There’s simply one thing about worldwide soccer and if you happen to haven’t been watching this yr’s Africa Cup of Nations, then, frankly, the place have you ever been?
This yr’s event, referred to as AFCON 2023 as a result of it was initially deliberate to be held final summer time, has had all of it thus far, with spectacular targets and performances heaped amongst a wholesome dose of drama on and off the pitch.
From heavyweights Ghana and Algeria crashing out to underdogs Equatorial Guinea and Cape Verde upsetting the percentages, there was one thing for everybody — and that’s earlier than we even get to hosts Ivory Coast sacking their head coach mid-tournament.
Right here, a choice of writers from The Athletic mirror on their favorite moments of AFCON 2023 and what they’re wanting ahead to within the knockout phases.
Moments of the event
Ghana’s group-stage recreation towards Egypt was billed as a conflict between two of the most important stars at this event: Mohammed Kudus and Mohamed Salah.
When Salah limped off injured within the first half, the stage was set for Kudus to take over and, inside minutes, he scored from exterior the field. Ghana imploded after the break, although, and gave away two ridiculous targets with foolish particular person errors.
It proved expensive as they had been eradicated on the group phases whereas Egypt progressed to the spherical of 16. Chris Hughton was sacked, Kudus was left speechless, and Ghana solely had themselves responsible.
Jay Harris
GO DEEPER
Ghana, a footballing nation in turmoil after one other AFCON failure
Everybody ought to watch the Africa Cup of Nations as a result of the event is all the time prime time.
You get The Gambia towards Cameroon. You get club-arse-twitching eventualities like Salah’s niggly hamstring. And don’t ever be advised that it doesn’t matter when coaches are being abused on the street. There’s no trivialising the alleged tirade by a Ghana fan in the direction of Hughton however that incident stated one thing about how invested individuals are on this competitors, and the way a lot emotion it provokes.
Hughton is an effective coach and an excellent man. He had an honest squad and a good group to go at. All of it kicked off after a nasty defeat to Cape Verde, from which there was no rowing again. After their elimination, Ghana wasted little time sacking Hughton and “dissolving” his backroom workforce. Ouch.
Phil Hay
The factor about strikes like Bebe’s is that they simply don’t look actual, the ball transferring in such otherworldly methods that you would be able to’t assist however suspect that the footage you’re witnessing is being manipulated by CGI in actual time in some way.
In The Radar, The Athletic warned you that the 33-year-old ex-Manchester United man likes to attempt his luck from distance — so much — and in Cape Verde’s 3-0 win over Mozambique, Bebe offered the last word ‘keep in mind him?’ and ‘bloody hell, did he imply that?’ second in a single swipe of his proper foot. Mozambique keeper Ernani was fully caught out by Bebe’s audacious, devilish effort from lengthy vary and perhaps you possibly can let him off.
Cape Verde’s “particular” expertise, who has made greater than 150 appearances in La Liga, scored one of the crucial iconic targets of the event and has each proper to be remembered for extra than simply his failure to make the grade at Previous Trafford a decade in the past.
Dan Barnes
Not many could have circled a group-stage conflict between Mauritania and Angola earlier than the event, particularly contemplating each handed 10 hours with out scoring an Africa Cup of Nations objective throughout this match.
However Mauritania and midfielder Sidi Bouna ended their drought with an unbelievable mazy dribble and end for his or her first-ever open-play AFCON objective. Fifteen minutes later, Aboubakary Koita rifled in a actually breathtaking howitzer into the highest nook. I gasped.
This five-goal thriller had all the things: 40-yard pictures, good saves, ridiculous misses, a Mesut Ozil-esque end from Angola’s Gelson Dala, defensive errors, excitable commentators, and gloriously passionate followers. Liquid AFCON.
Max Mathews
Because the 90 minutes got here to an finish within the ultimate group recreation between Egypt and Cape Verde, it was 1-1, a rating that, so far as many of the Egyptians had been conscious, was no good to them. The presumption was that Ghana would make brief work of Mozambique within the different fixture, thus confining the Salah-less Pharaohs to 3rd place and a nervous wait to see if that was sufficient to qualify.
Then, a saviour: Mostafa Mohamed lobbed Cape Verde keeper Vozinha within the 92nd minute and belted off in celebration, ripping off his shirt and clutching his head in his palms, protected within the data that he had saved his workforce, his nation.
However wait: right here come Cape Verde, essentially the most extraordinary workforce of the event, equalising within the 99th minute via Bryan Teixeira. Despair.
Absolutely Egypt had been accomplished for? And but they had been saved by the incompetence of others as phrase finally filtered via that Ghana had conceded twice in stoppage time to throw away a 2-0 lead. Aid. Chaos. Superb.
Nick Miller
Explaining what makes the Africa Cup of Nations so particular is an virtually unattainable job. However my favorite storyline, one that completely illustrates the great thing about AFCON, is the story of host nation Ivory Coast’s three group-stage video games.
You start with an emphatic victory over Guinea-Bissau, with what seems like a inventive and impenetrable midfield trio. Then you definitely concede a penalty and lose to a steely Nigeria facet in your second recreation. Lastly comes the embarrassment of the 4-0 defeat to Group A’s shock bundle Equatorial Guinea.
You concede three targets within the final 17 minutes of the sport, stroll off in shame in entrance of your heartbroken residence help, and sack head coach Jean-Louis Gasset because it seems like all hope is misplaced and you might be exiting the competitors.
Nevertheless, that is AFCON, the competitors like no different. Due to the event’s rule permitting one of the best third-placed groups to progress into the knockout spherical, with it wanting like your race had been run, you now you will have a few days to organize for a round-of-16 match towards a rampant Senegal. Stunning.
Nnamdi Onyeagwara
It was a type of choices that regarded questionable the second it grew to become public — not essentially due to Algeria’s motion itself however what it signified.
Algeria boss Djamel Belmadi dropped captain Riyad Mahrez to the bench for his or her crunch Group D finale towards Mauritania. By half-time, the 32-year-old was being rushed on instead within the hope of rescuing the 2019 champions from a second successive group-stage exit.
It didn’t work, Mauritania had the primary AFCON win of their historical past, Belmadi misplaced his job and the unravelling of Algeria as a soccer power of their 5 years since claiming the title was full — no less than they are going to hope there isn’t any additional unravelling to endure.
Michael Bailey
To deceive the officers with one of many extra apparent handballs in latest reminiscence is a few achievement. To then have a good time the objective that got here from the handball knowing that the VAR system is in operation is perfection.
The offender was Ebrima Colley, who pretended he had legally made it 3-3 towards Cameroon in The Gambia’s ultimate Group C recreation, having already scored off the bench.
Sadly for him (and people hoping for unbridled controversy), the VAR didn’t take lengthy to find out he had scored together with his hand.
The excellent news: Colley in some way prevented additional punishment. The unhealthy information: The Gambia had been eradicated from AFCON 2023 with out a level.
Ed Mackey
What to sit up for
When different outcomes went within the Ivory Coast’s favour they usually certified for the spherical of 16, folks had been cheering within the streets of Abidjan.
The sense of aid was palpable however they face an enormous check to succeed in the quarter-finals. Senegal are the holders and the one workforce with a 100 per cent successful file. Ivory Coast are limping after successive defeats to Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, and it may get so much worse for the host nation.
It guarantees to be an thrilling fixture between two sides filled with expertise. You’ll be able to simply inform there will probably be loads of drama.
Jay Harris
The potential return of Salah, which might be pretty miraculous not simply because the restoration time set for his injured hamstring is more likely to run very near the ultimate.
First, Egypt have to make the ultimate they usually laboured within the group phases. DR Congo within the final 16 isn’t any gimme. Second, Salah wants to truly get match — and no matter Liverpool are placing out publicly, they are going to be loath to say that he’s good to go if there may be any doubt. They’ve a Premier League title to win.
However Salah has by no means received AFCON with Egypt and you may inform he’s dying to place that on his file. This might be Lionel Messi with Argentina in Qatar — if solely Salah and Egypt get there.
Phil Hay
GO DEEPER
Confusion and blame surrounds Mohamed Salah’s AFCON departure
Maybe one of many greatest issues that floor when you’ve developed right into a world-class expertise is that folks all the time anticipate extra.
Nigeria expects. Their setting is a stress cooker and Victor Osimhen, who can realistically depend himself as among the finest strikers on the earth, is Nigeria’s primary man bar none.
GO DEEPER
‘Right here, if you happen to don’t win, it’s a loss’ – contained in the Nigeria AFCON stress cooker
The 25-year-old, who was named Serie A’s participant of the yr after serving to hearth Napoli to the scudetto final season, discovered the web in his nation’s 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea on January 14 and when Nigeria deal with the knockout phases, there’s just one man followers will look to for inspiration.
The stress on Osimhen’s shoulders will probably be large. In line with Opta, he’s registered extra pictures (13) than anyone else in the course of the event however it would even be fascinating to see how he rises to the event, beginning with Saturday evening’s last-16 conflict towards Cameroon.
Dan Barnes
The off-field politics surrounding Cameroon’s goalkeeper Andre Onana and their FA president Samuel Eto’o is a captivating plotline within the Indomitable Lions’ ongoing telenovela.
Onana, 27, retired from worldwide soccer in 2022 after a disagreement with Eto’o, whom he considers his “footballing father”.
Watching former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Eto’o bark tactical orders from the stands whereas supervisor Rigobert Music stood on the touchline throughout their workforce’s 3-2 win over Gambia, with Manchester United’s No 1 goalkeeper benched for his cousin Fabrice Ondoa, who performs in France’s second division, was an eye-opening snapshot.
There could also be extra twists and turns to return.
Max Mathews
Nigeria vs Cameroon: the battle of the dysfunctional huge boys
Your common AFCON viewer would put Nigeria and Cameroon proper up there as event favourites. Each are steeped in AFCON heritage with seven titles between them and high-profile gamers of their squads.
However each have, in their very own methods, been dysfunctional on this event: Cameroon have the continuing psychodrama involving Onana — goalkeeper when he fancies it, goal of Eto’o’s ire and inexplicable advisor to attacking free-kick takers.
Nigeria’s story has been extra of an on-pitch traditional, with the stress heaped on them from all quarters maybe contributing to some very stodgy performances and their star man, Osimhen, spraying probabilities in every single place.
Their match-up within the second spherical might be an absolute all-timer by way of chaos, head-loss and drama.
Nick Miller
Within the group stage, we noticed the unearthing of a number of stars together with Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue and Fabrice Ondoa, Andre Onana’s alternative in between the sticks for Cameroon, in addition to Angola’s Gelson Dala and Senegal’s Lamine Camara.
Now it’s time for the large stars to spark into life — no less than, these which are nonetheless within the event. Sadio Mane has scored only one objective for Senegal, Naby Keita has began a single recreation for Guinea, Salah is injured, we’re but to see a dominant midfield efficiency from Yves Bissouma for Mali, and fingers are nonetheless crossed to see if we get to see Cameroon’s prolific striker Vincent Aboubakar compete in Ivory Coast.
As a Nigerian, I wouldn’t thoughts if Osimhen began placing his probabilities away and reminded everybody why he is without doubt one of the most sought-after gamers in soccer.
Nnamdi Onyeagwara
Do you keep in mind Emilio Nsue’s 100 video games in England at Middlesbrough and Birmingham from 2014 to 2018? You received’t be alone if you happen to don’t. I used to be at his Birmingham debut and I don’t.
This AFCON, nonetheless, will probably be rather more memorable because the full-back-turned-striker, now 34, hits the type of his life. He’s the event’s main scorer with 5 targets in three video games for Equatorial Guinea, together with the primary AFCON hat-trick since 2008.
Going through and beating Guinea within the final 16 may carry a big likelihood so as to add to his tally in a reliable facet.
Michael Bailey
Senegal are fascinating.
The reigning champions are taking part in one of the best soccer on the event, mirrored of their nine-point Group C haul.
It has prolonged their AFCON successful run to 6 video games and they’re well-placed to develop into the fourth nation to efficiently defend the title. Their workforce is dripping with high quality and, together with wingers Mane and Ismaila Sarr, Marseille’s Pape Gueye has been immense in midfield.
Ed Mackey
When are the last-16 matches?
Saturday, January 27
Angola vs Namibia
Venue: Stade de la Paix, Bouake
Kick-off: 17:00 GMT
Nigeria vs Cameroon
Venue: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Sunday, January 28
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea
Venue: Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan
Kick-off: 17:00 GMT
Egypt vs DR Congo
Venue: Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Monday, January 29
Cape Verde vs Mauritania
Venue: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan
Kick-off: 17:00 GMT
Senegal vs Ivory Coast
Venue: Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Tuesday, January 30
Mali vs Burkina Faso
Venue: Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo
Kick-off: 17:00 GMT
Morocco vs South Africa
Venue: Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pedro
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Who may play who within the quarter-finals?
(Prime images: Getty Photos)
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