The knockout stages of the ongoing biennial African cup of nations is here and boy do we have some mouthwatering encounters to look forward to.
AFCON 2019 has hit a crescendo with the men having been finally separated from the boys and in some style. The battle lines have been drawn, the gauntlets have been laid down.
All is set for us to rumble. Nigeria vs Cameroon, Mali vs Ivory Coast, Ghana vs Tunisia are most definitely the pick of the bunch but that should not detract from the other interesting ties to look forward to. Let’s cut to the chase and delve into the first part of the ultimate preview.
Morocco vs Benin
This encounter looks quiet straightforward on paper for Morocco but it might not entirely turn out to be so. The Atlas Lions are one of the precious few teams to have qualified to the knockouts with an unblemished record amassing all 9 maximum points but that does not tell the entire story.
They labored to those 3 victories in group D and haven’t entirely been convincing and coming up against a Benin side who sneaked through to the knockouts as one of the best third placed teams showing enough grit and relentlessness versus other behemoths Ghana and Cameroon, the warning shots have been fired and Morocco will do well to heed them.
Prediction: Morocco
Uganda vs Senegal
Uganda seem to be on a mission and though that mission briefly threatened to come to a premature end, they find themselves here with an opportunity to send seismic waves through to the rest of the rivals. They beat DR Congo, drew with Zimbabwe and lost out to hosts Egypt in a game which could have easily gone their way had they been a tad more purposeful and here, they will not be daunted of the Senegal task.
The Terranga Lions for their part still have some convincing to do and are yet to truly light up the competition as is expected of one of the pre-tournament favourites. They picked 6 points from a possible 9 in Group C losing out to Algeria in the one major test they faced but saw of group minnows Tanzania and Kenya to sail through.
The likes of Sadio Mane, Keita Balde, Iddrisa Gueye and co will have to step it up a notch if Senegal really fancy winning the competition for the first time in their history and against Uganda would not be a bad place to start.
Prediction: Senegal
Nigeria vs Cameroon
Now this is your typical clash of the titans. Two heavyweights, two of the truest behemoths on the continent lock horns here in this absolute blockbuster. It doesn’t get any bigger. This fixture passes for the final proper but one of these two sides will bow out of the competition prematurely when all is said and done.
Nigeria looked to be on course to top the pile in group B but they came in for some very rude awakening when they got themselves stunned by Madagascar throwing through the window all of the Super Eagles’ momentum meaning Gernot Rohr and his charges will need to prove themselves all over again. For Cameroon, they have not have it all their way either.
The Indomitable Lions left it late versus Guinea Bissau but eventually picked maximum points in their group opener only to underwhelm in draws versus Ghana and Benin with Seedorf and co having enough troubles of their own. It will not be an encounter shorn of star quality but both teams haven’t really impressed thus far and have their respective works cut out in this cat and mouse affair to try and have one over the other rival
Prediction: Nigeria
Egypt vs South Africa
The hosts remain undefeated on home soil having picked up 9maximum points in group A without conceding even a single goal and they seem to be on a roll.
They began quite slowly in their opener versus Zimbabwe but have steadily picked up steam since with star man Salah gradually getting himself in the groove and they will definitely fancy their chances against a South African side which squeezed through the backdoor and into the knockouts.
The Bafana Bafana have it all to do and after losing out to the Ivory Coast and Morocco only to qualify with 3 points as part of the 4 best third placed teams, there is work to be done if they fancy their chances of causing a major upset in the competition.
Prediction: Egypt
