Last time out we covered the whole African Championship group stage, with 16 teams making it through. This is the bracket for the knockout stages:
15 games is a few too many to cover in one go, particularly since it's nice to go into the final in some detail. So today we'll just do the second round (or Round of 16) matches today.
Burkina Faso vs Cape Verde
Whoever wins this match will be an unlikely quarter-finalist. Both finished second in their groups, and will see this as a great chance to progress.
Cape Verde started much stronger, although they could only create half-chances that Adama Sawadogo kept out with ease. At the other end, Wilfried Dah got onto the end of a free kick and should have scored, but was denied by a smart stop from Thierry Graca. The second half was much quieter, and the game went to extra time.
Just before half time in extra time, Dah got another opportunity, very similar to the first, and this time he buried it into the bottom corner! Cape Verde couldn't find a response, and the goal was enough to secure Burkina Faso victory!
Burkina Faso vs Cape Verde
Whoever wins this match will be an unlikely quarter-finalist. Both finished second in their groups, and will see this as a great chance to progress.
Cape Verde started much stronger, although they could only create half-chances that Adama Sawadogo kept out with ease. At the other end, Wilfried Dah got onto the end of a free kick and should have scored, but was denied by a smart stop from Thierry Graca. The second half was much quieter, and the game went to extra time.
Just before half time in extra time, Dah got another opportunity, very similar to the first, and this time he buried it into the bottom corner! Cape Verde couldn't find a response, and the goal was enough to secure Burkina Faso victory!
Tunisia vs Angola
Angola scraped into this round as one of the best-performing 3rd-placed teams, whilst Tunisia comfortably won their group. With the other teams who dominated their group receiving much trickier ties, Tunisia are probably the strongest favourite in this round.
Angola's stubborn 4-4-2, with two DMs, denied Tunisia any decent chances in the whole first half. They eventually created a golden opportunity just before the hour mark when Taha Yassine Khenissi had a clear sight of goal, but Élber parried the tame shot. Oussama Darragi flashed a shot wide, but Tunisia were hit by a sucker punch at the other end as Anderson Aquino got onto a punted ball forwards, and smashed Angola ahead. Tunisia came back at Angola, as Hatem Ben Arfa curled an effort just wide. However, Tunisia were only getting shots away from outside the box as Angola defended brilliantly. And they couldn't find an equaliser, meaning Angola triumph 1-0, the first big shock of the tournament!
Angola scraped into this round as one of the best-performing 3rd-placed teams, whilst Tunisia comfortably won their group. With the other teams who dominated their group receiving much trickier ties, Tunisia are probably the strongest favourite in this round.
Angola's stubborn 4-4-2, with two DMs, denied Tunisia any decent chances in the whole first half. They eventually created a golden opportunity just before the hour mark when Taha Yassine Khenissi had a clear sight of goal, but Élber parried the tame shot. Oussama Darragi flashed a shot wide, but Tunisia were hit by a sucker punch at the other end as Anderson Aquino got onto a punted ball forwards, and smashed Angola ahead. Tunisia came back at Angola, as Hatem Ben Arfa curled an effort just wide. However, Tunisia were only getting shots away from outside the box as Angola defended brilliantly. And they couldn't find an equaliser, meaning Angola triumph 1-0, the first big shock of the tournament!
Nigeria vs Gabon
Nigeria took the maximum 9 points from the group stage. Gabon, meanwhile, finished third in a group they were top seeds for, although their 4 points meant they were the best-performing 3rd-placed team.
Nigeria quickly camped themselves in Gabon's half, isolating their opponent's striker Abbe Ibrahim. After several chances, Nigeria eventually took the lead when Ikechukwu Uche was allowed a free shot 6 yards from goal under no pressure at all.
Just after the break Victor Anichebe rattled a header against the post, it bounced into goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda and in to double Nigeria's lead, and a few minutes later Uche added another as a free kick found him completely unmarked at the far post. Stéphane N'Guema headed narrowly wide as Gabon belatedly put Nigeria under some pressure, but chances were still coming at the other end. Victor Obinna hit Gabon's post, and in the dying moments he teed up Uche to complete his hat-trick and round off a resounding 4-0 victory.
Nigeria took the maximum 9 points from the group stage. Gabon, meanwhile, finished third in a group they were top seeds for, although their 4 points meant they were the best-performing 3rd-placed team.
Nigeria quickly camped themselves in Gabon's half, isolating their opponent's striker Abbe Ibrahim. After several chances, Nigeria eventually took the lead when Ikechukwu Uche was allowed a free shot 6 yards from goal under no pressure at all.
Just after the break Victor Anichebe rattled a header against the post, it bounced into goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda and in to double Nigeria's lead, and a few minutes later Uche added another as a free kick found him completely unmarked at the far post. Stéphane N'Guema headed narrowly wide as Gabon belatedly put Nigeria under some pressure, but chances were still coming at the other end. Victor Obinna hit Gabon's post, and in the dying moments he teed up Uche to complete his hat-trick and round off a resounding 4-0 victory.
Algeria vs Congo
Algeria, like Nigeria, won all 3 group games, but they face a Congo team that performed very well in their group, narrowly missing out to South Africa and beating Angola 5-0 along the way.
Kévin Andzouana nearly put Congo ahead early on with a powerful header from a free kick, but it was parried by Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche. Algeria made Congo pay immediately, as Abdelmoumene Djabou fired them ahead with a beautifully-struck volley. Congo continued to threaten at set pieces, as Zemmamouche produced another good save to deny Delvin Ndinga from a corner.
Algeria, like Nigeria, won all 3 group games, but they face a Congo team that performed very well in their group, narrowly missing out to South Africa and beating Angola 5-0 along the way.
Kévin Andzouana nearly put Congo ahead early on with a powerful header from a free kick, but it was parried by Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche. Algeria made Congo pay immediately, as Abdelmoumene Djabou fired them ahead with a beautifully-struck volley. Congo continued to threaten at set pieces, as Zemmamouche produced another good save to deny Delvin Ndinga from a corner.
The second half saw fewer chances, until the final 15 minutes. Fabrice Ondama very nearly found Congo's equaliser after a solo run, but his shot hit the outside of the post. Mehdi Lacen nearly doubled Algeria's lead with a long-range free kick that clanged off the post, but it didn't matter as Yannis Tafer finally got Algeria's second with a close-range header late on. A very fun game, and Algeria continue their winning run.
South Africa vs Ghana
South Africa are last team who won each of their group games. Their reward is a potentially tricky tie against a Ghana team that qualified comfortably behind Tunisia.
Ghana looked to frustrate South Africa with a tightly-packed 4-5-1 formation, with a very tough-tackling midfield. It partially worked; they conceded a lot of chances, but they were from difficult positions and with plenty of bodies in the way to keep the game scoreless for the first half.
Mauricio Affonso had a good chance to put South Africa ahead with a close-range volley, but he fired over. Ghana got their first real chance as Nana Boateng clipped the ball over the defence for Nathaniel Asamoah to run onto. However, he was forced out wide and Itumeleng Khune pushed it behind. The breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute as Rivaldo Coetzee headed in a free kick. Ghana's hopes of a revival were dashed when Sulley Muntari picked up a second yellow card (shock horror), and South Africa saw out the single-goal win.
South Africa vs Ghana
South Africa are last team who won each of their group games. Their reward is a potentially tricky tie against a Ghana team that qualified comfortably behind Tunisia.
Ghana looked to frustrate South Africa with a tightly-packed 4-5-1 formation, with a very tough-tackling midfield. It partially worked; they conceded a lot of chances, but they were from difficult positions and with plenty of bodies in the way to keep the game scoreless for the first half.
Mauricio Affonso had a good chance to put South Africa ahead with a close-range volley, but he fired over. Ghana got their first real chance as Nana Boateng clipped the ball over the defence for Nathaniel Asamoah to run onto. However, he was forced out wide and Itumeleng Khune pushed it behind. The breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute as Rivaldo Coetzee headed in a free kick. Ghana's hopes of a revival were dashed when Sulley Muntari picked up a second yellow card (shock horror), and South Africa saw out the single-goal win.
Egypt vs Cameroon
Egypt were untroubled in their group, and are favourites here against a Cameroon team which slipped to third in their group behind Nigeria and surprise package Kenya.
This was a turgid game. Egypt had the majority of the play, but couldn't move the ball around to create chances, whilst Cameroon were indecisive when they had good counter-attacking opportunities. Hossam Ashour nearly stole it at the death for Egypt, but fired hit shot over the bar. This took us to extra time, which passed by with only a couple of half-chances headed over, which meant we had our first penalty shootout!
Both sides put away their first two penalties, and Cameroon their third, before Egypt's Achraf Bencharki could only hit the post. He was reprieved when Justin Mengolo had his saved, but Mohamed Abdel Shafy's kick was saved to restore Cameroon's advantage. This meant André Bikey-Amougou had the chance to win it, and he duly dispatched his kick to send Cameroon through!
Egypt were untroubled in their group, and are favourites here against a Cameroon team which slipped to third in their group behind Nigeria and surprise package Kenya.
This was a turgid game. Egypt had the majority of the play, but couldn't move the ball around to create chances, whilst Cameroon were indecisive when they had good counter-attacking opportunities. Hossam Ashour nearly stole it at the death for Egypt, but fired hit shot over the bar. This took us to extra time, which passed by with only a couple of half-chances headed over, which meant we had our first penalty shootout!
Both sides put away their first two penalties, and Cameroon their third, before Egypt's Achraf Bencharki could only hit the post. He was reprieved when Justin Mengolo had his saved, but Mohamed Abdel Shafy's kick was saved to restore Cameroon's advantage. This meant André Bikey-Amougou had the chance to win it, and he duly dispatched his kick to send Cameroon through!
Kenya vs Ivory Coast
This tie sees two sides that finished 2nd in their group face off. Kenya did well to get through, as they were the bottom seeds in their group, whilst Ivory Coast calmly finished behind Algeria.
The game started with a bang as Ivory Coast's LB Constant Djakpa did his best Carlos Alberto impression by smashing in an effort from the edge of the box following a neat passing move. Djakpa was involved soon after, his cross leading to Yannick Zakri hitting the bar with a header. Kenya's narrow 4-1-4-1 shape may have prevented close-range chances, but it allowed Ivory Coast to dominate the ball with their quality out wide.
This tie sees two sides that finished 2nd in their group face off. Kenya did well to get through, as they were the bottom seeds in their group, whilst Ivory Coast calmly finished behind Algeria.
The game started with a bang as Ivory Coast's LB Constant Djakpa did his best Carlos Alberto impression by smashing in an effort from the edge of the box following a neat passing move. Djakpa was involved soon after, his cross leading to Yannick Zakri hitting the bar with a header. Kenya's narrow 4-1-4-1 shape may have prevented close-range chances, but it allowed Ivory Coast to dominate the ball with their quality out wide.
Kenya had a chance to level at the start of the second half, as Marcus Olsson headed narrowly over. They couldn't continue to put pressure on Ivory Coast, who nearly doubled their lead as Wilfried Bony headed Djakpa's cross just wide. Neither team could add to the scoresheet, meaning Ivory Coast progress to the quarter-finals.
Sudan vs Senegal
Sudan took advantage of a limp Gabon performance to top Group A, the only team who weren't top seeds to win their group. They take on Senegal who only qualified for this round as a 3rd-placed team, after falling behind Cape Verde in their group.
Senegal were inches from opening the scoring in the 2nd minute as Abdallah N'Dour's shot was pushed onto the post by Jamal Salim Magoola, and the ball bobbled along the line before being cleared! The Sudanese woodwork was hit soon after as Cheikh Ndoye's shot from outside the box clipped the bar. Sudan weathered the storm and struck in the 24th minute as they were awarded a penalty, and Solomon Jabason put it away. Senegal rallied, and Babá went very close from a corner, but again Sudan punished them at the other end as Ragei Abdelati's shot from an angle had enough on it to go in. Sudan kept their two-goal lead up to the break, not really reflecting the run of play.
Sudan vs Senegal
Sudan took advantage of a limp Gabon performance to top Group A, the only team who weren't top seeds to win their group. They take on Senegal who only qualified for this round as a 3rd-placed team, after falling behind Cape Verde in their group.
Senegal were inches from opening the scoring in the 2nd minute as Abdallah N'Dour's shot was pushed onto the post by Jamal Salim Magoola, and the ball bobbled along the line before being cleared! The Sudanese woodwork was hit soon after as Cheikh Ndoye's shot from outside the box clipped the bar. Sudan weathered the storm and struck in the 24th minute as they were awarded a penalty, and Solomon Jabason put it away. Senegal rallied, and Babá went very close from a corner, but again Sudan punished them at the other end as Ragei Abdelati's shot from an angle had enough on it to go in. Sudan kept their two-goal lead up to the break, not really reflecting the run of play.
Senegal could do with a good start to the second half, but instead immediately went three down as Abdelhameed Amari scored a scrappy goal. This seemed to break Senegal's spirits, and they struggled to create much after this. Insult was added to injury as Bisha added another with a low shot from range late on. Sudan win 4-0, somewhat unfairly on Senegal.
So, that's all the second round fixtures complete, and this is how the tournament looks now:
So, that's all the second round fixtures complete, and this is how the tournament looks now:
We've had two big surprises, with Tunisia and Egypt crashing out. The top-left quarter of the draw is interesting, as one of Burkina Faso or Angola will be an unlikely semi-finalist.
Next time we're going to wrap this tournament up, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Next time we're going to wrap this tournament up, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.