ITS ANYONE'S GAME AS AFCON 2015 QUARTERS KICKS OFF

After twenty-four matches, the group stages of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations have come and gone. Equatorial Guinea have proved charitable hosts. Though the stadiums in Ebebiyin and Mongomo have been deemed unfit to host knockout stage matches, the tournament has progressed without any major glitches which is a feat in itself considering the short period of time the Equatoguinean government was handed to prepare its infrastructure.

On the pitch Equatorial Guinea have kept Africa’s best defensive record, only conceding a single goal. Statistically local goalkeeper Felipe Ovono Ovono is the tournament’s best shot-stopper, scoring a 7.84 rating on whoscored.com’s algorithm.
But Ovono Ovono has not made an astronomical amount of saves, as coach Esteben Becker has played his cards perfectly, organizing his eleven so that they leave little space between the lines, stifling the space opponents could operate in.
Nzalang Nacional’s quarterfinal opponents Tunisia finished as Group B winners, though they are yet to have played their best football. Yassine Chikhaoui has almost single-handedly dragged the Carthage Eagles into the quarterfinals, scoring a flying header against Zambia and then putting, quite probably, the best individual performance of the tournament against DR Congo.
Humiliating nutmegs, graceful chest catches, hair-splitting through passes were on show from the FC Zurich midfielder who capped off his evening with an assist to Ahmed Akaichi.
Ibenge Caps Off Outstanding Year With Quarterfinal Berth, Faces Redoubtable LeRoy
Fortunately for DR Congo, Jeremy Bokila latched on to a Dieumerci Mbokani flick-on late in the match and equalized for the Central Africans. The goal proved vital as DR Congo qualified alongside Tunisia as runners-up of Group B. Making it to the quarterfinals is the candy cherry on Florent Ibenge’s sundae, after a successful year for club and country.
He guided Kinshasa club AS Vita Club to the CAF Champions League final, and helped the Leopards snatch AFCON qualification in group of death. Yet his greatest challenge is imminent as Ibenge – the only African coach in the quarterfinals – will face-off with Claude LeRoy, the tournament’s most experienced manager, in his eighth Africa Cup of Nations.
Bus problems have plagued LeRoy’s side, Group A runners-up Congo Brazzaville. On opening night, home fans flooded the streets delaying Congo’s four-kilometre journey an extra hour. In addition to the paralyzing wait, the bus’ air conditioning system malfunctioned, so the players arrived at Estadio de Bata irritated and dehydrated.
Four days later, on the same trek, the team bus broke down and all twenty-three men stood on the side of the road as the federation called for reinforcements. Fortunately, their opponents Burkina Faso passed by and generously picked up the footballing hitchhikers.
Algeria and Ghana Justify Their Status as Continental Elite
The eight teams in Group C and D played more difficult matches, as both brackets were labelled groups of death. Ghana qualified as Group C winners despite losing their opening match against Senegal.
Avram Grant’s big names showed up when it mattered most as Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew scored game-winners against Algeria and South Africa, respectively. Though the Black Stars are yet to come out of second gear, they’re fully capable of making a deep run in this tournament should their megastars continue to shine.
Algeria overcame an uncompromising and towering Senegalese defence in a 2-0 win on Tuesday night. Riyad Mahrez exploited wingback space in the opening minutes and slotted past Bouna Condoul. Nabil Bentaleb drove the final nail in the Teranga Lions’ coffin with a strike ten minutes from time to send Les Fennecs to the quarterfinals for the second time in five years.
The North Africans are Africa’s number-one ranked squad, but their road to the knockout stages has had its fair share of speed bumps. Coach Christian Gourcuff’s mother passed away before their second fixture against Ghana. His decisions for that very same match were scrutinized as he played Bentaleb in left midfield.
Madjid Bougherra’s return to the side has been a welcome one. The de jure captain was re-introduced to the Algerian backline after the Bafana Bafana strikeforce had Les Fennecs in sixes and sevens. The 32 year-old centre-half, plying his trade for Al Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, has averaged three interceptions in two matches and has even notched a 40-yard assist against Senegal.
Guinea Find Luck of the Draw, Cote D’Ivoire With One Last Chance
On Sunday evening they will face off with Cote D’Ivoire who have qualified for their seventh consecutive quarterfinals. The same two sides faced of in the 2010 quarterfinal which Cote D’Ivoire lost 3-2. But Les Elephants now have an AFCON-winning coach at the helm in Herve Renard, and it is this golden generation’s (those who haven’t already retired) last chance to win the continental title. Maybe this time it will be different.
Early signs were not auspicious as Cote D’Ivoire failed to win their first two matches with Mali and Guinea. Saint-Etienne’s Max-Alain Gradel changed Ivorian fortunes with a 25 yard thunderbolt that flew past Cameroon’s callow goalkeeper, Fabrice Ondoa.
Group D’s runner-up was not revealed until Thursday evening as Mali and Guinea ended up drawing each of their matches 1-1. With no way of separating the two sides, the Confederation of African Football held a drawing of the lots in Malabo where Guinea were lucky enough to have their name selected in Hotel Malabo. The Syli Nationale now hold a tactical advantage over their opponents as they knew who they would play a full day before Ghana could begin preparations.