It’s an open field for the quarter-finals of the Nations Cup, but who are the contenders and the pretenders?
BackpagepixEquatorial Guinea
Their performance in this competition shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has witnessed the Nzalang Nacional’s progress since 2019.
However, they were fortunate not to have conceded a penalty against Mali, offered precious little going forward, and are now up against a Senegal defence that hasn’t let in a goal all tournament.
Will their combative midfield be a match for the Teranga Lions?
AdvertisementBackpagePix.The Gambia
Remarkable performance to here—which hasn’t come as a surprise to those of us who have followed the progress of Tom Saintfiet since he took the reins of the Scorpions—but can Gambia really get past hosts Cameroon?
It would be a bombshell of an Afcon upset, and the Scorpions are excellently equipped to dampen the party here in Central Africa.
They’re Covid-free (for now…!), and will be hoping the Japoma pitch can work in their favour.
BackpagePix.Burkina Faso
They weren’t able to bury a Gabon team who were down to ten men, and it proved costly late on when the Panthers bagged an equaliser.
The Stallions managed to ride the nerves of a penalty shootout to reach the quarters, but can they emulate the generations of 2013 and 2017 and go further in the competition?
They need Bertrand Traore to show his best consistently, and a lack of experience may start to show against the Tunisians.
Getty ImagesTunisia
Dismal in the group stage—that 4-0 thumping of Mauritania aside—Tunisia’s traditional qualities came to the fore against Nigeria in the Last 16.
That victory will give them major momentum as they head into the quarters, and they’ll fancy their chances against a Burkina Faso side who failed to defeat Ethiopia in the group stage.
With veterans Wahbi Khazri and Youssef Msakni leading the line, the Carthage Eagles will fancy their chances of returning to the semis.