- By Ben Miller
- BBC Sport Africa
After some unexpected results in the group stage, there will be some heavyweight clashes when the last 16 stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) gets underway on Saturday.
Hosts Ivory Coast sneaked through as third and will now face holders Senegal, who were the only team to advance with maximum points.
Meanwhile, five-time continental champions Cameroon will face three-time winners Nigeria in yet another thrilling encounter.
Both of these games will be televised by the BBC (UK only), but the other six knockout matches have strong potential for more unpredictable drama.
BBC Sport Africa previews what could unfold over eight games from Bouake to Yamoussoukro.
The South African clash precedes the big names
The first leg of the last 16 is a proper opener, pitting the two lowest-ranked teams against each other Angola come across Namibia (Saturday, 17:00 GMT).
Both confounded expectations, with Angola topping Group D unbeaten and Namibia qualifying as one of the best teams in third place.
“What happens on this pitch is no surprise. Maybe to everyone else, but I’m the orchestra with my team,” Namibia coach Colin Benjamin said.
Namibia boast the dangerous attacking pairing of Deon Hotto and Peter Shalulile, while Mabululu and Gelson Dala both have two goals for Angola – with the latter also having five chances.
Nigeria against Cameroonlater on Saturday (20:00 GMT), it’s a much more well-known knockout match.
The countries have contested three finals, in 1984, 1988 and 2000, with the Central Africans winning all of those matches – the most recent on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Unbeaten Nigeria may need striker Victor Osimhen to be at his best after the African Footballer of the Year’s 13 tries and four chances created were the most by a Nigerian player in the group stage.
Georges-Kevin N’Koudou has been equally influential for Cameroon, creating 10 chances – the most of anyone at the tournament.
Much attention has been paid to who was in goal for the Indomitable Lions, with Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana missing their first game, playing their second game and then being suspended for the dramatic Group C decider against Gambia.
“I have no problem with my goalkeepers. There is no controversy,” Cameroon boss Rigobert Song said.
Nsue inspires as Egypt stutters
With the big stars failing to find the net in Ivory Coast, can surprise top scorer Emilio Nsue continue his prolific form when Equatorial Guinea face Guinea on Sunday (17:00 GMT);
Underestimate the Equatoguineans at your peril – the National Thunder have reached at least the quarter-finals in their three previous finals appearances.
Guinea have also been impressively consistent, progressing to the last 16 for a fourth successive tournament, but of the remaining teams only Namibia have scored less than Syli Nationale’s two goals.
Talk of injured captain Mohamed Salah could be big when Egypt I am playing DR Congo (Sunday, 20:00 GMT) but the Liverpool star’s absence may not be the main concern for the team he left behind.
Of the teams still involved, the record seven-time winners top the charts at Afcon 2023 for turnovers high up the pitch (25) and sequences of more than 10 passes (40), with Mostafa Mohamed scoring in each from three. Draws 2-2, making him second top scorer of the tournament.
Despite these encouraging figures, Egypt looked vulnerable against Mozambique, Ghana and Cape Verde in the group stage, and Emam Ashour, who has impressed in his formations, is expected to miss out after the midfielder suffered concussion in training. the week.
A win for DR Congo, who also advanced with three draws, is the biggest possible upset in the last 16 according to FIFA’s rankings, which put the teams 34 places apart.
Ivory Coast has a second chance while Mauritania makes history
Minnows Mauritania take on Cape Verde (Monday, 17:00 GMT) in reward for shock 2019 champions Algeria who recorded their first win at the finals.
The Lions of Chinguetti are the only team with less than a 1% chance of winning the title, according to stats experts Opta. Coach Amir Abdou emulated the success he achieved in taking Comoros to the ’16’ in 2021.
“It is amazing what we are experiencing. I told the players that they wrote the history of Mauritania,” said Abodu.
Another upset would be made even more impressive by Cape Verde’s form, beating Ghana and Mozambique and leading to a draw with Egypt en route to winning Group B with four clear points.
The Islanders are into the round of 16 for the second consecutive tournament, but coach Bubista is looking further ahead.
“In our first team meeting I told the players that the goal was to reach the semi-finals,” he said.
After going through the knockout stage, defending champions Senegal I am playing Ivory Coast (Monday, 20:00 GMT) hoping for a repeat of the three consecutive two-goal wins enjoyed by the Teranga Lions between the round of 16 and the final in 2021.
After being humiliated by Equatorial Guinea in their last Group A outing, the hosts sacked Jean-Louis Gasset before their progress was confirmed.
The West African conflict and Morocco are aiming to capitalize on the potential
On Tuesday, two sides argued that the dark horses for the title meet when Yes face Burkina Faso (17:00 GMT).
The Eagles extended their unbeaten group record to 10 matches across four tournaments, but Eric Chelle’s side managed just three shots on target in their draws with Tunisia and Namibia.
Burkina Faso signed off from the group stage with a 2-0 defeat to Angola, finishing second to ensure a repeat of their run to the final in 2013 and the semi-finals in 2017 and 2021.
Their task now is to improve on their recent record of eight defeats in 10 matches against Mali, including a 3-1 defeat in the group stage of the 2004 Afcon finals.
Morocco Coach Walid Regraghi is set to return to the technical field to watch the Atlas Lions play South Africa (Tuesday, 20:00 GMT) after the contact line ban was overturned on appeal.
Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Zigeh will try to trouble the defense with two consecutive clean sheets.
South Africa thrashed Namibia 4-0 in their second game – their biggest ever Afcon win – and can match their 2-1 win over Morocco in qualifying as Hugo Broos aims to stage an upset against to the continent’s top team.
No South African team (Cosafa) has reached the Afcon final since Zambia’s surprise in 2012. While Angola or Namibia are assured of a place in the quarter-finals, Bafana Bafana face a sterner test that prevents their dreams from repeat their glory in 1996.