Tunisia out, miraculous draft for Ivory Coast… What to remember from Wednesday’s matches

Held in check by the “Bafana Bafana” on Wednesday (0-0), the Tunisian selection will not see the round of 16, unlike the Elephants, saved by Morocco’s victory against Zambia (1-0).

The group stage of CAN 2024 reached its conclusion, Wednesday January 24, with a new disappointment with the elimination of a third stronghold in African football. Above all, the program for the round of 16 is now known. They will argue with Ivory Coast. The host country was drafted at the last minute.

Tunisia on the mat

After Algeria and Ghana, another big one went down. Tunisia left the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations through the back door on Wednesday January 24. Jalel Kadri’s selection failed to do better than a draw against South Africa at the conclusion of the group stage (0-0). His slight domination in possession of the ball (55%) was sterile for a long time: she did not shoot for more than 40 minutes during the second period, until her only clear opportunity, on a header from Haythem Jouini off target (89th).

The Carthage Eagles leave the competition with only two small points scored and one goal scored. A record that is a stain for one of the five African teams to have played in the last World Cup and which had qualified eight times for the knockout phase in its 10 previous participations in the CAN. At the same time, Mali (1st in the group) and Namibia (3rd), who also separated with a score of 0-0, validated their ticket for the round of 16, in the same way as South Africa. South (2nd).

Ivory Coast can thank Morocco

Two days after the disaster against Equatorial Guinea (0-4), which pushed coach Jean-Louis Gasset to resign, Ivory Coast retained a small hope of seeing the round of 16. The host country could hope to be among the four best third-placed teams (out of six) in the group stage, knowing that they were already assured of overtaking Ghana and their two small points. Thanks to Morocco’s victory over Zambia (1-0) on Wednesday, the Elephants secured their qualification as the 4th best third.

A goal from Hakim Ziyech (38th), opportunistic after a pushed back center from Achraf Hakimi, changed everything. Ivory Coast will be entitled to a second chance in a match which will undoubtedly be the headliner of the round of 16, against Senegal, defending champion.

Posters for the round of 16

01/27 at 6 p.m.: Angola – Namibia
01/27 at 9 p.m.: Nigeria – Cameroon

01/28 at 6 p.m.: Equatorial Guinea – Guinea
01/28 at 9 p.m.: Egypt – DR Congo

01/29 at 6 p.m.: Cape Verde – Mauritania
01/29 at 9 p.m.: Senegal – Ivory Coast

01/30 at 6 p.m. : Mali – Burkina Faso
01/30 at 9 p.m.: Morocco – South Africa