Afcon2023 | Zooming into the last 16

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In the marquee match of the round, defending champions Senegal will take on tournament hosts Ivory Coast, while Nigeria and Cameroon resemble a fixture that could easily be mistaken for a final.

Here are some fixtures to look out for in the knockout round: 

SATURDAY

Nigeria vs Cameroon, 10pm 

Despite a shaky start, the two giants managed their qualification to the knockout stage.

Nigeria are hoping to end a decade without an Afcon trophy.

Cameroon coach Rigobert Song is under pressure to give his country a better performance in the knockout stage after struggling in the group stage, where the Indomitable Lions won just one game.

Obviously, one of the powerhouses will crash out in the round of 16.

The game is at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.

Angola vs Namibia, 7pm 

Namibia made history by qualifying to the knockout stage for the first time in their history since debuting in 1998. They face Angola, who topped a group involving Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso and Mauritania.

Angola will want more based on their record in the history of the competition: two-time quarterfinalists. The game is scheduled to take place at Stade de la paix in Bouake.

SUNDAY

Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea, 7pm 

Equatorial Guinea shockingly managed to top a group involving hosts Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

They face a Guinean side who haven’t been consistent with results in this year’s Afcon.

The Syli Nationals will have the competition’s top scorer, Emilio Nsue, to deal with in this fixture. The game is at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.

Egypt vs DR Congo, 10pm 

Egypt qualified after drawing all group games. It was obviously not a good one for the Pharaohs. As the most successful country in the history of the competition, their presence in the knockout stage is a threat to any team they face and DRC is no exception. The game will be played at the Laurent Pokou Stadium.

MONDAY

Cape Verde vs Mauritania, 7pm 

After a shocking run in the group stage, which saw Cape Verde going unbeaten and leading a group involving two previous Afcon champions, Egypt and Ghana, the Blue Sharks will have Mauritania to deal with in the round of 16.

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Amir Abdou have already exceeded expectations by getting this far with Mauritania.

They can, however, write more history as they face Cape Verde. The game is at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.

Senegal vs Ivory Coast, 10pm

Following their disappointing 4-0 defeat on the final day, host Ivory Coast only progressed after Zambia lost to Morocco in their final group F game. They have been handed a tough test against defending champions, Senegal. Senegal have a 100% record in the tournament and the fixture is a tough one for the host.

The game will be played at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.

TUESDAY

Morocco vs South Africa, 10pm

The 2022 Fifa World Cup semifinalists are on track to win the Afcon title. On their way to achieving the feat, they will face a Bafana side that attacks with Percy Tau and Themba Zwane, who will give the Moroccans lot of problems to deal with. The game is at the Laurent Pokou Stadium.

Mali vs Burkina Faso, 7pm 

Burkina Faso brought their group stage games to a disappointing end after losing 2-0 to Angola.

Mali went unbeaten in all their group stage games and will have the advantage of playing at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Kohorgo. The venue they played most of their group games at. 

- CAFonline