Ivory Coast team
By Richard Otega Enyeh
After a humiliating 4-0 defeat from Equatorial Guinea which culminated to the sack of its coach,
Jean-Louis Gasset, Cote d’Ivoire have qualified for the round of 16 on account of Morocco 1-0 victory over Zambia on Wednesday night.
Morocco’s result was celebrated all over the host nation as it allowed Ivory Coast to squeeze into the next round as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Cote d’Ivoire will face a daunting tie against reigning champions Senegal in capital city Yamoussoukro next Monday, and they will do so with a new coach, Emerse Fae
Fae who was hitherto assistant to sacked Jean-Louis Gasset, played alongside Didier Drogba in the Ivorian team that lost the 2006 AFCON final to Egypt.
In a related development, DR Congo also qualified for the last 16 in second place in Group F behind Morocco after a 0-0 draw with Tanzania in Korhogo.
The final day of group-stage action also saw Namibia secure a place in the knockout stage of AFCON for the first time, while South Africa progressed into the round of 16.
Morocco beat Zambia in San-Pedro to finish top of Group F and condemn the Chipolopolo, coached by Avram Grant, to a first-round exit.
Hakim Ziyech scored the only goal of the game late in the first half and the Atlas Lions will stay in San-Pedro for a last-16 clash with South Africa.
DR Congo also qualified for the last 16 in second place in Group F behind Morocco after a 0-0 draw with Tanzania in Korhogo.
A third draw in as many matches allowed the Leopards to progress to a tie against record seven-time champions Egypt in San-Pedro on Sunday.
Tanzania go home after finishing bottom of the group, and they have still never won an AFCON match in nine attempts across three appearances at the finals.
Other Round of 16 fixtures are Angola vs Namibia on Saturday, 27th of January 2024 by 1800pm while Nigeria will meet Cameroon by 2100pm.
On Sunday, 28th January 2024 Equatorial Guinea will meet Guinea by 1800pm while Egypt will meet DR Congo by 2100pm.
On Monday 29th of January 2024, Cape Verde will slug it out with Mauritania by 1800pm, while Senegal meet Ivory Coast by 2100pm.
Mali will meet Bukina Faso on Tuesday January 30, 2024 by 1800pm while Morocco will tackle South Africa by 2100pm
