The conclusion of the six group stages in the ongoing African Cup of Nations on Wednesday witnessed unexpected outcomes, with perceived underdogs exiting the tournament and unexpected teams advancing to the Round of 16. Notably, the host nation, Cote d’Ivoire, secured the fourth third-place spot after Morocco’s 1-0 victory over Zambia, maintaining the lead in Group F with seven points.
Among the Northern African teams, only former champions Algeria managed to advance with just two points in the tournament. Tunisia, on the other hand, failed to progress beyond the group stage, leading to the departure of its coach from the Carthage Eagles.
Namibia and Mauritania emerged as the most surprising teams to progress to the last 16 stage. The upcoming Round of 16 fixtures, including dates, times, and venues, are outlined below:
Saturday:
- In Bouake: Angola vs Namibia (6:00 pm)
- In Abidjan: Nigeria vs Cameroon (9:00 pm)
Sunday:
- In Abidjan: Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea (6:00 pm)
- In San Pedro: Egypt vs Democratic Republic of Congo (8:00 pm)
Monday:
- In Abidjan: Cape Verde vs Mauritania (6:00 pm)
- In Yamoussoukro: Senegal vs Ivory Coast (8:00 pm)
Tuesday:
- In Korhogo: Mali vs Burkina Faso (6:00 pm)
- In San Pedro: Morocco vs South Africa (8:00 pm)