An exciting and tension-soaked 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group stage fixtures come to an end on Wednesday night with matches in Group E and F to decide the fate of some teams seeking qualification to the Round of 16.
A total of 10 teams have secured qualification into the Round of 16 of the 2023 AFCON, following the completion of matches in Group A, B, C and D, but there is still much to compete for in the two remaining groups.
Groups E and F are the only ones yet to be concluded, with Tunisia and South Africa fighting to book their spot in the next stage.
Teams like: Cape Verde, Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Guinea, Angola, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Mali have all progressed to the knockout stage of the tournament.
With just 24 teams competing at AFCON it is not just the top two from each group who reach the last 16.
The top two teams from each of the six groups will reach the Round of 16 as well as the four best third-placed teams.
The chances of host nation Ivory Coast still hang following their 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea, but may still qualify depending on the outcome of matches in Group E and F.
Meanwhile, four times AFCON champions Black Star of Ghana have been sent packing out of the tournament.
Former two-time champions of the African Cup of Nations, Algeria, have also crashed out of the tournament after losing 1-0 to Mauritania on Tuesday night.
Cameroon came from behind to beat Gambia 3-2 and will face Nigeria in the knockout stage.
Angola beat Burkina Faso 2-0, but both teams finished in the top two spots in Group D.
Mauritania shocked Algeria 1-0 to take the third place. They will progress as one of the best third-placed teams along with Guinea from Group C.
The knockout stages begin on Saturday, January 27.
The remaining Round of 16 teams will be determined in tonight’s game.
Qualified Teams
Cape Verde
Senegal
Equatorial Guinea
Nigeria
Egypt
Cameroon
Guinea
Angola
Burkina Faso
Mauritania
Mali
Eliminated Teams
Guinea-Bissau
Mozambique
Gambia
Algeria
Ghana
