What if the deadline for the round of 16 marked the end of the surprises at this African Cup of Nations. After a hair-raising first round, which notably saw supposed big players like Algeria, Ghana and Tunisia fall by the wayside, the first two matches of the knockout phase thus delivered a logical verdict, Saturday in Côte d’Ivoire. ‘Ivory. And even relentless for the Indomitable Lions not at the level of their history at the CAN.
Match of the day: Nigeria – Cameroon (2-0)
There was no miracle on the Cameroonian side on Saturday in Abidjan. If the selection of a highly contested Rigobert Song had been able to snatch his qualification in the last moments of a crazy finish against Gambia (1-2 in the 86th, 3-2 in the end) in the groups, it did not really existed against Nigeria in the round of 16 (2-0). If Victor Osimhen was enormous in his activity, the executioner of the Indomitable Lions was ultimately Ademola Lookman. The Atalanta Bergamo striker scored twice against Fabrice Ondoa (36th and 90th). Because yes, it was one of the big questions around this crucial meeting: the replacement goalkeeper for Nîmes, in National, was once again preferred to Manchester United star André Onana.
The latter’s arrival in Ivory Coast by private jet/rock star, on the day of the match against Guinea (1-1), was ultimately the symbol of the complete Cameroonian fiasco during the competition. Between a weak generation and the mediocre management of Samuel Eto’o at the head of the Fédé, as well as that of Rigobert Song with the national team, there is indeed a need for major changes on the side of the five-time winners of the CAN.
Player of the day: Gelson Dala
Ademola Lookman is not the only player to have scored a double on Saturday at the start of the round of 16 of the CAN. Already the author of two goals during the group stage, the Angolan Gelson Dala did the same (38th and 42nd) in Bouaké to allow his selection to beat Namibia without any worries (3-0). At 27, the player from Al-Wakrah SC (Qatar) is one of the revelations of the competition, since he is now the second top scorer, behind Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea, five goals). If this match marked by the rapid expulsions of the Angolan goalkeeper Neblu (17th) and the Namibian defender Haukongo (40th) was ultimately one-sided, Angola will have a completely different challenge facing it against Nigeria on Friday (5 p.m.), during the third CAN quarter-final in its history.
Fact of the day: Egypt plays big without Salah
On the program for this Sunday: two other round of 16 matches, with Equatorial Guinea-Guinea at 6 p.m., then an undecided Egypt-Democratic Republic of Congo at 9 p.m. Sometimes very convincing in the game, as in its draw against Morocco (1-1), the DRC has a potential surprise profile. Laborious during the first round but finalist of the last CAN (and record holder for titles with seven in its history), Egypt could be in danger. And especially in the absence of his star Mohamed Salah, who returned to Liverpool to treat his hamstring injury, which makes him a priori out until a hypothetical finale.