We will know this Sunday the names of the four selections qualified for the last four of the African Cup of Nations. Egypt – Morocco and Senegal – Equatorial Guinea are the two posters that will determine who will join Cameroon and Burkina Faso, qualified this Saturday.
Results, shocks, player to follow, here is everything you need to know about the competition in this new issue of the CAN newspaper, our appointment until the final, on February 6.
What to remember from this Saturday
Gambia – Cameroon (0-2)
The Indomitable Lions have Karl Toko Ekambi to thank. Author of his 4th and 5th goals in the competition, the OL striker guided Cameroon to victory against Gambia. After a first half-hour poor in chances then two failures by captain Vincent Aboubakar, he waited for the second period to make the break against solid but harmless Scorpions, in the space of 7 minutes.
After a delicate round of 16 against the Comoros (2-1), the host country seems to have banished its doubts and is moving forward, in the wake of its formidable duo Aboubakar – Toko Ekambi, author of 100% of Cameroon’s 11 goals since the beginning of the CAN.
Burkina Faso – Tunisia (1-0)
For the third time after 1998 (8-7 on penalties) and 2017 (2-0 victory), Burkina Faso eliminated Tunisia in the quarter-finals of the CAN. After their feat against Nigeria, the Carthage Eagles missed their first period and were penalized by a goal scored just before half-time (45th + 2) scored by Dango Ouattara, the 19-year-old Lorient striker (11 L1 matches this season).
At the break, Mondher Kebaier, the coach of Tunisia, recovered from Covid after missing two games, modified his system (4-4-2) and made two changes (entrances from Maaloul and Sliti). After a stoppage by Koffi on a free kick from Maaloul (68th), the match became more and more tense (33 faults in total).
The referee consults the VAR twice, he does not whistle anything on the big tackle in the surface of Soumaila Ouattara on Wahbi Khazri (77th) who seemed to deserve a penalty, but expels the striker Dango Ouattara for a nudge (82nd).
Even at ten against eleven, Burkina Faso defended well and preserved their goal in advance. “I dedicate this victory to the people of Burkina Faso. As the team has shown, he must not let go, ”says Kamou Malo, coach of Burkina Faso whose country is experiencing a coup.
Sunday’s program
Egypt – Morocco (4 p.m.)
Mohamed Salah on one side, Achraf Hakimi on the other. Spectacle in perspective. Morocco is advancing as one of the most regular selections since the start of the competition. A shock won against Ghana (1-0), a success in mastery against the Comoros and a draw having rotated against Gabon (2-2): the Atlas Lions started their adventure in Cameroon well.
Despite a tense qualification snatch against Malawi, they arrive confident. And a figure comes to comfort them: the Moroccans have lost only once against Egypt in their last 7 duels.
The Pharaohs had a markedly different trajectory. Beginnings on tiptoe, marked by a loss in front of Nigeria (0-1), two short successes against Guinea-Bissau (1-0) and in front of Sudan (1-0) and a qualification on penalties goal, against Côte d’Ivoire (0-0, 5 tab 4), in the quarters. Carlos Queiroz’s men will undoubtedly have to put on a better face to get rid of Morocco.
Senegal – Equatorial Guinea (20 hours)
If, on paper, the poster seems very unbalanced, the meeting promises to be more complex than expected. Senegal is one of the big favorites for the title of African champion and remains on a lost final in 2019 against Algeria.
This year, the Lions of Teranga entered the competition timidly. Only one goal scored in the group stage, on penalty, against modest Zimbabwe (1-0), 121st nation in the FIFA rankings, before two disappointing draws against Guinea and Malawi. A frustration for the Mané, Mendy, Koulibaly, and other Gueyes. The small success (2-0) against Cape Verde in numerical inferiority did not entirely reassure.
For its part, if it started with a narrow defeat against Côte d’Ivoire (1-0), Equatorial Guinea gained confidence over its success against Algeria (1-0) and Sierra Leone. (1-0), before eliminating Mali on penalties (0-0, 6-5).
The Nzalang Nacional will thus play its third quarter in three participations in the CAN (after 2012 and 2015) in the position of outsider.
The player to watch: Sadio Mané back
Against Cape Verde, in the round of 16 won by Senegal (2-0), the Liverpool winger left the field after a very violent clash with goalkeeper Josimar Vozinha. Four days later, Sadio Mané is better and should be in the game against Equatorial Guinea this Sunday. “He’s fine,” said Senegalese coach Aliou Cissé. “He resumed training yesterday (Editor’s note: Friday), we are gradually following its evolution. The clash was serious between the two players, but he is a top athlete who knows his body very well. »
Author of the only goal of his team in the group stage (1-0 at the start, in the 97th minute, against Zimbabwe), Mané had put his people on the way against Cape Verde before being replaced. On Sunday, he should therefore chase his third achievement in the competition.