The hosts of the 2023 AFCON, Ivory Coast, experienced a jubilant night as they secured their spot in the next tournament round after a two-day wait. Unlike former champions Ghana, Algeria, Tunisia, and others who exited the competition with a dismal group-stage performance, Ivory Coast faced an abysmal campaign.
In a unique twist, Ivory Coast received a second chance, courtesy of Morocco’s victory over Zambia on January 24, Wednesday night. Despite finishing third in Group A, Ivory Coast’s 2-0 win against Guinea-Bissau, a 1-0 loss to Nigeria, and a surprising 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea meant they could only progress as one of the four best losers.
Their fate hinged on the outcome of the Group E teams’ game on Wednesday evening, with just one slot available. Zambia, with 2 points in three games, was expected to beat Morocco for the slot but suffered a 1-0 defeat, allowing Ivory Coast, with three points, to claim the spot and advance to the round of 16.
Below are the fixtures for the 2023 AFCON Round of 16 and their kick-off times:
January 27th:
- Angola vs Namibia at 6 p.m.
- Nigeria vs Cameroon at 9 p.m.
January 28th:
- Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea at 6 p.m.
- Egypt vs DR Congo at 9 p.m.
January 29th:
- Cape Verde vs Mauritania at 6 p.m.
- Senegal vs Cote d’Ivoire at 9 p.m.
January 30th:
- Mali vs Burkina Faso at 6 p.m.
- Morocco vs South Africa at 9 p.m.
