Which teams have advanced to the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations? Which teams have been eliminated? Which teams have the potential to secure a third-place finish?

Victor Osimhen of Nigeria put on a stellar performance during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations group stage match against Equatorial Guinea at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan, on January 14, 2024.

As we approach the final round of group games for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the competition is heating up. Surprisingly, only two teams have secured their spot in the knockout stages, leaving plenty of room for upsets and surprises. Even the host nation, Ivory Coast, is currently outside of the top two, along with other strong teams like Ghana, Cameroon, Algeria, Tunisia, and Zambia.

In order to reach the last 16, the top two teams from each of the six groups will advance, along with the four best third-placed teams. This means that some big names in African football may not make it to the knockout round. Let’s take a look at who has already qualified, who has been eliminated, and who is fighting to stay alive.

So far, Cape Verde and Senegal have secured their place in the last 16. However, there are several teams that are guaranteed at least a top-three finish in their respective groups. While this doesn’t guarantee them a spot in the next round, it does give them a strong chance of advancing. These teams include Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Angola, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Morocco.

Unfortunately, Guinea-Bissau has been eliminated from the competition.

Now, let’s talk about how the third-place ranking works. With only 24 teams competing in AFCON, it’s not just the top two from each group that make it to the last 16. In addition to the 12 teams that will come from the group winners and runners-up, there will be four more teams that finished in third place. However, with six groups in total, it means that two third-placed teams will miss out. Currently, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Algeria, and Zambia would qualify, while Ghana and Cameroon would be left disappointed.

As we head into the final group games, the competition is fierce and the stakes are high. Stay tuned to see which teams will secure their spot in the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations.