By Emmanuel Uffot
Against bookmakers pre-tournament predictions, countries regarded overtime as football minnows in Africa have proved their mettle by creating upsets at the ongoing African Cup of Nation in Cote d’Ivoire now entering the Round of 16.
The greatest among them is a tiny Island Country Cape Verde with a population below 1.5 million people.
The country which was in Group B with two tournament favourites, Egypt and Ghana against expectation not only top that Group ahead of the two football power house but became the first to qualify for round of 16 after beating Egypt and Mozambique. Still in that Group, Mozambique, also a lowly rated football playing nation in Africa was on the verge of beating Egypt until a stoppage time penalty kick from Mohammed Salah save the Pharoahs from an embarrassing defeat by Mozambique.
Like Cape Verde, another lowly rated football playing nation that has shine in this 34th edition of AFCON is Namibia.
Namibia was in Group E that had Tunisia, Mali and South Africa.
By football reckoning, Namibia was the underdog that had already been condemned to an early exit. But the country shocked football pundits by beating Tunisia and has qualified for the Round of 16 at the expense of Tunisia that has been sent packing.
Mauritania in Group D is another football minnow that has shined in this tournament so far. In a Group that had Algeria, Angola and Burkina Faso, and by football standard, the lowest in the Group that was also predicted to exit the competition in the first Round equally shocked football pundits as she defeated Algeria. Like Cape Verde and Namibia, Mauritania has also qualified in that star studded Group for Round of 16 at the expense of another football power house Algeria that has been sent home.
Indeed, Equitorial Guinea is another football minnows in Africa, that has performed above expectation in AFCON 2023.
The small African country then known as ‘Paya’ by Nigerians were in Group A with Nigeria and host country Cote d’Ivoire ( Ivory Coast). Like Cape Verde, they proved bookmakers wrong by not only topping the Group but wallop host country 4-0 to qualify with 7 points ahead of Nigeria.
While Cote d’Ivoire with only 3 points needed a favour from another Group match on the last day to save them from elimination.
Just as the minnows on football in Africa have performed above expectation, the same cannot be said about highly ranked football countries whose performance in this competition after the Group stage was far below expectations.
For instance while Ghana, Algeria and Tunisia all past winners of AFCON have exited in the Group stage. Nigeria, Cameroun, Cote d’Ivoire and Egypt have all performed below expectation.
Only Morocco that became the first African country to reach the World Cup Semi- Final and Senegal that is the defending Champions have lived up to expectation in this tournament so far as Round of 16 beckons.
Another key fall out of the ongoing African Cup of Nations is the dwindling football prowess of the North Africans.
For instance, Tunisia not only crashed out in the Group stage with only 2 points but we’re defeated by Namibia. Same with Algeria that also crashed out and Mauritania defeated them.
Eqypt also tested defeat from another football minnow in Africa, and had to struggle to qualify from the Group as second best.
Out of the four North African teams that were in the competition namely, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia only Morocco and Egypt have moved to second round with the other two going home.
The poor performance of the supposed big teams has already cost their handlers their jobs, as Ghana and host Cote d’Ivoire have sacked their coaches.
For Nigeria Super Eagles whose poor performance has drawn the ire of many Nigerians mooting the sacking of coach Jose Peseiro.
Surprisingly, Victor Osimhen, the crown African Footballer of the Year is yet to find his feet in the tournament. He has manage to score one goal in three matches.
In fact the poor performance of Nigeria has reflected in CAF best eleven for the Group stage which had no Nigerian player listed.
As the Group stage ended on Thursday January 25, 2024 the following 16 teams will slug it out to determine who goes to quarter final.
The 16 qualifiers are, Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco, Cameroun, Mali, Equitorial Guinea, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, D R Congo and South Africa.
Others are Egypt, Guinea, Angola, Mauritania, Namibia and Burkina Faso.
The fixtures for the Round of 16 which begins tomorrow Saturday January 27, 2024 is out with the teams already knowing their opponents.
AFCON 2023 Round of 16 Fixtures
Angola vs Namibia
Nigeria vs Cameroun
Equitorial Guinea vs Guinea
Egypt vs DR Congo
Cape Verde vs Mauritania
Senegal vs Cote d’Ivoire
Morocco vs South Africa
Mali vs Burkina Faso