The high drama, big-name exits & thrilling action from the group stages spilt into the second round of AFCON 2023.
The round of 16 matches started with Angola impolitely putting Coach Collin Benjamin and The Brave Warriors on their first flight back to Namibia. Forward Mabululu’s ‘henryesque’ goal and a brace by Gelson Dala fired The Palancas Negras into the last eight for the first time since 2010.
Later that evening, the burning fuse between West African rivals, the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon was reignited in Abidjan. Despite Ademola Lookman scoring two goals, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen was the main catalyst that set the Super Eagles ablaze, ultimately resulting in the early elimination of the Indomitable Lions.
The following day, Equatorial Guinea’s AFCON dreams were brutally dashed by Mohammed Bayo’s dramatic 98th-minute winner. Guinea’s 1-0 win meant that either Egypt or DR Congo awaited them in the quarter-finals. In what has been one of the biggest shocks of the tournament, DR Congo ended Egyptian dreams of an 8th AFCON title. The Pharaohs missed the creative spark of Mohammed Salah as their resilient opponents dragged the game to extra time and then a tense penalty shootout. Lady Luck smiled down on the Leopards of Congo as their goalkeeper Mpasi stepped up to score the winning penalty.
The fairy-tale continued for Cape Verde who claimed their first knockout win at an Afcon. A crucial 88th-minute penalty converted by Mendes da Graça was all the Tubarões Azuis needed to overcome Mauritania. As the Blue Sharks celebrated at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, The Lions of Taranga prepared for an epic showdown with the wounded Elephants of Coted’Ivoire in Yamoussoukro. Nightmares from the group stages still lingered in the mind of the host nation as the defending champions went ahead early in the match through a thunderous strike by Diallo. The Ivorians played with a never-before-seen grit and started to believe that this could be their day when Nicholas Pepe was fouled in the box by Edouard Mendy late in the match. Former Barcelona star, Frank Kessie stepped up to equalize from the penalty spot to force the game into extra-time. The classic encounter was eventually settled by spot kicks. With the weight of his nation on his broad shoulders for the second time, Frank Kessie stepped up again for the decisive penalty. Deafening screams of joy eclipsed the Charles Konan stadium as the Ivorian midfield destroyer smashed the ball into the roof of the net. Senegal who were the only team to finish the group stages on nine points were out!
The unfathomable result means that a mouth-watering quarter-final between Coted’Ivoire and an impressive Mali side who conquered Burkina Faso looms.
In the last game of the round of 16, South Africa met Africa’s most revered team, Morocco. The Atlas Lions failed to replicate their Qatar World Cup heroics in San Pedro. The first half was a cagey affair as both teams explored tactics. The game burst into life in the second half when Orlando Pirate striker, Evidence Makgopa gave South Africa a 57th-minute lead. Africa’s highest-ranked team had a chance to equalize with a late penalty but Achraf Hakimi crumbled under pressure and missed the crucial spot kick. Mamelodi Sundown midfielder, Teboho Mokoena then killed off the game deep into stoppage time with a beautiful free-kick reminiscent of those David Beckham took in his prime. Bafana Bafana’s glorious 2-0 win ensured that no team from the Maghreb area (Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia) qualified for the quarter-finals at the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
16 teams have now gone back to their respective countries while 8 teams are still on Ivorian shores fighting for the AFCON title. Bring on the quarter-finals!