Africa Cup of Nations

THE final spot in the AFCON last-eight is up for grabs as Mali and Equatorial Guinea go all the way to penalties.Both sides were impressive in the group stages and have been inseparable in this knockout tie.

Mali XI: Mounkoro, Traore, Sacko, Kouyate, A Haidara, M Haidara, Camara, Bissouma, A Traore, Doumbia, Kone.
Equatorial Guinea XI: Owono, Akapo, Obiang, Coco, Ndong, Machin, Ganet, Miranda, Salvador, Bikoro, Hanza.

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That’s all from Cameroon!
Equatorial Guinea put together another giant-slaying performance at the Africa Cup of Nations as they eliminated Mali in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Limbe Stadium.
After knocking reigning African champions Algeria from the group stages, Juan Micha’s minnows did the unthinkable and made it to the quarter-finals where they will face Senegal after holding it together for 120 minutes of a goalless draw.
The National Thunder protested for a penalty after just 10 minutes when the ball hit Mohamed Camara’s hand inside the area.
However, the referee didn’t award a spot-kick as the ball first made contact with Camara’s head.
Mali thought they got a penalty of their own half an hour later when Moussa Doumbia fell inside the box while under pressure from Josete Miranda.
The ref pointed at the white spot but reversed his decision after checking with the VAR monitor.
Mali improved in the second half and came just a whisker away from breaking the deadlock on 58 minutes.
Yves Bissouma broke inside the area from the right and played the ball to Camara, who had an open goal in front of him but sent the ball over the crossbar.
That was the final major chance of the match as the game was dragged to a dramatic penalty shootout.
Misses from Emilio Nsue and Pablo Ganet from Equatorial Guinea as well as Massadio Haidara and Hamari Traore from Mali took the game to sudden death!
And that is where goalkeeper Jesus Owono proved to be the hero as he saved Falaye Sacko’s penalty!
Equatorial Guinea won 6-5 and they keep on dreaming!
That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a great night!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 5-6 Equatorial Guinea
NO! The penalty stands! Equatorial Guinea are through to the quarter-finals!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 5-6 Equatorial Guinea
Or are they?! It looks like there will be a retake
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 5-6 Equatorial Guinea
Owono saves it! Equatorial Guinea are through to the quarter-finals!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 5-6 Equatorial Guinea
Sako is next
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 5-6 Equatorial Guinea
Eneme scores!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 5-5 Equatorial Guinea
Eneme is next
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 5-5 Equatorial Guinea
Camara scores!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 4-5 Equatorial Guinea
Camara is next!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 4-5 Equatorial Guinea
Salvador scores! Mounkoro can’t hold on to the ball!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 4-4 Equatorial Guinea
Salvador is next for Equatorial Guinea
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 4-4 Equatorial Guinea
Dieng (not Camara) scores!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 3-4 Equatorial Guinea
Camara is next
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 3-4 Equatorial Guinea
Coco scores!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 3-3 Equatorial Guinea
Coco is next
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 3-3 Equatorial Guinea
Toure scores! Sudden death it is!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 2-3 Equatorial Guinea
Mali need to score this, Toure is up
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 2-3 Equatorial Guinea
Mounkoro saves it!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 2-3 Equatorial Guinea
Garnet is next
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 2-3 Equatorial Guinea
Traore misses! If Equatorial Guinea score then they go through!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 2-3 Equatorial Guinea
Traore is next for Mali
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 2-3 Equatorial Guinea
And Buyala scores!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 2-2 Equatorial Guinea
Buyala is next
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 2-2 Equatorial Guinea
Owono saves it!!!!!
Mali 0-0 Equatorial Guinea
Pens: Mali 2-2 Equatorial Guinea
Haidara is next for Mali
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EGYPT are through to the last-eight of AFCON after seeing off Ivory Coast on penalties. Goalless after 120 minutes, it all came down to who could hold their nerve from the spot.
And Man Utd’s Eric Bailly was the only one to miss, his penalty tipped onto the crossbar by sub keeper Gabaski.
Mo Salah took Egypt’s fifth and decisive penalty, slotting home and sending his country through to the quarter-finals.

Final score: Ivory Coast 0-0 Egypt (4-5 pens)

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FT: Ivory Coast 0 Egypt 0 (4-5 on penalties)
Egypt go on to play Morocco in the quarter final.
FT: Ivory Coast 0 Egypt 0 (4-5 on penalties)
Gabaski would never have thought he was going to be a national hero tonight!
Salah scores the goal to seal it, calm as you like.
Lightening strikes for a third time for Les Elephants.
Pens: Ivory Coast 4 Egypt 5
Mo Salah wins the game for Egypt with a ball drilled into the bottom corner.
GGGGGGOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLL
Pens: Ivory Coast 4 Egypt 4
Zaha scores and cups his ears to the crowd.
GGGGOOOAAALLLL
Pens: Ivory Coast 3 Egypt 4
Ahmed scores.
GGGGOOOAAAALLLL
Pens: Ivory Coast 3 Egypt 3
Cornet passes it into the corner.
GGGGOOOAAAALLLL
Pens: Ivory Coast 2 Egypt 3
Gabal scores
GGGGOOOAAALLLL
Pens: Ivory Coast 2 Egypt 2
Bailly casually takes his penalty and the keeper tips it onto the crossbar.
Pens: Ivory Coast 2 Egypt 2
Soleya scores in the bottom corner
GGGGOOOOAAALLLL
Pens: Ivory Coast 2 Egypt 1
Sangare dinks it into the corner, keeper going the wrong way
GGGGOOOAAALLL
Pens: Ivory Coast 1 Egypt 1
Zizo scores in the top left hand corner
GGGOOOOAAALLL
Pens: Ivory Coast 1 Egypt 0
Pepe scores
GGGOOOAAALLLL
Pens: Ivory Coast 0 Egypt 0
Looks like Ivory Coast will take the first penalty….
FT: Ivory Coast 0 Egypt 0
Can Gabaski, the keeper brought on for Egypt, make a name for himself?
FT: Ivory Coast 0 Egypt 0
The managers, captains and players seem to be deciding the penalty-takers.
This would have been decided before today no doubt but you need to check the players are still up for it.
Big moment for players to make themselves national heroes.
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IVORY COAST take on Egypt today in a heavyweight AFCON contest which will see one of the pre-tournament favourites crash out.Battling for a place in the quarter-finals, both sides are packed with star-studded names with Mo Salah hoping to fire the Egyptians into the next round.

Kick-off time: 4pm GMT
TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event/BBC Red Button
Ivory Coast XI: Sangare, Aurier, Bailly, Deli, Konan, Sangare, Seri, Kessi, Gradel, Pepe, Haller.
Egypt XI: El Shenawy, El Fotouh, Abdelmonem, Hegazy, El Solia, Fathi, Marmoush, Kamal, Elneny, Mostafa Mohamed, Salah.

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Ivory Coast 0 Egypt 0
4. The ball comes to Gradel out wide.
Two defenders square up to him.
He skips passed Hegazy and fires in a shot but the defender heads it away.
Already Gradel is looking lively down the left.
Ivory Coast 0 Egypt 0
2. The ball drops to Kessie outside the box.
He takes it passed his marker and gets a shot away.
The ball misses the post by a few feet, the keeper seemed to have it covered.
Ivory Coast 0 Egypt 0
1. The roar from the fans as soon as the ball heads towards Mo Salah just shows how they feel about their ‘Egyptian King’.
Ivory Coast will look to take this game to Egypt.
They need to press Egypt from the off.
Ivory Coast 0 Egypt 0
1. Ivory Coast get the game underway.
Let’s hope for a classic!
Tactical battle
As much as this is a game of two of the giants of African football, it is also a battle of two minds.
Patrice Beaumelle vs Carlos Queiroz.
How they deal with the opposition’s attacking threat is key.
Beaumelle also has a strong bench, utilising these players at the right time could change the game.
Beware the herd
Ivory Coast have won AFCON twice, in 1992 and 2015.
These two teams last met in a 2013 friendly which the Ivorians won 4-2.
Les Elephants have two of the tournament’s form players in Nicolas Pepe and Franck Kessie.
They also have in-form Ajax striker Sebastien Haller.
Return of the king
Egypt, despite having won seven AFCON titles, The Pharaohs have been eliminated in their last two knockout stage games.

1-2 Cameroon (Final, 2017)
0-1 South Africa (Round of 16, 2019)

They will be looking to bounce back from these disappointing tournaments.
Egypt subs:
Trezeguet, Abdelghany, Sherif, Sobhi Ahmed, Ashraf, Abou Gabal, Lasheen, El Said, Alaa Eldin, Sayeed, Daader, Hamdy.
Egypt team:
El-Shenawy, Soleya, Hegazy, Abdelmonem Elsayed Mohammed Ahmed, Aboul-Fetouh, Abdel Wahed, Marmoush, Fathi, Elneny, Salah, Mohamed.
Ivory Coast subs:
Tape, Kanon, Koussounou, Zaha, Kouassi, Cornet, Maiga, Boga, Die, Kouame, Cisse, Boli.
Ivory Coast team:
B Sangare, Aurier, Bailly, Deli, Ghislain Konan, I Sangare, Seri, Kessie, Gradel, Haller, Pepe.
Tally of the kings
The Pharaohs lost their opening group game against Nigeria 1-0.
A Mohammed Salah goal was enough for a 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau.
In their final group game they beat Sudan 1-0.
The goalscorer was Abdelmonem Elsayed Mohamed Ahmed.
Parents up and down Egypt fear hearing children ask for his name on tops.
Les Elephants unbeaten
In their opening group game they beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0 with a Max Gradel goal.
Goals from Haller and Pepe weren’t enough to prevent a 2-2 draw with Sierra Leone, their opponents equalising in the 93rd minute.
Goals from Kessie, Sangare and Pepe contributed in a 3-1 victory over Algeria in their final game, knocking the holders out of the tournament.
Deja vu
Today’s game will make this the most played fixture in the history of the competition (11 times).
Egypt won their fifth AFCON in 2006, beating Ivory Coast 4-2 on penalties in the final.
They have met four times in the knockout stages with Egypt winning each time.
Welcome back AFCON fans
So far the round of 16 has given us more drama than any soap could.
Today we are treated to a game good enough to be a final itself.
Ivory Coast vs Egypt
These two teams have 9 AFCON titles between them.
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MORROCO have beaten Malawi for a place in the AFCON quarter-final.The Atlas Lions made a disastrous start as an incredible Gabadinho Mhango strike gave the underdogs the lead.
However, Youssef En-Neysri got the crucial equaliser on the stroke of half time.
And Achraf Hakimi put the Moroccans on course for the quarter-final with a brilliant free kick.
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That’s all from the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium
Morocco book their place in the quarter finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a deserved win against a determined Malawi side.
This evening’s fixture was not short of any action, with two potential goal of the season contenders.
The Atlas Lions will now take on either Ivory Coast or Egypt in the next game, which will likely be their toughest challenge yet.
Thank you for reading, and goodnight!
Eyes on the Quarter-Final
Morocco now progress to the quarter finals of the competition where they will face the winner of Ivory Coast vs Egypt, which takes place tomorrow afternoon.
The next round of the Africa Cup of Nations is due to be played at the weekend.
Goal of the tournament?
Despite Malawi’s loss, Gabadinho Mhango will be more than satisfied with his opening goal.
The striker was at least 30 yards out when he unleashed his stunning strike, which is sure to be a serious contender for goal of the tournament.
Full Time – Morocco 2-1 Malawi
Morocco have proven that they have the potential to go all the way in this tournament.
The Atlas Lions were abundant in creativity this evening but lacked efficiency in front of goal.
Full Time – Morocco 2-1 Malawi
Hakimi continues to stand out as one of the best players at this year’s tournament.
He created numerous goalscoring opportunities throughout the game and his world-class free kick perfectly encapsulates his outstanding form.
Credit: AFP
Full Time – Morocco 2-1 Malawi
Malawi took the early lead through a wonderstrike from Mhango, but it didn’t take long for Morocco to respond.
The Atlas Lions threw absolutely everything at the opposition and eventually got their reward just seconds before half time with an En-Nesyri header.
Hakimi then stole the headlines with 20 minutes to go as he converted an outstanding free kick from long range to secure the place in the final eight.
Whilst it is Morocco who progress, Mario Marinica will undoubtedly be proud of his team who had made it to the round-of-16 in the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history.
Credit: AFP
Full Time – Morocco 2-1 Malawi
Morocco book their place in the quarter-finals!
Malawi put in a great performance, but were ultimately outclassed by their opponents.
Credit: AFP
90. Morocco 2-1 Malawi
Four minutes to be added on…
Morocco give away a cheap free kick which is launched straight into the box by Phiri Jr.
Aguerd manages to head it away, winning a free kick in the process.
87. Morocco 2-1 Malawi
There is another change for Morocco.
En-Nesyri is replaced by Abouklal.
Vahid Halilhodzic’s side have just two more minutes to hold onto the lead.
85. Morocco 2-1 Malawi
Just five minutes to go.
Morocco look like they could clinch another.
A corner is sent into the box and finds Aguerd, who is completely unmarked.
The defender rises before heading towards goal, but his effort is off target.
80. Morocco 2-1 Malawi
Morocco are next to make a change.
Boufal makes way for El-Haddadi.
Louza makes way for Barkok.
78. Morocco 2-1 Malawi
Malawi make a triple substitution.
Fodya, Davie and Ngalande come on.
Madinga, Sanudi and Idana come off.
75. Morocco 2-1 Malawi
Morocco are in complete control of the game now.
Malawi have just 15 minutes to find the equaliser.
The next goal is crucial.
70. Morocco 2-1 Malawi
Morocco have a free kick from 25 yards out.
Hakimi steps up to take it and unleashes a beautiful strike into the top right corner.
No goalkeeper would’ve saved that!
WHAT. A. FINISH!
Credit: Reuters
69. GOAAAAALLLLLLL MOROCCO!
What a finish from Hakimi!
66. Morocco 1-1 Malawi
There are calls for a penalty from Morocco as Chembezi slides to block Hakimi’s cross but the ball deflects off of his arm.
Despite VAR checks no penalty is given and the game continues.
62. Morocco 1-1 Malawi
Malawi have a fantastic chance to take the lead again!
Madinga crosses the ball into Mbulu but the striker completely misses the header.
This game could go either way!
60. Morocco 1-1 Malawi
Sanudi is booked for a late challenge on Boufal and Morocco have a free kick in a very positive position.
Boufal takes the kick but it is headed clear.
54. Morocco 1-1 Malawi
Morocco have made their first change.
El Kaabi has made way for Mmaee.
52. Morocco 1-1 Malawi
Malawi are struggling to maintain possession of the ball.
The tactics seem to be to launch the long ball over to Mhango in the hope of catching the defence out, but Morocco are handling the pressure well.
47. Morocco 1-1 Malawi
Boufal heads straight towards goal as he cuts in from the right, but his shot is way off target.
Morocco have continued their positive momentum from the latter stages of the first half.
Kick off – Morocco 1-1 Malawi
We’re underway for the second half!
Malawi have made another substitution.
Mbulu has replaced Muyaba.
Half Time – Morocco 1-1 Malawi
Malawi were forced into a change just before half time.
Mhone has picked up an injury and will be replaced by Gerald Phiri Jr.
Half Time – Morocco 1-1 Malawi
The standout performer of the half has to be Thom, who made some exceptional saves to prevent the equaliser for so long.
The pressure was too much in the end for the Malawi defence to handle, but they are certainly still in this game
Credit: Rex
Half Time – Morocco 1-1 Malawi
A spectacular early goal from Mhango is cancelled out in the final seconds of the half by En-Nesyri.
A sucker punch for Malawi, who have done well so far to keep the opposition at bay.
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SENEGAL take on Cape Verde in the last-16 of AFCON 2022, with Sadio Mane’s side one of the favourites to reach the final stages of the competition. The Lions of Teranga have yet to lose a game this tournament but Cape Verde are sure to put up a very stern test.

Start time: 4pm GMT
TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event
Live stream: Sky Go/NOW TV
Senegal XI: Mendy, Ciss, Diallo, Koulibaly, Sarr, P. Gueye, Mendy, I. Gueye, Dia, Diedhiou, Mane.
Cape Verde XI: Vozinha, S Fortes, Lopes, Stopira, J Fortes, Andrade, Tavares, Rocha Santos, Rodrigeus, Monteiro, Mendes.

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Senegal 0 Cape Verde 0
5. Senegal play the corner short to Mane.
He looks for the oncoming run into the box like they have no doubt practiced over and over on the training ground.
The pass is easily cut out by the defence.
Back to the drawing board.
Senegal 0 Cape Verde 0
3. Senegal are straight out of the blocks here.
In the opening minutes they are playing high-tempo, fast paced football looking to breach the Cape Verde defence early.
Aliou Cisse stands on the line getting his instructions across.
It seems strange to wear a face mask in such an open space.
I wonder if it is difficult getting his message across, mouth covered.
Senegal 0 Cape Verde 0
1. Mane threads a pass from inside his own half down the left hand channel.
He continues his run into the box and is eventually found with a lay-off on the penalty spot.
He side-foots the effort with pace and it thunders back off the post.
The keeper was beaten.
Big chance.
Senegal 0 Cape Verde 0
1. And we are underway.
Senegal kick off.
Time to find out who wants to be in those quarter finals more.
Follow the leader
As the teams stream out of the tunnel and onto the pitch, they line up awaiting the national anthems.
Moments to go before another day of AFCON action……
First AFCON meeting
These two sides have never met in the tournament before.
They last met in a 2021 friendly, Senegal winning 2-0 with goals from Idrissa Gueye and Sadio Mane.
The first twenty minutes is going to be key for both sides for differing reasons.
Senegal drought
It has to be a worry for Aliou Cisse that his side has only scored one goal in three games so far at AFCON.
They have yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
If Mane is not firing, you wonder where the goals are going to come from.
No fear
‘Facing a team like Senegal is added motivation because the match is like a derby.’
Cape Verde manager, Pedro Brito
Cape Verde subs:
Monteiro Sanches Borges, Oliviera Borges, Varela Semedo, G Tavares, Brazao Sosa, dos Santos Rodrigues, Furtado, J Tavares, Kevin Sousa, Moreira Fernandes, Semedo Afonso, Spinola Lima.
Cape Verde team:
Vozinha, S Fortes, Lopes, Santos Tavares, J Fortes, Andrade, Rocha Santos, Tavares dos Santos, Rodrigues, Mendes, Alvarenga.
Senegal subs:
Dieng, Cisse, Balde Diao, H Diallo, Toure, Lopy, Dieng, P Sarr, Mbaye, Gomis, Name, Thiam.
Senegal team:
E Mendy, B Sarr, Koulibaly, A Diallo, Ciss, Dia, I Gueye, N Mendy, P Gueye, Diedhiou, Mane.
Lions roar
Having won the silver medal in the 2019 AFCON tournament, the Teranga Lions will be looking to go one better this time out.
Senegal have won 3 out of 4 knockout games they have played at AFCON.
Their only defeat coming in the final against Algeria.
Shark-infested waters
Cape Verde beat ten-man Ethiopia in their opening group game 1-0.
Defeat to Burkina Faso (1-0) was followed by a draw with Cameroon (1-1) to go through as one of the highest ranked third-place teams.
The Blue Sharks will feel they have nothing to lose with Senegal firm favourites.
Favourites faultering
As the bookies’ favourite to win the tournament, Senegal have failed to impress so far.
Sadio Mane’s 97th minute penalty gave the Teranga Lions a slender win against Zimbabwe in their opening game.
Two goalless draws against Guinea and Malawi then followed.
Despite their performances, Senegal topped their group with five points.
Welcome back AFCON fans
The round of 16 has not failed to entertain us.
Two days of football has already decided two of the quarter finals.

Gambia vs Cameroon (4pm)
Burkina Faso vs Tunisia (7pm)

Time to find out who is going to join them there.
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