2023 Africa Cup of Nations: 5 things we learned on Day 16 - DRC and Guinea win
More red cards, a stoppage-time winner, extra-time and a penalty shoot-out. The last-16 finally explodes with the gore that we adore.
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Red card
What is it about the last-16? Two red cards in the match between Namibia and Angola on Day 15 and then Equatorial Guinea lose their defensive midfielder Federico Bikoro early in the second-half for a dangerous tackle on Mohamed Bayo. Stlll, Equatorial Guinea could have taken the lead but Emilio Nsue's penalty hit the post and rolled away for a goal-kick. It was heading for 30 minutes of extra-time when Bayo got just in front of Saul Coco and steered his header home. Cue weeping Equatorial Guinea players on the substitutes' bench and others prostrate on the field. The ones wailing on the turf had to rouse themselves for the restart but as the full-time whistle went more or less instantly thereafter, they didn't have to stay upright for long and so could return to their gnashing of teeth on the floor.
Full strength
Most pundits regarded Equatorial Guinea as favourites for the last-16 game against Guinea on the back of their impressive form to claim a pool containing Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire while Guinea scraped through as one of the four best third-placed teams. Perhaps 11 v 11 might have helped Equatorial Guinea.
Battling against the odds
At last ... extra-time. Egypt went down to 10 men during the first period when second-half substitute Mohamed Hamdi was sent off for a second bookable offence. That's some aggression. It was all set up for a plucky rearguard action by the men he left behind. And how they came through. DRC could not break through Egypt. And so to ... oh what transports of delight ... penalties. For the best part of 20 minutes they slugged it out. A nice touch when Mostafa Mohamed's miss for Egypt was reciprocated by Arthur Masuaku. The next 12 kicks hit the mark until the Egyptian keeper Gabaski, hero of many a spot kick session, thrashed his shot onto the crossbar. He still had a chance to redeem himself and save his team but his counterpart, Lionel Mpasi, swept home and his side advanced into the last eight. More tears.
Competition rules
The whole penalty sequence is compellingly barbaric. Maybe the organisers should ordain that a shoot-out be held before the match and the players who have missed have 120 minutes to make amends by scoring - or in Gabaski's case saving - goals for a "normal" result.
Odd promotion
Hosts Cote d'Ivoire play their last-16 match on Day 17 against the defending champions Senegal. We noticed the regular promotion for the clash on one of the Ivorian TV channels replaying images from Cote d'Ivoire's 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea in their last game in Group A. Really? Do the partisans need to be reminded? What's wrong with showing success? Remeber those two goals from the opening day success against Guinea Bissau? Yes we should do. Those are the only goals the side has scored.
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