The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 Round of 16 fixtures have been revealed, with 16 countries confirmed to play in the knockout stage of the tournament.
The group stage of the tournament concluded on January 24, 2024, setting up some exciting matches in the knockout stage. The following is a list of the countries that have qualified for the Round of 16:
- Equatorial Guinea (Group A, 1st place)
- Nigeria (Group A, 2nd place)
- Cape Verde (Group B, 1st place)
- Egypt (Group B, 2nd place)
- Senegal (Group C, 1st place)
- Cameroon (Group C, 2nd place)
- Angola (Group D, 1st place)
- Democratic Republic of Congo (Group D, 2nd place)
- Guinea (Group E, 1st place)
- Nigeria (Group E, 2nd place)
- Burkina Faso (Group F, 1st place)
- Mali (Group F, 2nd place)
- South Africa (best third-placed team)
- Ivory Coast (best third-placed team)
- Mauritania (best third-placed team)
- Namibia (best third-placed team)
The Round of 16 fixtures will take place from January 27 to January 30, 2024, with the following matches scheduled:
January 27:
- Angola vs. Namibia
- Nigeria vs. Cameroon
January 28:
- Equatorial Guinea vs. Guinea
- Egypt vs. Democratic Republic of Congo
January 29:
- Cape Verde vs. Mauritania
- Senegal vs. Ivory Coast
January 30:
- Mali vs. Burkina Faso
- Morocco vs. South Africa
In the event that two teams are tied on points, their placing will be determined by the following criteria:
- Points in the head-to-head match between the two tied teams
- Goal difference in the group
- Goals scored overall in the group
- Drawing of lots
In the knockout stages, games will go to 30 minutes of extra time and then penalties if the teams cannot be separated. There will also be a third-place playoff between the two losing semifinalists to determine who gets the bronze medal.
In the latest #AFCON update, the Round of 16 ties have been officially set, promising thrilling matchups:
🇲🇦 Morocco vs. South Africa 🇿🇦 The Lions of the Atlas face Bafana Bafana in what is expected to be a fierce battle for a spot in the quarterfinals.
🇳🇬 Nigeria vs. Cameroon 🇨🇲 The Super Eagles take on the Indomitable Lions in a clash between two African football powerhouses, promising high-stakes drama.
🇸🇳 Senegal vs. Ivory Coast 🇨🇮 The Lions of Teranga square off against the Elephants, setting the stage for an intense showdown between these West African rivals.
🇪🇬 Egypt vs. DR Congo 🇨🇩 The Pharaohs go head-to-head with the Leopards in a fixture that guarantees excitement as both teams vie for a place in the quarterfinals.
🇦🇴 Angola vs. Namibia 🇳🇦 The Palancas Negras meet the Brave Warriors in a Round of 16 battle, with both teams eager to make their mark in the tournament.
🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea vs. Guinea 🇬🇳 In a clash of Equatorial Guinea against Guinea, the teams look to outshine each other for a chance to progress in the competition.
🇨🇻 Cape Verde vs. Mauritania 🇲🇷 The Blue Sharks take on the Lions of Chinguetti in a matchup that could potentially be filled with surprises and standout performances.
🇲🇱 Mali vs. Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 The Eagles of Mali face the Stallions of Burkina Faso in what promises to be a thrilling encounter, as both teams aim to secure a spot in the next round.
Football fans can anticipate a series of gripping and action-packed matches as these teams compete for glory in the knockout stage of #AFCON.
In conclusion, the AFCON 2023 Round of 16 fixtures have been revealed, with 16 countries confirmed to play in the knockout stage of the tournament. The matches promise to be exciting, with some of the best teams in Africa set to face off against each other.
The tournament has already produced some shocks, beautiful goals, records, history, and passionate fans turning up at match venues, and the knockout stage is expected to be even more thrilling.