On Thursday the final list of teams eligible to play in the knockout round will be complete with the last four fixtures set to be played. A number of upsets have ensued already with a handful of tournament favorites failing to win their respective groups while others have outrightly exited the competition. In the case of the latter, the Black Stars of Ghana crashed out of the tournament after failing to pick up a win in all three group games and, ahead of the upcoming fixtures, many dread the fact that defending champions Algeria may well suffer the same fate should they fall to Ivory Coast.
In contrast, the Elephants are well placed to progress to the next round and should do okay with a draw. The same remains true for Equatorial Guinea who will be taking on Sierre Leone in their final group game of Group E. In Group F, Gambia, Mali and Tunisia all have realistic chances to progress while bottom-dwellers have an outside chance to do same. Here is all you need to know ahead of the upcoming Group E and Group F games:
Group E
Ivory Coast vs Algeria: The two African giants collide in Group E as they look to seal their respective fate inside the Douala Stadium on Thursday. After failing to win either of their first two games, Algeria will need all three points to advance to the round of 16, while the Elephants will be satisfied with a split of the spoils. The current AFCON trophy holders have had a torrid time navigating the course of their title defense - their recent plight being a defeat to Equatorial Guinea which brought an incredible 35-game unbeaten run to an end. Earlier, they were denied a sound footing by Sierre Leone in their opening group game.
For Ivory Coast, at least a draw should suffice as far as their ambition to quaify for the knockout stage is concerned. The Elephants were denied a second straight win and an early ticket to the last 16 on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw with a resilient Sierra Leone side. They approach the game with Algeria unbeaten in all but one of their last 14 games in all competitions, winning nine and drawing the remaining four.
Predicted llneups
Ivory Coast: Sangare; Aurier, Kossounou, Deli, Konan; Kessie, Seri, Sangare; Zaha, Haller, Pepe
Algeria: M'Bolhi; Bensebaini, Atal, Mandi, Bedrane; Belkebla, Brahimi, Boulaya; Mahrez, Bounedjah, Benrahma.
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Sierra Leone vs Equatorial Guinea: Only a point separates Sierra Leone in third place and Equatorial Guinea in second place as both teams head into the final Group stage fixture in the ongoing AFCON 2022 tournament. The pair will lockhorns inside the Limbe Omnisport Stadium on Thursday with hopes of progressing to the next round of the competition. After extraordinarily dealing with the threats of group favorites Algeria and Ivory Coast, the two teams could well defy all odds and secure tickets to the knockout stage with a draw.
Predicted lineups
Sierra Leone: Kamara; Wright, Caulker, Bangura, Kakay; J Kamara, Quee, Turay, Bundu; K Kamara, A Kamara
Equatorial Guinea: Mbara; Akapo, Coco, Obiang, Ndong; Salvador, Ganet, Machin, Buyla; Nlavo, Nsue.
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Group F
Gambia vs Tunisia:
Gambia and Tunisia meet at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium on Thursday, separated by only one point in Group F of the Africa Cup of Nations. Gambia is currently in first place in Group A, tied on four points with Mali in second place, while the Eagles of Carthage are in third place with three points from two games.
Last Sunday, the Scorpions continued their strong start to the Africa Cup of Nations by battling back from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw against Mali. The Tunisians, meanwhile, kicked off their AFCON campaign with a convincing 4-0 win over Mauritania at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium last time out. Against Gambia, a draw should be enough to guarantee both sides passage into the Round of 16.
Predicted lineups
Gambia: Jobe; Modou, Colley, Gomez, Touray; Adams, Bobb, Marreh, Jallow; Barrow, Ceesay
Tunisia: Said; Mathlouthi, Ifa, Talbi, Maaloul; Slimane, Skhiri, Chaalali; Mejbri; Khazri, Laidouni.
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Mali vs Mauritania: On Thursday, Mali and Mauritania will face off in their final group game of the 2021 AFCON campaign at the Douala Stadium. After losing their first two games, Mauritania will be looking to end the tournament on a positive note, while the Eagles only need a draw to guarantee their position in the round of 16.
Mali was denied an early ticket to the final 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations last Sunday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a spirited Gambia side after overcoming Tunisia 1-0 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Mauritania became the third side to confirm their exit from the tournament after falling to a 4-0 thrashing against Tunisia last time out.
Predicted lineups
Mali: Mounkoro; Haidara, Kouyate, Sacko, Traore; Samassekou, Camara, Bissouma; Djenepo, Traore, Kone
Mauritania: Diop; Thiam, Abeid, Yali, Houbeibib; Karamoko, N'Diaye, Fofana, Mahmoud; Ba, Kamara.
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