With six teams already into the 2021 AFCON quarter-finals, just two more slots remain. There will be four teams - Egypt, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Equatorial Guinea - all battling for a chance to feature in the quarter-finals and perhaps beyond.
Here's all you need to know ahead of the last batch of round of 16 matches taking place on Wednesday.
A double header to wrap up the round of 16 at the 2021 AFCON
Ivory Coast vs Egypt: Where to start? This is the type of game many AFCON fans would've loved to see in the final, but unfortunately, one of these African giants will be going home early. The two sides are the among most successful in AFCON history, with Les Éléphants making their 24th appearance while the Pharaohs are featuring at the AFCON for the 25th time. Between the two of them, they've won a whopping nine titles (two for the Ivory Coast, and seven for Egypt).
Both teams have naturally had to work quite hard to get to this juncture. The Ivory Coast will come into this contest having finished top of their quartet after picking up seven points. Arguably, their best showing was a 3-1 win over reigning champs Algeria to effectively dump the Desert Foxes out of the competition. Meanwhile, Egypt secured their spot in the round of 16 as group runners-up, finishing second behind Nigeria who won all three of their matches. The only blemish for the Pharaohs was a 1-0 loss to the Super Eagles on matchday one, and after a series of 1-0 wins over Guinea-Bissau and Sudan, they'll look to further improve as they aim to avoid bowing out early for the third straight tournament.
Mali vs Equatorial Guinea: While many eyes will be on the match featuring heavyweights Ivory Coast and Egypt, there's still one spot in the quarter-finals left, and it will be decided after the Mali and Equatorial Guinea clash. The Eagles are aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the third time, and the first time since their impressive run in 2013 in South Africa, which saw them finish third. Mali have been quite solid so far at AFCON 2021, finishing their group stage sans defeat and picking up seven points after winning two and drawing the other of their three group stage matches.
Equatorial Guinea's AFCON history may be still in its nascent stages, but the minnows have done quite well so far. This winter is their third appearance, and so far, they've made it to the quarter-finals in their prior two appearances. As hosts, they even finished in fourth spot in 2015, and after a slow start in which they lost to the Ivory Coast, they bounced back with back to back wins over Sierra Leone, and quite impressively, reigning champs Algeria to book their spot in the round of 16 as group runners-up.
Who's in and who's out
Here's a quick rundown of the personnel situation for Egypt, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Equatorial Guinea ahead of their matches at the 2021 AFCON tournament:
Egypt: The Pharaohs will have to make do without the services of Ahmed Fatouh and Akram Tawfik, with the latter being ruled out for the entire competition following an injury sustained during their matchday one clash against Nigeria.
Ivory Coast: Head coach Patrice Beaumelle will have a full-strength squad available ahead of his team's clash with Egypt.
Mali: Mali have been given a major boost with the return of striker Moussa Djenepo, who missed out on their last match due to a one-match ban.
Equatorial Guinea: Equatorial Guinea may have to make do without Dorian Hanza who sustained an injury during his team's clash with Sierra Leone last week.
Stats and facts
Here's a quick collection of some stats and facts ahead of the latest round of 2021 AFCON matches:
- This will be the 11th meeting between the Ivory Coast and Egypt, making it the most played fixture at the African Cup of Nations
- Interestingly, Egypt have been the side to progress in the last four times the two sides met in the knockout rounds
- However, the Pharaohs have been knocked out early in their last two AFCON apperances (lost 2-1 to Cameroon in the 2017 final and were beaten 1-0 by South Africa in the 2019 round of 16)
- Ivory Coast are hoping to go four matches unbeaten at the AFCON for the first time since 2015
- Ivory Coast have made it to the knockout rounds in seven of their last eight AFCON appearances
- Equatorial Guinea are featuring at the AFCON for only the third time - but have made it to at least the quarter-finals in their prior two appearances
- This will be the fourth meeting between Mali and Equatorial Guinea - and so far, the Eagles have won all their prior meetings
- However, this will be the first meeting at an AFCON tournament
Where to watch Ivory Coast, Egypt, Mali, and Equatorial Guinea live on January 26, 2022
Here's where you can continue to follow all the action from the 2021 AFCON tournament from your current location:
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
