The group stages of the African Cup of Nations 2017 are over and we’re another step closer to finding out who will be crowned champions on Sunday 5 February.
Holders Ivory Coast crashed out after failing to register a win at the finals, while Leicester City will be the major beneficiaries of Algeria’s catastrophic tournament with Islam Slimani and the mercurial Riyad Mahrez returning to Premier League action shortly.
Even talismanic Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang couldn’t fire Gabon to glory as three successive draws were not enough to see the host nation through to the knockout stage.
So, we know which eight teams have made it through to this year’s African Cup of Nations quarter finals, but what do we know about them?
BURKINA FASO
The West African side, ranked 53rd in the world, topped Group A with a win and two draws having won their qualification group. Now coached by Paulo Duarte, the Stallions lost in the 2013 final to Nigeria and finished fourth when they hosted the tournament in 1998 but are yet to claim an African Cup of Nations title.
Young Chelsea forward Bertrand Traore, currently on loan at Ajax, is a hot prospect for Burkina Faso, who face Tunisia in the quarter final.
CAMEROON
Four-time African champions Cameroon can no longer call upon legendary striker Samuel Eto’o, but Besitkas forward Vincent Aboubakar, on loan from Porto, could be the next big thing.
The Indomitable Lions coasted through their qualification group and finished second behind Burkina Faso in Group A with one win and two draws. Coached by Hugo Broos, Cameroon are ranked 62nd in the world, but their pedigree in this tournament should not be underestimated.
DR CONGO
Winners of two African titles in 1968 and 1974, formerly as Zaire, Democratic Republic of Congo have since only managed two third place finished in 1998 and 2015.
The Leopards, ranked 49th in the world, are coached by Florent Ibenge, who had a stint in charge of Chinese side Shanghai Shenua in 2012 and finished top of Group B with Junior Kabananga scoring three goals. The striker currently plies his trade with Kazakh champions Astana, having previously played in Belgium.
AFCON: OUR FINAL EIGHT
We know who they are, but what do we actually know about the quarter finalists?
Article posted: 26 January 2017
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Youssouf Mulumbu
Norwich and DR Congo
Nicolas Nkoulou
Lyon and Cameroon
Bertrand Traore
Chelsea and Burkina Faso
Mohamed Salah
Roma and Egypt
Vincent Aboubakar
Besiktas and Cameroon
Asamoah Gyan
Shanghai and Ghana
EGYPT
The most decorated nation at the competition, Egypt beat Ghana in their final Group D match to claim top spot but have not won this tournament since winning their seventh crown in 2010.
La Liga coach of the Year 1999 Hector Cuper is in charge of the Pharaohs having previously had spells with Valencia, Real Betis and Mallorca in Spain, and Inter Milan and Parma in Italy. The Argentinean won back to back Supercopa de Espana with Mallorca and Valencia in 1998 and 1999, and was named UEFA Club Coach of the Year in 2000.
Egypt won their qualification group, knocking out three-time champions Nigeria in the process.
GHANA
Last won this competition for the fourth time in 1982 and have been runners-up on five occasions – most recently in 2015, where they lost to Ivory Coast 9-8 on penalties. Goalkeeper Brimah Razak saw his penalty saved by Boubacar Barry, who then went on to become the hero as he scored the winner in Sudden Death.
The Black Stars, coached by former Chelsea, Portsmouth and West Ham manager Avram Grant, are ranked 54th in the world and breezed through qualification, with Aston Villa forward Jordan Ayew scoring three goals. The squad is also without Juventus’ Kwadwo Asamoah and Las Palmas’ Kevin-Prince Boateng.
MOROCCO
Have won this competition just once back in 1976 when Ahmed Makrouh scored an 86th minute equaliser against Guinea to ensure Morocco finished top of the final group. The Atlas Lions only dropped two points in qualifying – conceding a last minute equaliser in Libya – and won two of their three Group C games, including a 1-0 victory to knock holders Ivory Coast out.
At the helm is Herve Renard, who led Zambia and Ivory Coast to African Cup of Nations titles in 2012 and 2015 respectively. Will the Frenchman be able to repeat the trick for a third time?
SENEGAL
The Lions of Teranga have never won this competition, but were runners up in 2002 to an all-star Cameroon team containing Eto’o, Lauren and Geremi. However, that Senegal squad became a global phenomenon as they beat world champions France 1-0 in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup.
Aliou Cisse, who was part of Senegal’s run to the quarter finals in South Korea and Japan, is in charge of the West African side that has a wealth of talent and experience in its ranks. Cisse’s squad, ranked 33rd in the world, are favourites to win the competition and finished top of Group B.
TUNISIA
Qualified for the tournament as group winners alongside Togo and are one time champions when they hosted the competition in 2004 – Ziad Jaziri scored the winner as the Eagles of Carthage beat Morocco 2-1 in the final.
The North Africans will be hoping to improve on their 2015 appearance, where they lost 2-1 to hosts Equatorial Guinea in the quarter finals. In charge of Tunisia is 70-year-old manager Henryk Kasperczak, who has previously coached Ivory Coast, Morocco, Mali and Senegal. The Pole is taking charge of Tunisia for the second time, having guided them to the 1998 World Cup finals.
Aymen Abdennour
Valencia and Tunisia
Kalidou Koulibaly
Napoli and Senegal
Mehdi Benatia
Roma and Morocco