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While it’s reasonable to say Senegal hasn’t exactly shone at the Africa Cup of Nations, they’ve made it past the group round and into the knockout stages.
Senegal enters the knockout stages as the only team to reach multiple AFCON finals without winning the trophy, having lost on penalties to Cameroon in 2022 and to Algeria in Egypt three years ago.
Cape Verde, on the other hand, has four points from six games in Group A, making them one of the four best third-placed teams from the group stages.
Form Guide
Senegal WDWWDD
Senegal comes into this encounter on the back of a 0-0 Africa Cup of Nations stalemate against Malawi.
In the match, Senegal had 78 percent possession and 10 shots on goal, three of which were on target. Malawi had ten shots on goal, but none of them were on target.
Senegal’s defense has demonstrated a lot of stability recently, as evidenced by their recent scorelines. Senegal has been frugal, scoring just two goals in their last six games. Regardless, we’ll have to wait and see if the pattern continues in the next match.
Cape Verde WWDWLD
Previously, in an Africa Cup of Nations match, Cape Verde and Cameroon tied 1-1.
In the game, Cape Verde had 36% possession and four shots on goal, two of which were on target. Garry Rodrigues (53′) was the lone player to score for the Cape Verde. Cameroon, on the other hand, had 14 shots on goal, three of which were on target. Cameroon’s Aboubakar scored in the 39th minute.
A comparatively low number of goals have been scored between the Cape Verde and their opponents in five of the last six encounters. During that time period, the total average goal scored per game was merely 1.67, with Sihlangu’s average goal being 1.
Injured and suspended
Senegal: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns.
Cape Verde: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns.
Senegal Predicted XI: E. Mendy; Sarr, Koulibaly, A. Diallo, Ciss; Kouyate, N. Mendy, Gueye; Dia, H. Diallo, Mane.
Cape Verde Predicted XI: Vozinha; S. Fortes, Lopes, Stopira; J. Fortes, Andrade, Santos, D. Tavares; Rodrigues, J. Tavares, Monteiro.
Prediction
If everything goes according to plan, the Cape Verdeans will need to be at their best to break down a Senegal team that has all of the tools to completely outclass their opponents in this match.
At the end of the 90 minutes, Senegal should have a convincing 4-0 victory.
At the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Morocco takes on Malawi in one of the most lopsided round of 16 matches of the 2016 Africa Cup. Morocco is a team that is set to win the tournament. There is a wealth of skill in all areas, as well as a great group of players to back them up, and a very formidable defense that is the winning weapon in these championships. The North African team has only conceded five goals in their last 16 games, two of which came in a meaningless draw with Gabon; Malawi is unlikely to exploit this.
Despite qualifying for this stage of the competition, the East Africans have one of the worst advanced departments on the continent, scoring only 33 goals in the last 50 matches. Malawi scored two goals in this group as well, and they will most likely play a defensive game against Morocco, but the quality disparity is too great, and we believe Morocco will easily win.
Form Guide
Morocco WWWWWD
Morocco enters this encounter after a 2-2 Africa Cup of Nations draw with Gabon.
Morocco had 62 percent possession and 9 shots on goal, three of which were on target, in the encounter. Sofiane Boufal, Nayef Aguerd (Own goal), and Achraf Hakimi scored for Morocco. Gabon, on the other hand, had 11 shots on goal, three of which were on target. Gabon’s goal came from Jim Allevinah.
Their most recent results demonstrate that the Moroccan rearguard deserves a lot of respect. Morocco has been stingy, allowing only three goals in their last six games.
Malawi LLLLWD
Malawi’s most recent encounter was a 0-0 draw with Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Malawi had 22% possession and 10 shots on goal with 0 on target in that match. Senegal, on the other hand, had 10 shots on goal, three of which were on target.
Malawi has made it clear that scoring goals has been difficult for them in their last six games, with only three goals scored. The Flames have also seen the total goal tally of rival clubs equal 9 in those games. However, such a pattern may not continue in this game.
Injured and suspended
Morocco: (Ilias Chair)
Malawi: (Limbikani Mvaza)
Morocco Predicted XI: Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Romain Saiss, Nayef Aguerd, Adam Masina; Sofyan Amrabat; Tarik Tissoudali, Selim Amallah, Imran Louza, Sofiane Boufal; Ayoub El Kaabi
Malawi Predicted XI: Ernest Kakhobwe; Denis Chembezi, Lawrence Chaziya, Gomezgani Chirwa; Francisco Madinga, John Christopher Banda, Chimwenwe Idana, Stanley Sanudi; Gabadinho Mhango; Richard Mbulu, Khuda Muyaba
Prediction
Malawi appears to have a good chance of scoring against a Moroccan team that has the power to win this match.
At the conclusion of the game, Morocco has a comfortable 3-0 lead.
More than eight years after their last meeting, the Ivory Coast and Egypt meet in a fight for a place in the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals. The match will take place at the Stade Omnisport Japoma in Douala, Cameroon, on a field where the Ivory Coast of French selector Patrice Beaumelle was already dominant in the group stage, with two wins-1-0 against Equatorial Guinea and 3-1 against Algeria-and a 2-2 draw against Sierra Leone-putting the Elephants in first place.
Egypt, coached by Carlos Queiroz of Portugal, finished second in Group D, behind Nigeria, whom they lost 1-0 in their debut.
Form Guide
Ivory Coast WWLWDW
Following a 3-1 Africa Cup of Nations triumph over Algeria, Ivory Coast will be seeking another victory.
In the game, Ivory Coast had 44 percent possession and 12 shots on goal, 7 of which were on target. Ivory Coast scored through Franck Kessié (22′), Ibrahim Sangaré (39′), and Nicolas Pépé (54′). Algeria, on the other hand, had 14 shots on goal, four of which were on target. Algeria’s Bendebka scored in the 73rd minute.
Ivory Coast have scored 11 goals in their last six matches. In those matches, they have been outscored by a total of five goals.
Egypt WDWLWW
Egypt will enter the encounter fresh off a 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations victory over Sudan in their last match.
During the game, Egypt had 62 percent possession and 12 shots on goal, four of which were on target. Abdelmonem (35′) was Egypt’s only player on the scoresheet. Sudan, on the other hand, had eight shots on goal, one of which was successful.
Egypt’s defense players have put up a string of strong performances, allowing only four goals in their last six matches. During the same time frame, their own forwards have scored nine goals.
Injured and suspended
Ivory Coast clean bill of health and no suspension concerns.
Egypt (Seifeddine Jaziri)
Ivory Coast Predicted XI: Sangare – Aurier, Kossounou, Deli, Konan – Sangare, Seri, Kessie – Pepe, Haller, Gradel
Egypt Predicted XI: El Shenawy – Kamal, Hegazy, Abdelmonem, Ashraf – Elneny, El Solia, Said – Salah, Mostafa Mohamed, Marmoush
Prediction
Egypt will find it difficult to break down this Ivory Coast side, who we believe will score and stay on top.
As a result, we believe that the game will be a close one, with Ivory Coast winning by a 1-0 margin at the end.
Equatorial Guinea should be avoided. A low-level team that qualified second in a group featuring Ivory Coast, Algeria, and Sierra Leone, does not intend to stop there. The North Guineans play compactly and have only conceded one goal, but they also know how to create diverse counterattack goals, as evidenced by their performance against Algeria. Mali, on the other hand, won its group. Even if the victory over Tunisia came under unusual circumstances, the team was able to justify its position in the rest of the group.
The Malian movement is expanding, and the squad has a chance to qualify for the World Cup for the first time through the play-offs. Yet, like any young team, it is inconstant, and can alternate moments of glory with periods of unanticipated struggle. This is why we believe the game will be fairly balanced and Equatorial Guinea will not be starting from a disadvantage.
Form Guide
Mali WWWWDW
Mali, inspired by their previous performance against Mauritania in the Africa Cup of Nations, will be hoping for more of the same.
In the game, Mali had 66 percent possession and 17 shots on goal, five of which were on target. Both Massadio Hadara (2′) and Ibrahima Koné (49′) scored for Mali. Mauritania had seven shots on goal, three of which were on target.
The Mali defense has been in excellent form recently, as evidenced by their recent scorelines. Mali has kept it close, with only one goal going past their goalkeeper in their last six games.
Equatorial Guinea DWDLWW
Equatorial Guinea comes into this match fresh off a 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations victory over Sierra Leone in their previous match.
Equatorial Guinea had 53% possession and 17 shots on goal, 6 of which were on target, in that encounter. Equatorial Guinea’s only player on the scoresheet was Ganet (38′). Sierra Leone, on the other hand, had seven shots on goal, three of which were on target.
In six of the previous six games, very few goals have been scored between Equatorial Guinea and opposition teams.
Injured and suspended
Mali clean bill of health and no suspension concerns.
Equatorial Guinea clean bill of health and no suspension concerns.
Mali Predicted XI: Mounkoro – H. Traore, Sacko, Kouyate, M. Haidara – A. Haidara, Bissouma – Traore, Adama Traore, Doumbia – Kone
Equatorial Guinea Predicted XI: Owono – Akapo, Obiang, Coco- Ndong – Salvador, Ganet, Machin, Miranda – Bikoro, Hanza
Prediction
We believe Equatorial Guinea will have enough chances to score against Mali’s roster, but that number may not be as high as the number of goals they may concede.
According to our prediction, Mali will win by a slim 2-1 margin at full-time.