AFCON 2023 Knockout Stage: Odds, Fixtures, Dates
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group phase ended on Wednesday, January 25, with great drama as giants fell, underdogs rose, and a 34-year-old journeyman led the goalscorers’ charts. Even the hosts, Ivory Coast, scraped through by a whisker while North Africa’s AFCON woes continued south of the Sahara.
The 36 games in the group phase produced 89 goals, an average of 2.47 goals per game. In fact, there weren’t any games without goals until the last day of the group stage. A sports betting enthusiast could have made a killing backing the underdogs in the group stage.
With several mouthwatering fixtures in the round of 16, expect plenty more excitement as teams continue their quest for the continent’s biggest football prize.
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100% Welcome Bonus Up to ₦50.000AFCON 2023: Once Mighty Giants Tumble as Underdogs Rise
The 2023 AFCON has witnessed a monumental shift in power, with established giants crumbling before the surging tide of underdog nations. Gone are the days of predictable outcomes, replaced by a tournament where shocking upsets have become the norm.
Fallen Giants
The 2023 AFCON has seen some of the biggest names in African football crashing out in the group stages. Five-time winners Ghana’s dreams were shattered in the final moments against Mozambique, marking their second consecutive group stage exit. Former champions Algeria and Tunisia finished rock bottom in their respective groups.
Meanwhile, hosts Ivory Coast were humbled by a devastating 4-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in the tournament’s joint-highest margin of defeat.
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110% Welcome Bonus Up to ₦50.000Underdogs Rising
But amidst the fallen giants, new heroes have emerged. Nations like Mauritania, Cape Verde, and Namibia, once considered outsiders, have stormed onto the scene, capturing the hearts of fans and rewriting the AFCON narrative.
Mauritania made their AFCON debut in 2019. Three editions later, this nation, more holiday haven than football powerhouse, are through to the knockout round for the first time, having registered their first-ever AFCON win in nine attempts against 2019 winners Algeria.
Who would’ve predicted Equatorial Guinea or Cape Verde would top their groups? The Nzalang Nacional topped a group with three-time champions Nigeria and the hosts. Meanwhile, the Blue Sharks swam right past record-breakers Egypt and powerhouse Ghana. Even Namibia’s Brave Warriors roared, defeating 2004 champions Tunisia for their first win ever and charging into the knockout rounds.
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200% Welcome Bonus Up to ₦100.000Even the leading scorer of the tournament defies expectations.
While the pre-tournament spotlight was on the likes of Victor Osimhen and Mohamed Salah, 34-year-old Emiliano Nsue from Equatorial Guinea currently leads the 2023 AFCON charts with five goals.
This unlikely hero, registered as a midfielder and sometimes playing right-back for a Spanish third-division team, has defied his age, position, and team’s ranking to blast his way to five goals, including the tournament’s first hat-trick since Soufiane Alloudi against Namibia in 2008.
Nsue is currently the odds-on favourite on Betking to win the Golden Boot. However, Victor Osimhen (13 odds), Sadio Mane (26 odds), and Youssef En-Nesyri (12 odds) could have stronger chances of going further in the tournament, meaning more opportunities to score.
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Register and Get ₦500 free betManagers Pay the Price
Five coaches paid the ultimate price for their teams’ failures in the 2023 AFCON group stage, with high-profile names like Chris Hughton of Ghana and Jean-Louis Gasset of Cote d’Ivoire shown the door. The pressure wasn’t just on the big teams, though. Tam Sainfiet of The Gambia, Djamel Belmadi of Algeria, and Jalel Kadri of Tunisia all opted to step down after their teams’ disappointing showing.
North African Giants Struggle in Sub-Saharan AFCON
Four North African powerhouses entered the 2023 AFCON, ranked amongst Africa’s best. Yet, the scorching West African sun has dimmed their shine as their struggles in AFCONs in sub-Saharan Africa continue.
Egypt, ranked fifth in Africa, just scraped through the group stage with three draws. The 2019 champions Algeria, ranked fourth on the continent, suffered a shock defeat to the 22nd-ranked Mauritania and finished last in their group. Tunisia (3) also ended last in their group, losing to Namibia (27) on Matchday 1.
Only the top-ranked Morocco lived up to their billing, topping their group with two wins and a draw. Midfielder Hakim Ziyech even became a fan favourite in the Ivory Coast after scoring the winner against Zambia, which sent the Elephants to the next stage.
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Give a boost to your next sports betAFCON 2023: Round of 16 Fixtures
The round of 16 has thrown up several mouthwatering clashes, with defending champions Senegal pitted against hosts Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, Nigeria and Cameroon will renew their fiery rivalry while Egypt will take on DR Congo. The knockout stage also features intriguing clashes between Mali and Burkina Faso, as well as Morocco against South Africa.
Fixtures, Dates & Venues
- 27/01 17:00 Angola vs Namibia (Stade de la Paix, Bouaké)
- 27/01 20:00 Nigeria vs Cameroon (Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan)
- 28/01 17:00 Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea (Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan)
- 28/01 20:00 Egypt vs D.R Congo (Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pédro)
- 29/01 17:00 Cape Verde vs Mauritania (Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan)
- 29/01 20:00 Senegal vs Ivory Coast (Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro)
- 30/01 17:00 Mali vs Burkina Faso (Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo)
- 30/01 20:00 Morocco vs South Africa (Laurent Pokou Stadium, San Pédro)
AFCON 2023: Winner’s Odds
Tournament sponsors 1xbet have Morocco as favourites to win the 2023 AFCON at 3.76 odds. The Atlas Lions have been impressive, conceding just once. Their next match against South Africa seems manageable, and their impressive form suggests they’re likely to reach the quarterfinals, making them strong contenders for the title.
Defending champions Senegal are close behind at 4 odds, winning every group stage match for the first time ever. However, their AFCON 10-match unbeaten streak faces a serious challenge in the last 16 against the tournament’s hosts.
Speaking of the hosts, Ivory Coast, their group stage performance left much to be desired, even forcing them to part ways with their coach. Can home advantage give them the necessary boost to charge towards glory? 1xbet believes they have a fighting chance at 9.9 odds.
Nigeria, who boast the longest streak of knockout stage appearances (15) in the tournament’s history, are at 7.3 odds to lift the AFCON title. Their last 16 opponents, Cameroon, are at 25 odds.
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100% Welcome Bonus Up to €100The Eagles of Mali are undefeated since June 2023. They topped their group and could be an excellent value bet at 13.7 odds, the same price as record winners Egypt, who are without Mo Salah but can never be truly discounted.
The 2023 AFCON has already seen its share of upsets, and who knows what surprises await? Angola (65 odds), Namibia (100 odds), and Mauritania (100 odds) might seem like long shots, but the beauty of football lies in its unpredictability. Could one of these underdogs pull off a miracle?
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300% First Deposit Bonus Up to ₦145.600With the knockout stage set, it’s clear that the excitement is only just beginning. The best teams in Africa are about to clash, and anything is possible. So buckle up and enjoy the ride!
