AFCON 2023 - The African Mirror

Jan

30

2024

Ivory Coast send defending champions Senegal out of Cup of Nations

AFCON 2023

MOUSSA Niakhate missed his penalty in the shoot-out as holders Senegal tumbled out of the Africa Cup of Nations after a drama-filled 5-4 loss to hosts Ivory Coast following a 1-1 draw at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in their last-16 clash. Senegal was quick out of the blocks and took the lead inside four minutes as Sadio Mane's cross from the left was chested down by Habib Diallo, whose thunderous shot from 10 yards settled in the top corner of the net. Mane was fortunate not to get a red card shortly after that following a poor challenge, but…

Jan

30

2024

By The African Mirror

5 key talking points as Afcon enters the knock-out phase in Côte d’Ivoire

AFCON 2023

JUDGING from media and online activity, this has been the most talked about Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in many years. That’s not just because the tournament, held every two years, is becoming a significant event on the international football calendar. It’s also because there was a lot at stake this year – for competing nations, teams, organisers (the Confederation of African Football or Caf) and hosts (Côte d'Ivoire). WYCLIFFE W. NJORORAI SIMIYU, Professor and Chair of Kinesiology and Health Science, Stephen F. Austin State University This is, after all, the third Afcon to test the new format of 24…

Jan

30

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Cape Verde edge Mauritania to reach Cup of Nations last eight

AFCON 2023

CAPE Verde Islands captain Ryan Mendes converted a penalty two minutes from time to edge Mauritania 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash and see the smallest country at the 24-team tournament advance to the quarter-final. Mendes, who was in the team when the Cape Verdians previously reached the last eight in 2013, blasted home the spot kick to hand the islanders a deserved triumph after they had dominated another fast and furious affair. The penalty was conceded by Mauritania goalkeeper Babacar Niasse, who was forced to come out as he scrambled to get to a poor back…

Jan

29

2024

By The African Mirror

DR Congo beat Egypt on penalties in Cup of Nations last-16

AFCON 2023

EGYPT goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal missed his penalty in the shootout as the Democratic Republic of Congo claimed an epic 8-7 victory following a tense 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash in San Pedro. Abou Gabal clipped the crossbar with his effort and then opposite number Lionel Mpasi scored against him as record seven-times winners Egypt bowed out at the Laurent Pokou Stadium, sparking jubilant scenes for the Congolese, who now play Guinea in the quarter-finals in Abidjan on Friday. Meschack Elia gave DR Congo the lead in the game when he headed in virtually on…

Jan

29

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Last gasp win for Guinea sees them into Cup of Nations quarter-finals

AFCON 2023

GUINEA scored with the last kick of the game to end the giant-killing run of Equatorial Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations and book themselves a slot in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory at Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium. Mohamed Bayo’s superb glancing header in the eighth minute of stoppage time in the last-16 clash proved the difference after Equatorial Guinea, down to 10 men in the second half, missed a penalty. Guinea ended a long sequence of losing in the knockout stage of the Cup of Nations but took their time, and rode their luck, to claim victory.…

Jan

28

2024

By The African Mirror

Morocco coach Regragui’s African Cup ban lifted

AFCON 2023

MOROCCO coach Walid Regragui's two-match suspension at the Africa Cup of Nations has been dismissed after an appeal, his country’s football federation said. Regragui had been given a four-match ban, with two games suspended, and fined for bringing the competition into disrepute. The decision means Regragui, who had to watch his country’s last group game against Zambia on Wednesday from the stands, will be back on the bench for the last-16 clash against South Africa on Tuesday. Regragui, who led his country to the World Cup semi-finals in 2022, was involved in an on-field spat with Democratic Republic of Congo…

Jan

28

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Lookman double puts Nigeria into Cup of Nations quarter-finals

AFCON 2023

ADEMOLA Lookman’s brace ensured Nigeria a place in next weekend’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals as they beat long-standing foes Cameroon 2-0 in the last 16. Lookman’s 36th-minute goal at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium opened the scoring and he contributed a second on the stroke of full-time as Nigeria largely outplayed Cameroon. They will face Angola in the last eight in Abidjan next Friday after the Angolans beat Namibia 3-0 in Bouake earlier on Saturday in the first of the knockout round games. While Lookman’s double made him a key figure in the win, Nigeria’s African Footballer of the Year…

Jan

28

2024

By The African Mirror

Angola breeze into Cup of Nations quarters with 3-0 Namibia win

AFCON 2023

ANGOLA'S Gelson Dala scored twice as they reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a comprehensive 3-0 last-16 victory over neighbours Namibia, who were left to rue four mad first half minutes. Angola, who claimed their biggest ever Cup of Nations finals win, had an early setback when goalkeeper Neblu received a red card and they were under pressure from a Namibia side that looked the most likely to find the net. But the game turned when Gelson opened the scoring after 38 minutes, Namibia defender Lubeni Haukongo received a red card shortly afterwards and the Angola forward completed…

Jan

27

2024

By The African Mirror

Afcon’s decision to allow 24 countries to play is paying off – and having dramatic repercussions

AFCON 2023

BY the end of the group stage, the 34th Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) was one of the most exciting and memorable Afcon tournaments in recent memory. This was particularly true of the performances of the continent’s best players on the field. As a scholar of sports communication with a focus on African football, I’ve followed developments with interest, notably the 2019 decision to increase the number of national teams in the final stage from 16 to 24. CHUKA ONWUMECHILI, Professor of Communications, Howard University There were several critics of the expansion of the tournament. They argued that Afcon was…

Jan

27

2024

By MARK GLEESON

Ivory Coast seek reset but in-form Senegal await

AFCON 2023

HOSTS Ivory Coast gets to push a reset button after escaping early elimination at the Africa Cup of Nations and squeezing into the last 16 of their own tournament as a lucky loser. There will be no easy route to redemption, however, after a humiliating 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea left them third in their group and waiting for Zambia’s defeat by Morocco to confirm the Ivorians' place in the knockout stage as one of the four best third-placed finishers. They have been drawn in the last 16 in Yamoussoukro on Monday against holders Senegal, the only side to have…