The group stages of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) concluded on Wednesday with surprising upsets and underdog victories, leaving fans on the edge of their seats as the tournament moves into the knockout phase.
In a dramatic turn of events, the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, secured the fourth third-place spot after Morocco defeated Zambia 1-0, maintaining their Group F lead with seven points. The Northern African teams faced challenges, with former champions Algeria managing to secure only two points in the tournament. Tunisia, on the other hand, couldn’t advance past the group stage, resulting in the departure of their coach from the Carthage Eagles.
Namibia and Mauritania emerged as the most shocking teams to advance to the Round of 16, defying expectations and causing a major shake-up in the tournament’s dynamics.
AFCON Round of 16 Fixtures Match Time, Nigerian Time (African Time)
The Round of 16 pairings have been set, promising intense clashes and unpredictable outcomes:
| Date | Venue | Match | Local Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Bouake | Angola vs. Namibia | 9:00 pm |
| Saturday | Abidjan | Nigeria vs. Cameroon | 6:00 pm |
| Sunday | Abidjan | Equatorial Guinea vs. Guinea | 8:00 pm |
| Sunday | San Pedro | Egypt vs. Democratic Republic of Congo | 6:00 pm |
| Monday | Abidjan | Cape Verde vs. Mauritania | 8:00 pm |
| Monday | Yamoussoukro | Senegal vs. Ivory Coast | 6:00 pm |
| Tuesday | Korhogo | Mali vs. Burkina Faso | 8:00 pm |
| Tuesday | San Pedro | Morocco vs. South Africa | 8:00pm |
