Congo DR and Guineato engagein cagey encounter
Congo DR have made it to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals without winning a game in regulation time, as they take on Guinea in Friday’s encounter at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
The Leopards eliminated seven-time winners Egypt in the round of 16, while Syli National ended a losing run in the competition’s first knockout by defeating Equatorial Guinea.
DRC are yet to win a game in Cote d’Ivoire, but the Leopards find themselves in the last eight of the continental showpiece, defeating Egypt — who equally failed to claim a victory in regulation time before their elimination — on penalties.
As for Guinea, the last-gasp Mohamed Bayo header ended Syli National’s extended run without a knockout stage win in their history at the finals.
The victory came following Federico Bikoro‘s 55th-minute dismissal for the Equatoguineans and Emilio Nsue‘s missed penalty, preventing extra time for Kaba Diawara‘s troops.
Interestingly, Guinea progressed to the knockout rounds as the competition’s best third-placed side, and they go into the quarters as the only remaining side from Group C still in the competition, after Senegal and Cameroon were eliminated respectively.
Congo DR and Guinea have scored three goals each at the finals, and this last eight tie could be decided by a lone goal, with the DRC eking out a marginal win over Guinea..
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Nigeria, Angola face off in Afcon quarter-final
Nigeria hope to avoid the poisoned chalice of the Africa Cup of Nations favourites tag when they face Angola in Friday’s quarter-final at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.
The Super Eagles defeated age-old rivals Cameroon in the round of 16 to outdo their AFCON 2021 performance, while the Palancas Negras eliminated inexperienced Namibia to make history by recording a first victory in the tournament’s knockout stage.
Peseiro’s men have been beneficiaries of a watertight rearguard that has seen them concede insignificant shots on goal, with the last clear-cut chance created against them coming in the 1-0 success over Cote d’Ivoire in their second game of the finals.
Angola stand in the Super Eagles’ path to another semi-final, and the southern African nation are not expected to be straightforward opponents against the highest-ranked side left in the competition.
The Palancas Negras have a history of ruining the West African nation’s ambition, with the South African nation denying the Super Eagles a place at the 2006 World Cup.
Friday should pose the sternest test to Nigeria’s watertight backline, with Angola capable of hurting the West African nation in different ways.
Peseiro’s men are expected to concede, but they should have enough at the other end to defeat the exciting Palancas Negras.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Players who could make transfer moves after Afcon 2023
Lamine Camara (Metz & Senegal, midfielder)
Named the continent’s Young Footballer of the Year in December, 20-year-old Camara announced himself on the senior stage with two goals and a man-of-the-match performance for the defending champions in their opening 3-0 win against The Gambia.
It was not the first time Camara had scored twice in one game at an international tournament.
He struck twice when the West Africans won by the same scoreline against Tunisia on their way to winning the Under-20 Afcon in 2023, while he also triumphed at the African Nations Championship last year.The box-to-box midfielder – a product of the Senegalese Generation Foot academy, whose alumni include Sadio Mane.
Jesus Owono (Alaves & Equatorial Guinea, goalkeeper)
Owono won the man of the match award in both Equatorial Guinea’s opening draw with Nigeria and sensational 4-0 win over Ivory Coast.The 2.7 goals he had prevented was by far the highest of any player at the tournament at the time of the National Thunder’s last-16 exit, with no other goalkeeper achieving a tally of two or more by that point.
Owono kept three clean sheets in four appearances at the 2021 finals and saved two penalties in a shootout win over Mali to play a heroic role in his country reaching the quarter-finals.
However, the 22-year-old has not featured in La Liga for club side Alaves since making his debut in February 2022.
Aguibou Camara (Atromitos & Guinea, forward)
Camara’s alert finish as part of a man-of-the-match display gave Guinea a vital victory over The Gambia, and the 22-year-old has featured in every minute of their run to the quarter-finals.
A youth player at Lille, he has gained Champions League qualifying and Europa League experience since joining Olympiacos in 2021 and is currently on loan to fellow Greek Super League side Atromitos.
The versatile attacker, who can also play in midfield, has already been deployed in a variety of positions by Guinea during their campaign, and spoke of his readiness to switch to the wings after he was asked to by Syli National manager Kaba Diawara during the group stage.
Emam Ashour (Al Ahly & Egypt, midfielder)
Ashour was outstanding in providing defensive support and bursting forward to boost Egypt’s attack during their action-packed Group B campaign.
But a concussion prevented the man who has been likened to Pharaohs legend Ahmed Hassan from taking part in their surprise defeat by DR Congo in the last 16.
Despite playing substantially fewer minutes than many of his team-mates, Ashour still finished near the top of the standings among the squad in terms of chances created, passes, tackles won and ball carries, while only top scorer Mostafa Mohamed bettered his four attempts on target.
