Last time out we covered just the first knockout round (or round of 16) in the African Championship. There were a couple of shocks, and this is how it panned out:
Today we are going to finish the whole tournament, meaning we're doing the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Quarter-finals
Burkina Faso vs Angola
This isn't exactly a quarter-final line-up many would have predicted. And neither particularly shone in their group stage, but Angola's surprise win over Tunisia has blown this quarter of the draw wide open. Burkina Faso narrowly overcame Cape Verde after extra time, and are probably marginal favourites here.
Both teams line up with 4-4-2s, although Angola's features two DMs rather than two CMs. It was Angola who nearly opened the scoring early on, as Mingo Bille tried a speculative strike as Burkinabé keeper Adama Sawadogo was out of position, but he recovered to save. At the other end Cheick Diomandé missed with an effort from range, but that proved just to be him getting his eye in, as a minute later he let fly from 30 yards and found the top corner! A wonderful goal that is surely the goal of the tournament, and it left Angola needing to attack. They couldn't muster anything serious before the break.
Quarter-finals
Burkina Faso vs Angola
This isn't exactly a quarter-final line-up many would have predicted. And neither particularly shone in their group stage, but Angola's surprise win over Tunisia has blown this quarter of the draw wide open. Burkina Faso narrowly overcame Cape Verde after extra time, and are probably marginal favourites here.
Both teams line up with 4-4-2s, although Angola's features two DMs rather than two CMs. It was Angola who nearly opened the scoring early on, as Mingo Bille tried a speculative strike as Burkinabé keeper Adama Sawadogo was out of position, but he recovered to save. At the other end Cheick Diomandé missed with an effort from range, but that proved just to be him getting his eye in, as a minute later he let fly from 30 yards and found the top corner! A wonderful goal that is surely the goal of the tournament, and it left Angola needing to attack. They couldn't muster anything serious before the break.
Mingo Bille again tested Sawadogo just before the hour mark, but the game was soon swiftly taken away from Angola. First, Wilfried Dah headed Burkina Faso two ahead, and then a few moments later Angola went down to 10 men for a two-footed lunge by Job. Angola limped to full time unable to change the course of the match, and it's Burkina Faso who are the unlikely first team into the semi-finals.
Nigeria vs Algeria
A satisfying match-up, given the teams' rhyming names. In stark contrast to the previous game, both teams here have 100% records through the tournament. Nigeria have particularly shone, including a 4-0 win last time out against Gabon.
Yannis Tafer is a winger of average height, so it is a surprise to see him scoring his second header in two games, but that's exactly what he did to give Algeria a 9th-minute lead. Nigeria responded with a Victor Obinna cross giving namesake Anichebe a clear sight of goal, but his volley was mishit and easily saved. At the other end Amine Aoudia was one-on-one, but denied by Fatua Dauda.
Nigeria continued to push for a leveller in the second half, and they finally got it as John Ogu's fearsome shot from range thundered in. The game became cagey in the final moments. Aoudia nearly stole the win with a glancing header just wide, but with no winner we went to extra time.
Nigeria vs Algeria
A satisfying match-up, given the teams' rhyming names. In stark contrast to the previous game, both teams here have 100% records through the tournament. Nigeria have particularly shone, including a 4-0 win last time out against Gabon.
Yannis Tafer is a winger of average height, so it is a surprise to see him scoring his second header in two games, but that's exactly what he did to give Algeria a 9th-minute lead. Nigeria responded with a Victor Obinna cross giving namesake Anichebe a clear sight of goal, but his volley was mishit and easily saved. At the other end Amine Aoudia was one-on-one, but denied by Fatua Dauda.
Nigeria continued to push for a leveller in the second half, and they finally got it as John Ogu's fearsome shot from range thundered in. The game became cagey in the final moments. Aoudia nearly stole the win with a glancing header just wide, but with no winner we went to extra time.
As we went into extra time, Nigeria appeared to change into a kit which rendered them invisible?
Anyway, from the position shown above, Fred Friday's cross was glanced in by Ikechukwu Uche to put Nigeria ahead. Uche nearly added another in the second half of extra time, but his goal proved enough for Nigeria to progress 2-1 winners.
South Africa vs Cameroon
South Africa, the pre-tournament favourites, have had little trouble so far in this tournament, although they weren't entirely convincing against Ghana. They face a Cameroon team that qualified in third from their group and only overcame Egypt on penalties.
Pierre Webó nearly put Cameroon ahead in the 20th minute as he headed wide from a corner. South Africa nearly scored immediately after, as Gastón Sirino volleyed over from close range. South Africa continued to pile on the pressure - Aubrey Modiba tested Cameroon keeper Guy Ndy Assembe with a fierce shot, before Ricardo Nascimento headed over from 2 yards out. That miss was particularly crucial, as Cameroon took the lead a couple of minutes later, as Modiba's poor clearance allowed Olivier Boubal to tee up Webó for a simple tap in just before half time.
South Africa vs Cameroon
South Africa, the pre-tournament favourites, have had little trouble so far in this tournament, although they weren't entirely convincing against Ghana. They face a Cameroon team that qualified in third from their group and only overcame Egypt on penalties.
Pierre Webó nearly put Cameroon ahead in the 20th minute as he headed wide from a corner. South Africa nearly scored immediately after, as Gastón Sirino volleyed over from close range. South Africa continued to pile on the pressure - Aubrey Modiba tested Cameroon keeper Guy Ndy Assembe with a fierce shot, before Ricardo Nascimento headed over from 2 yards out. That miss was particularly crucial, as Cameroon took the lead a couple of minutes later, as Modiba's poor clearance allowed Olivier Boubal to tee up Webó for a simple tap in just before half time.
Cameroon defended superbly, pushing South Africa away from their goal such that their illustrious opponents couldn't carve out an opportunity until the 89th minute. This chance saw Modiba fire in a low shot, but Ndy Assembe pushed it behind for a corner, and a few minutes later Cameroon had clinched a highly impressive victory!
Ivory Coast vs Sudan
Sudan marked themselves as ones to watch in the previous round. They had already won their group, and followed it up by beating Senegal 4-0. Ivory Coast, meanwhile, are doing okay, even if they had to battle to beat Kenya 1-0 last time out.
The first half was drab, but just before the interval Sudan grabbed the lead as Ragei Abdelati burst down the right and clipped in a cross for Abdelhameed Amari to head in! The second half was just as quiet, and it looked like that one moment of quality might be enough to settle it. Ivory Coast did come to life, though, as Brahima Bakayoko headed a free kick just over in the 82nd minute. And 8 minutes later a fizzed low cross by Sékou Cissé found Wilfried Bony, who calmly placed it into the bottom corner! So to extra time...
Ivory Coast vs Sudan
Sudan marked themselves as ones to watch in the previous round. They had already won their group, and followed it up by beating Senegal 4-0. Ivory Coast, meanwhile, are doing okay, even if they had to battle to beat Kenya 1-0 last time out.
The first half was drab, but just before the interval Sudan grabbed the lead as Ragei Abdelati burst down the right and clipped in a cross for Abdelhameed Amari to head in! The second half was just as quiet, and it looked like that one moment of quality might be enough to settle it. Ivory Coast did come to life, though, as Brahima Bakayoko headed a free kick just over in the 82nd minute. And 8 minutes later a fizzed low cross by Sékou Cissé found Wilfried Bony, who calmly placed it into the bottom corner! So to extra time...
In keeping with the preceding 90 minutes, extra time saw few chances as well. This time there was no late action, and we went all the way to penalties!
The sides each put away their first two, before Sudan's Ala Eldin Babiker went down the middle and was denied by Abdoul Karim Cissé! Again, the sides scored their next two each, leaving the final normal penalty to Sékou Cissé, and he converted to see his team through!
Sudan go out, and remarkably that means only one team that won their group remain in the competition:
The sides each put away their first two, before Sudan's Ala Eldin Babiker went down the middle and was denied by Abdoul Karim Cissé! Again, the sides scored their next two each, leaving the final normal penalty to Sékou Cissé, and he converted to see his team through!
Sudan go out, and remarkably that means only one team that won their group remain in the competition:
Semi-finals
Burkina Faso vs Nigeria
Burkina Faso have had relatively tame draw so far, but now they face the clear tournament favourites Nigeria. A tough scrape with Algeria nearly saw Nigeria succumb, but they battled through and have it all to lose here.
Nigeria settled any potential nerves quickly, as they opened the scoring in the third minute of the game. A quick ball out to Chibuzor Okonkwo overlapping on the right allowed him to cross, and Uche rose highest to head in, continuing his fine form. Nosa Igiebor nearly added a swift second with a 30-yard strike that pinged the crossbar. A huge error from Paul Koulibaly nearly allowed Anichebe to score, but he recovered to make a fantastic block. Nigeria did get their second eventually, though, as they were awarded a penalty just before the half hour point. Uche stepped up and confidently put it away.
Burkina Faso never looked like getting back into it in the second half, as Nigeria continued their march towards the final. Anichebe and Uche both went close with headers, before Obinna finally killed the game off with a volley from a corner. A deserved 3-0 triumph, and Nigeria are looking like champions-in-waiting.
Burkina Faso vs Nigeria
Burkina Faso have had relatively tame draw so far, but now they face the clear tournament favourites Nigeria. A tough scrape with Algeria nearly saw Nigeria succumb, but they battled through and have it all to lose here.
Nigeria settled any potential nerves quickly, as they opened the scoring in the third minute of the game. A quick ball out to Chibuzor Okonkwo overlapping on the right allowed him to cross, and Uche rose highest to head in, continuing his fine form. Nosa Igiebor nearly added a swift second with a 30-yard strike that pinged the crossbar. A huge error from Paul Koulibaly nearly allowed Anichebe to score, but he recovered to make a fantastic block. Nigeria did get their second eventually, though, as they were awarded a penalty just before the half hour point. Uche stepped up and confidently put it away.
Burkina Faso never looked like getting back into it in the second half, as Nigeria continued their march towards the final. Anichebe and Uche both went close with headers, before Obinna finally killed the game off with a volley from a corner. A deserved 3-0 triumph, and Nigeria are looking like champions-in-waiting.
Cameroon vs Ivory Coast
Two teams here who haven't been at the pinnacle of African DWC football, but both here with a glorious chance to have some success. It's hard to pick a favourite here, although in the last round Cameroon claimed the more impressive win.
Ivory Coast started strongly. Bony headed just over, but Cameroon failed to adjust as Fonsinho headed home a minute later. And they were two up by the 11th minute as Hervé Diomandé glanced Constant Djakpa's free kick home. Within a minute Ivory Coast were attacking again, as Sékou Sanogo forced Ndy Assembe into a save. Diomandé nearly had another headed goal from a Djakpa free kick but it went over with the whole goal empty. Eventually, the storm subsided and Cameroon got to the break somehow only two down.
Two teams here who haven't been at the pinnacle of African DWC football, but both here with a glorious chance to have some success. It's hard to pick a favourite here, although in the last round Cameroon claimed the more impressive win.
Ivory Coast started strongly. Bony headed just over, but Cameroon failed to adjust as Fonsinho headed home a minute later. And they were two up by the 11th minute as Hervé Diomandé glanced Constant Djakpa's free kick home. Within a minute Ivory Coast were attacking again, as Sékou Sanogo forced Ndy Assembe into a save. Diomandé nearly had another headed goal from a Djakpa free kick but it went over with the whole goal empty. Eventually, the storm subsided and Cameroon got to the break somehow only two down.
Ivory Coast continued to run all over Cameroon in the second half. Diomandé once again nearly scored from a corner, this time hitting the bar. But Ivory Coast's intensity dropped off, and they were happy to see out one of the most one-sided 2-0 wins you'll ever see.
Final
Nigeria vs Ivory Coast
Nigeria come into this as hot favourites, as they have only been troubled in one match (against Algeria). But Ivory Coast might just be peaking at the right moment, as their performance against Cameroon showed.
Nigeria vs Ivory Coast
Nigeria come into this as hot favourites, as they have only been troubled in one match (against Algeria). But Ivory Coast might just be peaking at the right moment, as their performance against Cameroon showed.
Nigeria create space down the left-hand side, and Ajibade Omolade finds Uche with his cross, but his header is straight at Cissé. Ivory Coast get it away but again Nigeria attack down the left. Omolade again puts the ball in, and it should be cleared by one of three Ivorian defenders, but somehow Anichebe steals between them and heads Nigeria ahead!
The Djakpa-Diomandé combination could have almost single-handedly won Ivory Coast the semi-final, and they nearly bring about the equaliser as Djakpa's free kick was headed against the post by Diomandé. The rest of the half was fairly even, but with no chances - or indeed shots - for either side.
5 minutes into the second half, and Ivory Coast have a free kick 35 yards out. Djakpa again stands over it, but this time instead of aiming for Diomandé he aims for goal, and despite being towards the centre of the goal Dauda can't keep it out and we're level!
5 minutes into the second half, and Ivory Coast have a free kick 35 yards out. Djakpa again stands over it, but this time instead of aiming for Diomandé he aims for goal, and despite being towards the centre of the goal Dauda can't keep it out and we're level!
After having four shots before Ivory Coast's first effort, Nigeria have only had one since. But they get out of their funk in style as they swiftly retake the lead! The ball is worked out to - surprise, surprise - Omolade, who whips in a ball which Nduka Ozokwo heads into the far corner!
Despite Ivory Coast eventually moving to a 4-2-4 and instructing everyone forwards, there are no more highlights and the final 32 minutes go by with no drama (and barely any shots), almost as if the players aren't listening. Anyway, the final whistle goes and Nigeria win the African Championship!
A slightly lame ending to a really exciting tournament. Africa showed that it has good strength in depth in DWC football, even if one of the big names won the title.
A slightly lame ending to a really exciting tournament. Africa showed that it has good strength in depth in DWC football, even if one of the big names won the title.
Next time we're going to switch to South America, covering the group stages in the championship there.