Tanzania and Tunisia on Tuesday secured the last two available spots in the Africa Cup of Nations last-16, completing the lineup before half of the groups had concluded their final games.
Tanzania’s 1-1 draw with Tunisia in Group C wrecked Angola’s hopes of squeezing through as one of the best third-place finishers with just two points from Group B. Angola’s goal-difference was better than that of Comoros, the third-place finishers in Group A.
Feisal Salum’s equalizer for Tanzania sent the Taifa Stars through.
Photo: EPA
While Tanzania and Angola both finished with two points and a goal-difference of minus-1, the goal scored by Salum, who is commonly known as Fei Toto, took Tanzania’s tally to three — one better than Angola’s two goals.
All the other group stage survivors were decided already on Monday because of Angola’s and Comoros’ relatively low points totals. It meant teams that already had more than two points and were already assured of at least third place in their groups could be certain of reaching the last-16.
The four best third-placed teams from the six groups progress, along with the top two in each. Head-to-head results are the first determining factor if two teams finish with the same amount of points in a group.
Photo: AFP
In Group A, hosts Morocco progressed as the winners, followed by second-placed Mali with just three points from three draws. Morocco next faces a third-place finisher from groups C, D or E on Sunday. More importantly for the Atlas Lions, they are to continue their tournament in the almost 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which is also to stage the final on Jan. 18.
Mali await Tunisia for a game in Casablanca on Saturday.
In Group B, seven-time champions Egypt booked their place after two games and won the group to advance with South Africa in second, ahead of Angola. Egypt are to stay in Agadir and face a third-place finisher from groups A, C or D on Monday. South Africa face a likely tough game against the runners-up in Group F on Sunday.
In Group C, Nigeria were already sure of topping the group before their 3-1 win over Uganda on Tuesday. The Super Eagles are to remain in Fes for their first knockout game against a third-placed finisher from groups A, B or F on Monday. Tunisia face Mali in the last-16. Tanzania progressed as the fourth-best third-placed finisher.
In Group D, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and Benin were already sure of progressing before their final group games late on Tuesday.
In the end, Senegal topped the group on goal-difference after their 3-0 win over Benin, while DR Congo finished second after a 3-0 win over Botswana. Botswana had already lost to Senegal and Benin and were certain of finishing last.
Top spot ensured that Senegal stay in Tangier for their first knockout game on Saturday against a third-placed finisher from groups B, E or F, but the 2021 champions will be without suspended captain Kalidou Koulibaly.
DR Congo next face Algeria, while Benin — like the other surviving third-placed finishers — face one of the group winners.
In Group E, Algeria were certain to win the group before the final group games — with two games each from groups E and F to be played after press time last night — while Burkina Faso and Sudan were certain to advance because they could not finish below Equatorial Guinea, who lost both games against them. Algeria are to play DR Congo, the second-place finisher from Group D, on Tuesday in the same Rabat stadium where they have played all of their games so far.
Sudan were to play Burkina Faso and Algeria faced Equatorial Guinea yesterday.
In Group F, Ivory Coast, who are the defending champions, five-time winners Cameroon and Mozambique were assured of progress. Gabon, sure to finish last, were already eliminated before the last round of group games yesterday, when the order of the top three teams was to be decided.
Ivory Coast were to play Gabon and Cameroon faced Mozambique.
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