2023 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage

The knockout stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 27 January with the round of 16 and ended on 11 February 2024 with the final held at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan. A total of sixteen teams (the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament.

All match times are local, GMT (UTC+0).

Format
In the knockout stage, except for the third place play-off, if a match was level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each). If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. In the third place play-off, if the score remained level after 90 minutes, the match would go directly to a penalty shoot-out, without any extra time being played.

Qualified teams
The top two placed teams from each of the six groups, plus the four best-placed third teams, qualified for the knockout stage.

Bracket


Angola vs Namibia
Angola and Namibia met for the 13th time, and this match was their first competitive meeting at the Africa Cup of Nations since 1998, where Angola overcame a two-goal deficit to secure a 3-3 draw in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

The match was thought to have turned worse for Angola when Neblú received a red card in the 17th minute due to a handball outside the box. However, the Angolans opened the scoring, when Gelson Dala nicely chipped over from a counterattack at the 38th minute. The situation turned increasingly more favorable for Angola when Namibia was reduced to ten after Lubeni Haukongo got a second yellow in the 40th minute; a set-piece two minutes later saw Dala headed home for a second. Mabululu completed the game when he curled home despite frantic efforts by Namibian defenders.

This win meant Angola won their first-ever knockout stage game in the Africa Cup of Nations, while Namibia remained winless over Angola (D6, L7).



Nigeria vs Cameroon
Nigeria and Cameroon met for the 26th time, and this was the eighth time the nations were meeting in the Africa Cup of Nations, including a previous encounter in the Ivory Coast and two meetings at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations.

Although Nigeria started slowly, they immediately found the back of the net as Semi Ajayi tapped the ball in from a close range at the ninth minute, only to be disallowed for offside. This offside goal, instead, spurred the Super Eagles on and ultimately, they would get the goal needed when Oumar Gonzalez’s mis-timed touch allowed Victor Osimhen to seize on the loose ball, race forward and feed through Ademola Lookman, whose shot was fumbled into the net by Fabrice Ondoa at the 36th minute. Despite efforts by the Cameroonians to turn around, Nigeria ultimately triumphed at the 90th minute when Lookman raced onto Calvin Bassey’s low cross from the left and powerfully volleyed into the net.



Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea
This was the first time the two nations met for an international match.

After a dull first half with little chances, the second half was filled with drama. In the 55th minute, Federico Bikoro's high challenge on Mohamed Bayo proved to be disastrous for the Equatoguineans as he was given a red, reducing Equatorial Guinea to ten men. Ten minutes later, however, it was Equatorial Guinea's turn for a chance to score the opener when Iban Salvador was fouled in Guinea's penalty area, but from the spot, Emilio Nsue instead had his shot hit the left post. This ultimately proved to be a disaster for Equatorial Guinea, when at the last minute of injury time, Bayo turned hero for the Guineans with a terrific header to secure Guinea the win at the death after a cross from the right flank.

With this result, it was the worst-ever AFCON finish in the history for Equatorial Guinea, as they failed to advance past the last sixteen.



Egypt vs DR Congo
This was the fifth meeting between both sides in the AFCON, with the latest encounter being in 2019, when Egypt managed to get a 2–0 win in the group stage.

Egypt were close to break the deadlock early, with Ahmed Hegazi narrowly missing a header in the eighth minute. DR Congo appeared to be more dangerous throughout the match, and eventually converted a chance in the 37th minute, when Yoane Wissa received a throw-in played quickly and had his deflected shot turned in by Meschak Elia, amid confusion of the Egyptian players, however, the lead lasted 10 minutes only, as Mostafa Mohamed scored a penalty that was confirmed by VAR following a foul by Dylan Batubinsika on Hegazi. After a slow and uneventful second half that saw only one serious attack missed by Mahmoud Hamada for Egypt, the match went to extra time for the first time in the 2023 edition, and witnessed Egypt's Mohamed Hamdy being sent off in the 97th minute after receiving two yellow cards. The second half of extra time saw Simon Banza missing a great chance for DR Congo that almost secured the victory for them, but the final score resulted in the first penalty shootout of the 2023 AFCON. It was DR Congo who managed to win the shootout, winning 8–7 with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi scoring the winning penalty following his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Abou Gabal's failed attempt, causing another upset in the tournament.



Cape Verde vs Mauritania
It was the first time Cape Verde faced Mauritania in an AFCON game.

In a rather dull affair, which Mauritania were largely on the defence against Cape Verde, a howling header by Yassine Cheikh El Welly resulted in Benchimol intercept right on Mauritania's box, forcing Babacar Niasse to commit a foul at the 86th minute; this ended up giving Cape Verde's the decisive penalty, and Ryan Mendes didn't miss it two minutes later to secure Cape Verde's progression to the quarter-finals.

This result meant Cape Verde won their first ever AFCON knockout stage match, while on personal record, it was the second consecutive knockout stage defeat for Amir Abdou as coach, as he previously lost to Cameroon as coach of Comoros at the same last sixteen back in the 2021 edition.



Senegal vs Ivory Coast
This was their first AFCON meeting since 1986, in which Ivory Coast won 1–0. However, their most recent competitive meetings happened during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, which Ivory Coast also won to qualify for the main tournament.

Senegal got off to a dream start when from a fast attack, Sadio Mané latched on to Ismail Jakobs’ throw-in and cut it back from the byline for Habib Diallo, who took the ball on his chest before swivelling and smashing it high into the roof of Yahia Fofana’s net right after four minutes. However, wasteful opportunities later on, combined with the Ivorian regrouping, proved to be a major challenge for the Senegalese and, after wasting numerous opportunities to put the game to bed, Senegal were punished at the 82nd minute when a Nicolas Pépé's failed lob ended up resulting in Édouard Mendy committed a foul on the box; VAR later confirmed a penalty and Franck Kessié converted neatly to equalise. Neither could break through thereafter and both were forced to settle on penalties. While the Ivorians ended up converting all penalties in success, Senegal's Moussa Niakhaté's shot instead hit the right post, to end any hope of defending the African title for the Senegalese as the Ivorians marched on.

This result meant Senegal remain unable to beat Ivory Coast in any competitive fixture in their history (2D, 5L).



Mali vs Burkina Faso
The two teams met for the first time in an AFCON since 2004, which ended with Mali winning 3–1 over their neighbour.

Mali got off to a dream start at the third minute when Amadou Haidara had his shot hit the woodwork with a thumping head from Hamari Traoré’s cross, only for Edmond Tapsoba to inadvertently clip the rebound into his own net to score a hilarious own goal and give Mali the lead. The game became increasingly more intense as both sides exchanged fires on each other, but it was the Malians who once again struck a goal when, at the second minute of the restart, it was Hamari who once again produced a brilliant cross allowing Lassine Sinayoko to beat the offside trap and race through on goal before slotting through Hervé Koffi. Ten minutes later, Burkina Faso got a lifeline when from a ball fight, Boubakar Kouyaté let the ball touch his hand, before Bertrand Traoré converted neatly on the spot. However, Mali's valiant effort ultimately resulted in the win as Burkina Faso failed to repeat their heroic 2021 Africa Cup of Nations feat.

With this win, it marked for the first time since 2013 that Mali won a knockout stage match.



Morocco vs South Africa
This was their first AFCON meeting since 2019, where Morocco won their first ever AFCON encounter against South Africa 1–0. Their most recent encounters, interestingly, occurred during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, which both teams sharing a win with coincidental results (2–1).

Being the superior team on paper, Morocco quickly applied pressure on South Africa and even got a goal by Abde Ezzalzouli at the 33rd minute, before it was ruled out for offside. However, the South Africans proved their resilience by withstanding waves of Moroccan attacks while successfully neutralising energetic Moroccan midfielders. Unable to find the back of the net, Morocco were forced to pay a heavy price at the 57th minute when Evidence Makgopa sprung the offside trap, finishing well to the bottom left corner to spark shock celebration for the South Africans. Morocco got a chance to equalise after Ayoub El Kaabi forced Mothobi Mvala to use hand on ball at the 83rd minute, giving a golden opportunity on the spot. However, Achraf Hakimi missed the penalty, shooting against the crossbar. The situation turned worse for Morocco at the added time when Sofyan Amrabat made a bad challenge on Teboho Mokoena, resulting in a straight red card; Mokoena capitalised it with a thunderous free kick to make it two, ultimately burying any hope of Morocco winning the second AFCON title whilst South Africa continued its quest to win its own second.

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Nigeria vs Angola
It was the first time the two met in an AFCON final, with their most recent competitive fixture happened during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, where Angola overcame Nigeria en route to their historic debut at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria were the better team on paper, but Angola forced them to work hard with a dangerous shot by Gilberto from a corner kick before denied by Stanley Nwabili. Nigeria grew into the game, though, but not until the 41st minute that, when Moses Simon effortlessly skipped over Kialonda Gaspar’s challenge and teed up to Ademola Lookman smashed the ball home with a clinical first-time finish. Lookman's goal turned out to be the only goal of the game as Nigeria secured their passage to the semi-finals for the first time since 2019.

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DR Congo vs Guinea
It was the first AFCON meeting between two since 2004, where Guinea won 2–1. However, their most recent competitive fixture happened at the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, where DR Congo triumphed 3–1 though DR Congo ended up failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The game started in favour for the Guineans when Chancel Mbemba committed a push on Mohamed Bayo on the box before Bayo himself converted it at the 21st minute on the spot. However, Mbemba redeemed six minutes later when from a corner by Arthur Masuaku, a misjudging header allowed Mbemba to fire a clinical strike into the roof of the net. Empowered by the equaliser, DR Congo poured further efforts to find goal, but not until the 65th minute that Julian Jeanvier's poor foul against Silas Katompa Mvumpa on the box was capitalised by Yoane Wissa with a clinical penalty. Masuaku then buried any hope for a Guinean comeback at the 82nd minute with a thunderous free kick too hard to deny.

With this win, DR Congo marched to the semi-finals of the AFCON for the first time since 2015.

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Mali vs Ivory Coast
This was their first AFCON encounter since 2019, where Ivory Coast won 1–0.

Mali were the better team at the first half and could have gotten the lead early when Odilon Kossounou bundled into Lassine Sinayoko in the box to give the Malians a penalty at the 16th minute, but Adama Traoré threw away that golden chance with his shot denied by Yahia Fofana. However, Mali got a huge boost when from Jean Michaël Seri's misjudgement led to Kossounou to again foul Sinayoko, resulted in Ivory Coast reduced to ten. However, not until the 71st minute that Nene Dorgeles, who is of Ivorian ancestry, produced a glorious curling finish from outside of the area into the top-right corner to give Mali the lead. But as Mali were thought to advance given the sheer advantage, Ivory Coast got a shocking equaliser at the last minute of regulation time, Seko Fofana’s first attempt from 18 yards pinballed off two defenders before falling to Simon Adingra, who clinically dispatched into the top left corner from close range to put the game to another 30 minutes. However, madness arrived at the second minute of added time in the second half of extra time when, Seko Fofana crepted through a crowded penalty area and was flicked in by Oumar Diakité to send ten-men Ivory Coast to the semi-finals in an emotional and insane encounter.

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Cape Verde vs South Africa
It was the two's first AFCON meeting since 2013, where Cape Verde shocked South Africa with a goalless draw. Their most recent competitive meetings happened at the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, which Cape Verde produced two shocking wins with coincidental results (2–1).

Cape Verde proved to be more dominant in the match, but they failed to capitalise from every opportunity they got, whereas South Africa also put some pressure to force Cape Verde's Vozinha to save. However, the match was rather dull with very little actions and, after the game ended goalless in 120 minutes, they were forced to go to penalties. South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams became the first goalkeeper in AFCON history to save four penalty kicks in a shootout, while his teammates scored twice from four attempts, which was enough to secure South Africa's progression to the semi-finals for the first time since 2000.

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Nigeria vs South Africa
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Ivory Coast vs DR Congo
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