LAST 16
Nigeria’s clash with Cameroon in Abidjan provided an immediate heavyweight tie on the first day of the knockout stages, and it did not disappoint as the Super Eagles provided a first convincing showing of the tournament to send home their long-standing rivals. Victor Osimhen’s work-rate was astonishing, but it was Ademola Lookman who scored both goals in a performance that exposed the Indomitable Lions’ poverty of ideas, with Rigobert Song’s coaching acumen consistently questioned.
Guinea had never won a match in the knockout phase of the tournament, but finally secured a victory by ending Equatorial Guinea’s giant-killing run. But it took a goal with virtually the last touch of the match, eight minutes into stoppage-time, from Mohamed Bayo to send the gallant Nzalang Nacional home after top scorer Emilio Nsue had missed a penalty.
DR Congo and Egypt each drew their three group games, so it was no surprise that their clash in San-Pedro ended all square at 1-1 after extra-time. It took 18 penalties for the tie to be settled, with Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal “Gabaski” missing his effort to leave his Congolese counterpart Lionel Mpasi to win the tie.
Having limped into the last 16, there was little hope among the locals about Ivory Coast’s chances in Yamoussoukro against holders Senegal, and that seemed to be vindicated after just four minutes as Habib Diallo handed the 2021 champions an early lead. Sadio Mane could have seen red before Senegal were denied a penalty, but as full-time approached the Ivorians won a spot-kick themselves, which Franck Kessie converted. They then held their nerve to send Senegal packing after a penalty shootout.
There was an even bigger shock when Morocco went out to South Africa, with the first goal coming from forward Evidence Makgopa who was onside by the slimmest of margins for his 57th-minute goal. Achraf Hakimi then missed a penalty, Sofyan Amrabat got sent off and Teboho Mokoena hammered home the final nail with a superb free-kick in a surprise 2-0 victory.
Elsewhere, Angola thrashed Namibia 3-0 – courtesy of prolific duo Gelson Dala and Mabululu – Cape Verde saw off Mauritania thanks to a late Ryan Mendes penalty, and Mali edged out Burkina Faso 2-1 – Lassine Sinayoko’s third goal of the tournament proving decisive.
QUARTER-FINALS
With Cameroon, Senegal, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea and Morocco’s eliminations, the quarter-finals comprised an entirely different line-up from the final eight in Cameroon two years ago.
Cape Verde’s march to the last eight turned the smallest of all the countries in the 24-team field into genuine title contenders, and they had every chance of defeating a tired South Africa in Yamoussoukro. But the ball would just not go in for the islanders,
