CAF Africa Cup of Nations Knock Out Stage: And then there were 16

The Group stages are done and dusted, and now it is time to focus on where this tournament is headed. There are sixteen teams left and only one will be crowned champions.

Here are markets to consider adding to your bet slip...

Angola vs Namibia Match Odds

The winners of Group D will take on the third-place finishers from the group of death, Group E. Angola cruised through their group qualifying ahead of Burkina Faso and Mauritania. Algeria who was expected to make it out of this group with ease finished bottom of the group and were unable to qualify for the knockout phases of this competition.

Namibia was able to finish ahead of the Tunisia after match day three ended in a draw all round. Leaving the group, the same way it was after matchday 2. Namibia failed to find the back of the net against Mali and had to settle for a draw.

In the knockout stages, both these teams will have to find their goal scoring boots especially Namibia who have been underwhelming in front of goal. Angola will be coming into this match in better form than their opponents. If they are to maintain their unbeaten run in this year’s campaign. They are going to need to play their best brand of football.

The 3-way odds are set at 27/25 for Angola to win this match, 2/1 for a draw between these two sides and an away win for Namibia is 11/4. This fixture kicks off the next round of the competition. It would be interesting to see which team will progress.  

Nigeria vs Cameroon Match Odds

Nigeria won back-to-back games to qualify for the next round. They face a Cameroon side that has been accused of being poor at this tournament’s games. They qualified after defeating Gambia on the last day. in the group stages they conceded 6 goals and scored 5, which is far from the mark of champions elect. They are yet to find their stride and dominate in this competition this far.

These two teams have successful football histories and plenty of legends who have played in their prestigious colors. That is why their nations seldom except anything but the best from these sides. In this edition of this competition. It is apparent that these two sides are not the sides they are famously known to be. The expectation is always that these sides would top their groups and that did happen. At least they made it this far.  

Odds on a Nigeria win is set at 12/11, 41/20 for the draw and 53/20 for Cameroon win.  

Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea Match Odds

It is an all-Guinea affair when Equatorial Guinea take on Guinea on the 28th of January 2024. The odds-on Equatorial Guinea walking away with a win are sitting at 13/5, 37/20 for the draw and 6/5 for a Guinea win. Equatorial Guinea has the player of the tournament so far in their ranks. The versatile Emilio Nsue has impressed at this year’s games. scoring 5 goals and leading the race for the golden boot by 2 goals. His team has impressed in Group A after winning the Group seven points on the board and finishing a head of Nigeria and the Hosts Cote d'Ivoire.

Guinea on the other had been the best of the rest, they were the best placed third place finisher in the tournament on goal difference. They have a Mammoth task ahead of them, playing the tournament’s top goal scores Equatorial Guinea. 

 

Egypt vs DR Congo Match Odds

Egypt received a massive blow to their title chances after Liverpool star winger Mo Salah was injured during the group stages of the tournament. All the headlines around the Egyptian national team are around Mo Salah’s decision to leave the tournament and fly back to England for treatment. The decision to fly back to the England was criticized by Egyptian legend Ahmed Hassan, who stated that Salah should stay to support the national team.

Liverpool Coach Jurgen Klopp when questioned about the winger's decision to return to the UK for treatment, he expressed that Both the Egyptian National side and Liverpool have the players best interests at heart. He goes on to say that the players' loyalty should never be questioned. Regardless of what happens in this situation, Egypt’s show must go on. The face DR Congo next and it promises to be a mouthwatering affair.

The odds-on Egypt winning this game are sitting at 51/50, 39/20 for a draw and 3/1 for a DR Congo win. Win probability is 46% in Favor of an Egyptian win even without the services of star player Mo Salah. Both these teams made this far on the back of three draws in a row in their respective groups. It is going to be an interesting affair.  

Cape Verde vs Mauritania Match Odds

Cape Verde have had an amazing tournament thus far. They had seven points on the board and seven different goal scorers in the group stages. They are a team playing some attractive football. A team to watch if you have not seen them in action already.

Mauritania made it through to the next round after being the third best third placed side at the tournament. They came alive in the second game scoring two goals against Angola but failing to keep Angola from finding the back of the net three times. A clean sheet and single goal were enough to see Algeria off and securing that third-place finish.

The odds-on Cape Verde win is sitting at 49/50, with 37/20 for the draw and 7/2 for a Mauritania win.  

 

Senegal vs Côte d’Ivoire Match Odds 

The champions take on the hosts in the round of 16. A lot is expected from both sides, but the hosts find themselves with a mountain to climb after failing to dominate in the group stages. they registered back-to-back losses including a 4 thrashing at the hands of Equatorial Guinea last time out. They finished third in their group on three points and a goal difference of -3. The hosts have been severely lacking in front of goal with only two goals scored the entire tournament. Stars like Nicolas Pepe, Jeremie Boga, and Jonathan Bamba have not found the back of the net as year. Something will have to start clicking if this team is to take control of their fate in this tournament.  

The Champions have been enjoying this tournament so far, with 8 goals scored and 1 conceded in the group stages. They won all three of the games they played in the group stages. in addition to that all their big names have found the back of the net so far in the tournament. Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr, and Habib Diallo have all found the back of the net once. It is a big question for the hosts to go on and win this game, but this is football and in football anything is possible.  

The odds are on a Senegal win are sitting at 5/4, 41/20 for the draw and 11/5 for a Côte d’Ivoire win. The form that Senegal is in now, many of us will be backing them to advance to the next round of this coveted competition.  

Mali vs Burkina Faso Match Odds

Mali who topped Group E did so on the back a win against South Africa, a draw against Tunisia and a Draw against Namibia. The group of death lived up to its billing. The fate of all four teams was not decided until the last whistle was blown on Wednesday evening. Sinayoko Lassine’s goals contributed to the progress in this tournament. They will look to him in the knockout stages to continue finding the back of the net for them.

Burkina Faso will hope Bertrand Traore is in good goal scoring form when they take on Mali. He has 2 goals in 3 games and has been a live wire for his national team. His goals will be needed if they are to progress to the next round.

The odds on a Mali win are sitting at 12/11. 37/20 for the draw and 59/20 for a Burkina Faso win.  

 

Morocco vs South Africa Match Odds 

History is not on South Africa’s side; these two teams have met six times since 2004. South Africa lost 2, drew 3 and only won once against Morocco. That win came on the 17th of June 2023 when South Africa Beat Morocco in a CAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier in Group K. the three draws, however, came in succession between 2004 and 2013.  

Win probability leans in favor of Morocco at 60% and only a 14% chance of South Africa walking away with the result. This is due to South Africa’s inconsistent form and Morocco’s eight games without a loss. to add insult to injury for South Africans, Bafana Bafana have not been able to keep a clean sheet against Morocco in their last five matches played.  

The odds-on South Africa causing an upset against Morocco are sitting at 28/5 and 5/2 if they end the 90 minutes with draw. odds on Morocco winning this game are sitting at 11/20. This is the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, and anything can happen. South Africans everywhere will be hoping that Bafana make then proud and advance to the next round.