ROUND-OF-16 FIXTURES
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Nigeria versus Cameroon
Angola versus Namibia
Sunday, January 28, 2024
Egypt versus DR Congo
Equatorial Guinea versus Guinea
Monday, January 29, 2024
Senegal versus Ivory Coast
Cape Verde versus Mauritania
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Mali versus Burkina Faso
Wednesday, January 30, 2024
Morocco versus South Africa
C-NEWS BUREAU CHIEF
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Finals in Ivory Coast has been a thrilling goal fest since its kickoff on January 14, with the group stages alone witnessing a staggering tally of over 90 goals. But the real headline-grabber of the tournament has been the remarkable performance of teams previously labeled as underdogs.
Cape Verde, Mauritania, Mozambique, Gambia, Namibia, and Angola have been turning the tables on the so-called football giants, leaving fans and pundits alike in awe. A prime example of this seismic shift was Mauritania’s stunning 1-0 victory over Algeria, the 2019 AFCON champions. This shocking result on Tuesday night (January 23) sent the Algerians packing, finishing at the bottom of Group E with a meager point. Despite boasting star players like Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani, Algeria’s campaign fizzled out with underwhelming performances against Angola and Burkina Faso.
Angola, on the other hand, topped Group E with seven points, followed by Burkina Faso, who secured their round-of-16 spot, leaving Algeria in their wake. Mauritania, meanwhile, eyes a historic spot in the round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
In Group B, Cape Verde and Mozambique have been defying expectations, standing toe-to-toe with former champions Ghana and Egypt. Cape Verde’s triumph over Ghana (2-1) and their draw with Egypt (2-2) saw them topping the group, while Mozambique bowed out on a high, securing impressive draws against both Egypt and Ghana.
Group C witnessed another nail-biter, with Cameroon narrowly avoiding an early exit after clinching a late 3-2 victory over Gambia on Tuesday night.
For Ugandan football enthusiasts, these unexpected results are a wake-up call. With the Cranes having missed out on the Finals due to Algeria and Tanzania, the performance of their upcoming opponent in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Mozambique, is a clear signal. Once considered a walkover, Mozambique’s prowess at AFCON has redefined them as a formidable threat to Uganda’s World Cup aspirations. As the dust settles on these group-stage upsets, the Cranes’ fans must recalibrate their expectations for the challenges ahead.