The 2024 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has so far impressed fans from all over the world with its fascinating headlines since its inception. However, as the league enters the knockout stages, many fans have witnessed high drama with unpredictable results and others celebrating exemplary performance by their favourite teams.
AFCON, which is no doubt the Africa’s finest football showpiece, has had shocking yet thrilling results all along. These are some of the noteworthy events in the 2023 AFCON field so far.
Morocco, Egypt, Ghana and Algeria; Africa’s football giants, were eliminated by underdogs. An underdog is a term used to describe a team with a little chance of winning because they are playing against a threatening team.
DR Congo qualified for the Quarter Finals without winning a single game in the regular time. They have four draws.
Namibia and Mauritania qualified for their first ever round of 16. Namibia beat Tunisia 1-0 while Mauritania beat Algeria 1-0.
Egypt qualified for the round of 16 without winning a single game. They drew thrice in the group stage.
Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue is the top scorer so far with 5 goals, followed closely by Egypt’s Mostafa Mohamed and Angola’s Gelson Dala both with 4 goals. Emilio Nsue plays right back in the Spanish team Intercity and as a Winger for Equatorial Guinea.
A Mauritania player Aboubakar Kamara who is also known as AK47, plays for Al-Jazira club in UAE. He wore jersey no. 47 at Fulham 2017-2021.
Cote d’ Ivore, the host country, narrowly qualified with 3 points as no. 4 in the third best place ranking in the group stage. They went on to eliminate Senegal by beating them 1-1 and 5-4 in the penalties.
South Africa’s Bafana Bafana beat Morocco 2-0 to qualify for the Quarter Finals of AFCON 2023. Morocco is ranked no. 1 in Africa and no. 13 in the world. They reached semifinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Five head coaches have so far resigned or have been sacked.
Tanzania’s Adel Amrouche sacked after receiving an 8-match ban for distasteful comment about Morocco at AFCON 2023
Ghana sacked Chris Hughton after terrible AFCON 2023 outing
Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet resigned after AFCON 2023 exit
Algeria parted ways with coach after back to back AFCON exits
Tunisia head coach Jalel Kadri stepped down from his position after woeful AFCON 2023 campaign
The last eight line-up is complete as an action-packed round of 16 comes to a close. Nigeria will open the quarter finals where they will meet Angola on Friday February 2. A lot of fascinating outcomes are expected as the 8 teams fight for their chance to become men’s football champions of Africa.
