borussia Dortmund forward, Sebastian Haller who is back from an ankle injury, and Jean Michael Seri, who made his first start against Senegal and produced a man-of-the-match performance.
Mali’s coach Eric Chelle is on familiar grounds having been born in Abidjan and will be looking to cause an upset. They topped a group that comprised South Africa and Tunisia, and beat Burkina Faso in the last round. Mali is an organized side and they will prove a hard nut to crack for the hosts.
The two sides will meet on Saturday in Bouaké.
South Africa vs Cape Verde
When Cape Verde dispatched Ghana in their opening match of the AFCON campaign, many viewed it as a fluke result. However, the Blue Whales easily dispatched Mozambique in the fixture that followed making them the first nation to qualify for the knockout stages to make a statement that they were serious competitors. Cape Verde are making their second quarter-final appearance and will be hoping to dispatch South Africa and make the semifinals.
The Whales will be hoping that captain Ryan Mendes is at his best coming into this fixture if they have to overcome Bafana Bafana. Former Manchester United forward, Bebe is another player that they will be looking upon for inspiration.
South Africa, led by Hugo Broos will be hoping to make the last four and bag another AFCON title after leading Cameroon to the 2017 trophy. Bafana Bafana is a well-organized side with 8 of the players in the starting XI hailing from ABSA Premier League giants, Mamelodi Sundowns. They will be hoping Themba Zwane and Teboho Mokoena can lead them to the last four.
The two sides meet in Yamoussoukro on Saturday.
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