The Round of 16 of what could be the most significant and glamorous Africa Cup of Nations finals in history kicks off this Saturday evening, featuring two matches each on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
Anticipation is high among players, coaching staff, fans, and stakeholders of the beautiful game across the continent.
The Lions of Teranga are making their 17th appearance in the AFCON and are expected to advance to the quarter-finals against the Falcons of Jediane.
However, they will be without their defensive stalwart, Kalidou Koulibaly, for the match in Tangier.
Senegal finally secured the trophy in 2021 in Cameroon after several second-place finishes, while Sudan last won it on home soil in 1970.
This marks Sudan’s 10th AFCON appearance, while Senegal is participating for the 17th time. Sudan is coached by Ghanaian James Kwesi Appiah, and Senegal is led by Pape Thiaw.
Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles, who finished second in Group C behind Nigeria, are set for an exciting clash against the Eagles of Mali.
The North African team is the most consistent in AFCON history, making their 17th consecutive finals and 22nd overall, having won the title at home in 2004.
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Mali’s Eagles were runners-up in the 1972 finals held in Cameroon. They are coached by Belgian Tom Saintfiet, while Tunisia’s head coach is former captain Sami Trabelsi.
The Atlas Lions, who reached the semi-finals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, are seen as strong contenders to win this tournament.
They performed well in the group stage, finishing strongly with a 3-0 victory over 2012 champions Zambia.
This is their 20th appearance in a competition they have only won once, back in 1976 when it was held in Ethiopia.
Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi each have three goals in the tournament, and captain Achraf Hakimi, along with Azzedine Ounahi and Sofyan Amrabat, are key players to watch.
