Africa Cup dazzles so far, best yet to come

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This article was published 21/01/2022 (1687 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

How was that for a group stage?

True to form, the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon has already provided surprise after surprise, and the round of 16 won’t kick off until Sunday (all matches broadcast and streaming on beIN Sports).

Algeria, the holders and seemingly obvious pre-tournament favourites, are out after failing to win a match and scoring just a single goal. Ghana, too, have already been eliminated — bounced from the competition by Comoros, who will play their debut knock-out match against Cameroon on Monday. And Sierra Leone, despite going winless in Group E, sent Freetown into raptures when Alhaji Kamara scored an extra-time equalizer against Ivory Coast.

There is now just enough time to catch your breath before Burkina Faso and Gabon commence the next round, and their contest in seaside Limbe is where we begin our brief look-ahead to the first eight play-off matches.

Burkina Faso-Gabon: Sunday

It seems as though teams do better when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not a part of them. First Arsenal, and now Gabon, who went unbeaten in Group C. Burkina Faso, meanwhile, recovered from an opening-day defeat to Cameroon to finish second in Group A. Prediction: Gabon

Nigeria-Tunisia: Sunday

Nigeria were the only side to go unbeaten in the group stage, and only Cameroon have scored more goals at this Cup of Nations than the Super Eagles. Tunisia looked impressive in a 4-0 demolition of Mauritania, in which Wahbi Khazri scored twice, but then bafflingly lost 1-0 to Gambia. Prediction: Nigeria

Guinea-Gambia: Monday

That late win over Tunisia—Ablie Jallow scored the winner in the 93rd minute — completed an unbeaten group stage for the Cup of Nations debutantes. Guinea, featuring the strong midfield tandem of Liverpool’s Naby Keita and Roma’s Amadou Diawara, won’t have been pleased with a rather shocking loss to Zimbabwe. Prediction: Gambia

Cameroon-Comoros: Monday

This is where the fairy-tale ends for Comoros. That 3-2 triumph over the Black Stars in Garoua was the upset of the Cup of Nations to date, but there won’t be a reprise against Cameroon. The Indomitable Lions, and Vincent Aboubakar specifically, cannot stop scoring and can also look forward to a winnable quarter-final against either Gambia or Guinea. Prediction: Cameroon

Senegal-Cape Verde: Tuesday

Finalists in 2019, Senegal have yet to score from open play in Cameroon. They’ve also yet to concede. Cape Verde played the hosts to an impressive draw on Monday but could well find themselves facing an opponent that breaks out in the round of 16. At some you’d think Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is bound to go on a goal-scoring spree. Prediction: Senegal

Morocco-Malawi: Tuesday

Morocco are North Africa’s best hope, even though they haven’t won a continental title since 1976. But Angers winger Sofiane Boufal is having an excellent tournament and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi is among the best right-backs in the world. Malawi have a Gabadinho brace against Zimbabwe to thank for their spot in the last 16. Prediction: Morocco

Mali-Equatorial Guinea: Wednesday

Semi-finalists in 2015, Equatorial Guinea stunned Algeria on Sunday—Esteban Obiang scoring the only goal and Iban Edu putting in an impressive shift opposite Riyad Mahrez. But in the likes of Diadie Samassekou, Yves Bissouma, Lassana Coulibaly and Amadou Haidara, Mali can deploy the best midfield of the competition, as evidenced by their tournament-leading rate of passing. Prediction: Mali

Ivory Coast-Egypt: Wednesday

The most anticipated match of the round of 16 will take place on Wednesday in Douala, where two-time Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast will face seven-time winners Egypt. Unlike club teammate Aubameyang, Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe has been tremendous in Cameroon, so far scoring twice for Ivory Coast. On the other side of the ball, Mohamed Salah scored against Guinea-Bissau but has otherwise failed to impress. This has the makings of a classic heavyweight tilt. Prediction: Ivory Coast

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