Highlights of AFCON group fixtures

ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire – The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been unpredictable so far with thrills, spills and upsets.

Former champions Ghana, Algeria and Tunisia were among the eight teams eliminated in the group stage.

Another eight will have to go from the round of 16. Host nation Côte d’Ivoire faces defending champion Senegal while Nigeria and Cameroon clash in a match between two of the tournament´s most successful teams.

CAFOnline takes a look at the highlights of the final round of group fixtures.

1.Mauritania qualified for the round of 16 for the first time. Against Algeria, they also obtained their first-ever CAF AFCON win 8 matches.

2. This is also the first time that Senegal has made 3 out of 3 in the group stage of the competition. The Lions of Teranga did this with 8 goals scored against 1 conceded.
3. It is the second consecutive CAF AFCON that Algeria is eliminated in the group stage and without any victory. In 2021, the Fennecs collected 1 point and in 2023, two points.
4. 3 goals scored from penalties between Mozambique (1) and Ghana (2), highest total in a single CAF African Cup of Nations match.
5. Equatorial Guinean Emilio Nsue finishes the group stage with 5 goals. He is the second player to achieve such a performance at this stage of the competition since the Ivorian legend, Laurent Pokou (7 goals in 1970).
6. Nigeria has reached the knockout stage in each of their last 15 appearances of the competition, the longest in the history of the tournament.
7. Against Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire suffered its biggest defeat. The Elephants had never lost a CAF AFCON match by a margin of 4 goals before.
8. Five coaches left their post at the end of the group stages. Tom Saintfiet (Gambia), Chris Hughton (Ghana), Jalel Kadri (Tunisia), Djamel Belmadi (Algeria) and Jean-Louis Gasset (Cote d’Ivoire)
9. Three matches finished 0-0 in the final round of group matches. Namibia – Mali, Tanzania – DR Congo and Tunisia – South Africa
10. 24 goals were scored, fewer than during the first day of the group stage. The second day saw 38 goals.