Only eight teams remain in the race for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
This time, the quarter-finalists—Nigeria, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Angola, Cape Verde, Mali, and Congo DR—are different from those of two years ago.
Following the elimination of Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, and Algeria, Nigeria’s Super Eagles are now the highest-ranked team left.
Jose Peseiro’s squad will begin the second phase of the knockout rounds with a rare match against Angola.
Angola’s notable 1-1 draw with the Eagles in Kano to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup is still fresh in memory and Nigeria is keen on revenge, possibly dedicating a win to the late Sam Okwaraji.
Ivory Coast, the hosts, managed a Round of 16 victory over defending champions Senegal via penalties and are set to play against Mali next. This match will truly evaluate their progress as a team and the impact of home support.
South Africa’s victory over World Cup semi-finalists Morocco has made them one of the favorites, and they will face Cape Verde in the quarter-finals—a potentially challenging encounter given Cape Verde’s strong performance in the group stage.
The final quarter-final match will feature Guinea against DR Congo, with the prospect of an unlikely semi-finalist emerging from this fixture.
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