Faith Nyasuguta
In a surprising turn of events at the AFCON, Senegal, ranked 20th globally and Africa’s second-highest team by FIFA, faced an unexpected setback in the Round of 16.
Ivory Coast emerged victorious in a post-match penalty shootout, defeating Senegal 5-4. This unforeseen defeat marked a significant upset for the defending champions.
Contrastingly, Tunisia, the third-highest ranked African team, struggled to make an impact in the biennial tournament. Despite their high FIFA ranking, Tunisia failed to progress beyond the group stages, finishing at the bottom of Group E behind Mali, South Africa, and Namibia.
The Carthage Eagles faced challenges in securing a win, drawing twice and suffering one loss while managing only two goals throughout the group phase.
Algeria, ranked fourth in Africa, shared a similar fate, exiting the AFCON at the group stage and finishing last in their group with only two points. The 2019 champions posted comparable statistics to Tunisia, scoring just one more goal in their campaign.
Notably, among the top six FIFA-ranked African countries, only Nigeria remains in the competition. Nigeria secured a 2-0 victory against Cameroon, setting up a meeting with Angola and positioning themselves as strong contenders in the tournament.
Egypt, a seven-time winner of the AFCON and finalist in 2017 and 2021, faced challenges in the knockout stage. Despite progressing through the group phase, they fell to DR Congo on penalties in the Round of 16, signaling an unexpected exit for the football powerhouse.
Cameroon, a five-time winner of the AFCON, showcased resilience in their decisive third group game against The Gambia, securing a 3-2 comeback win. However, their journey came to an end against the formidable Nigerian team, now considered favorites after the surprising exits of other African heavyweights.
Intriguingly, Ivory Coast’s continued participation in the competition adds a dramatic twist to the tournament. Facing potential coaching changes and on the brink of elimination, Les Elephants defied the odds by eliminating defending champions Senegal in a thrilling fashion.
Contrary to the struggles of other top nations, Mali navigated through the tournament with relative ease. Drawing twice in the group phase, they secured a 2-0 victory against South Africa and added 2013 AFCON finalists Burkina Faso to their list of victories in the last 16 tie.
Mali now faces the tournament hosts for a place in the semi-finals, emerging as a quiet but formidable contender in this year’s AFCON.
Top 10 African sides according to FIFA’s last ranking:
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