elinaxy:
I thought ivory coast are out of the competition? somebody enlighten me biko

There were 6 groups with 4 teams each (representing 24 countries). Best 2 teams in each group qualified automatically, to produce 12 winners.
But there will be a problem if only 12 teams go on to the knock-out stage. If the 12 teams are paired, then 6 will emerge as winners. If we go on to pair 6 teams, 3 of them will emerge as winners. But how do you now pair 3 teams to produce a final winner ? It's impossible!
This problem will always arise when the number of teams being paired is not a power of 2 e.g. 10, 12, 14, 18 or 24 teams, because you will always arrive at an odd number at some point before reaching 2.
The solution is then to increase the number of teams to a number that is a power of 2 e.g. 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 teams, which will allow you to always arrive at two last teams that will play the final. The extra teams are selected from the losers. The best losers are selected based on their performance in the group stage.
In the case of Ivory Coast, because they won their first match against Guinea-Bissau, so they were lucky to be among the best 4 losers chosen to complete the 16 teams needed to move on to the knock-out stage. The 4 best losers were added to the 12 teams that qualified normally.

Topman7:


I’m tired of seeing that Senegal of a team.

Since they allowed England to flog them 3-0 at the World Cup, I just look at them somehow.

Their own gragra is only in Africa.

Make them go rest abeg.

The Senegalese team has a very weak point which many teams have not exploited at all. they will be under pressure to perform as defending champions. but Ivory Coast will beat them...….

iamoyindamola:

Did they sack their coach?

Yes

iwaeda:
Host will still play Sadio boys. Senegal 8-0 Ivory Coasts.

Double wahala for deadi bodi😂

KosiGee:


This year’s AFCON has been full of shocks and surprises so don’t rule the Ivorians out.

Who would believe that Tunisia and Algeria would not just be eliminated but come bottom of their groups?
Who would believe that Cape Verde and Equatorial Guinea would emerge as group leaders? Who would believe that Equatorial Guinea would cause Nigeria massive scare or even massacre host nation Ivory Coast by handing them one of their worst defeats without even conceding a goal?

Who would believe that Emilio Nsue who’s playing not even in the Segunda División but Primera Federación the third tier of Spanish football would be the leading goal scorer and with a hat trick’ against Guinea Bissau and a brace against the host nation?

Who would believe that Ghana at 2-0 up and at the 90th min would draw against Mozambique?

Senegal is good but at this moment, I won’t be surprised if Mauritania or Namibia wins the trophy.

Right. This is football & anything can happen.
Just that it's kind of funny that after sacking their coach & narrowly managing to qualify, they ended up landing Senegal.

midehi2:
Super Eagles sha should avoid that green jersey, is bad luck

So it's no longer white.

We won more tournaments on green jersys than white

INTEGRITYA1:
On what ground did Ivory Coast qualified on top that 4:0.

Or it's just because of be an host Country.

Those who follow up on the process should help and give us the brief.

The first 2 teams in each of the 6 groups qualify automatically while the 4 best teams among the 3rd placed in the groups qualify too to make up the 16 teams to play in the second round knockout matches. Ivory Coast is the 4th best 3rd place finisher. Assuming Zambia had not lost to Morroco, they would have made it instead of Ivory Coast

dominique:


They picked the final best loser slot last night when Zambia and Tanzania could not win their final matches. 4 3rd place teams out of the six groups get to qualify to the next round based on their performance on the table. You need to see the way their fans were rejoicing at the stadium when the last 2 group stage matches ended with a loss and a draw to the teams that were biggest threats to them

You are totally right, Zambia gifted them the round 16 fixture .Supposing they draw against Morocco they (Zambia) would have been in while the Elephants would be out having 3point and lesser goal difference (-3)

Topman7:


I’m tired of seeing that Senegal of a team.

Since they allowed England to flog them 3-0 at the World Cup, I just look at them somehow.

Their own gragra is only in Africa.

Make them go rest abeg.

Cote D'Ivoire will beat them.

Na only Nigerians no dey mind their own business, they use mouth to destroy their own team while they exalt others teams to the high heaven.

Senegal will be eliminated!

j64real:


The Guinea you see is Guinea Conakry. different from the one we played against which is Guinea Bissau.

Okay. Thanks

Trendy247:

There are 3 Guineas

Okay. Thanks.

Fembleez1:


There are 3 Guineas in Africa. Guinea, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau. We were in the same group with Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. So yes, Guinea Bissau is different from Guinea. Guinea was in a different group.

Okay. Thanks.

beautyhd:


There is Equitorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Guinea. All three countries came for this Afcon competition.

Thanks.

GanagiBitrus:
Half of the Countries have never won AFCON. Maybe we'll see a new winner.

PLUS THE HALF PLAY EACH OTHER

MEANING SAME HALF WILL BE IN THE QUARTERS.

Trendy247:

There are 3 Guineas

Actually 5 though.....Guinea Fowl and then Guinea Pig

Justhere:


PLUS THE HALF PLAY EACH OTHER

MEANING SAME HALF WILL BE IN THE QUARTERS.

Such a coincidence, that all the previous winners were matched together.

Very tough qualifications

Trendy247:

There are 3 Guineas

Guinea Kampala


Guinea Ankara and


Guinea Lace

If you can identify them, good for you

The Host Country qualified through been the best Loser

Justhere:


PLUS THE HALF PLAY EACH OTHER

MEANING SAME HALF WILL BE IN THE QUARTERS.

4 of which have already booked their place in quarter finals . While those that are facing the one time winners could pull a surprise win. In football anything can happen though I want super eagles to win this tournament.

imoh4king:


Okay. Thanks.

You are welcome, sir.

post=128115161:
GO EAGLES GO 🇳🇬 🇳🇬 🇳🇬

which Eagles, say go Chickens

seunayantokun:
West Africa is the strongest football region in Africa. It is presenting 7 teams for the round of 16. North Africa has 3, central Africa has 3, and southern Africa has 3. East Africa no even show face for this level. Na wa o.

You no count am well.
Go recount the countries in each region again and correct yourself.

Trendy247:

There are 3 Guineas

There are four actually, the fourth one is outside Africa

seunayantokun:
West Africa is the strongest football region in Africa. It is presenting 7 teams for the round of 16. North Africa has 3, central Africa has 3, and southern Africa has 3. East Africa no even show face for this level. Na wa o.

8 teams
North Africa is 2

iwaeda:
Host will still play Sadio boys. Senegal 8-0 Ivory Coasts.

I tell you

Emperormartin:
I'm not an ivorian but I'm happy they survived

the money is the reason - CAF wants to avoid empty stadia

sweetjohn:
To me “best loser” slot should be highly disadvantaged in the round of 16. The match should be very heard on them, and their opponent who qualified normally as 1st and 2nd in their group favored. Bc it will be very unfair for a so called “best loser” to win those teams that qualified normally. If they must win round 16, then let it be that they really deserved it. So I propsosed that the ref officiating a match btw a normal qualified teams vs best losers to award an easy penalty to the normal qualified teams against the best losers. Secondly, any slight mistake from the best losers should not be overlooked. They should be bathed with enough cards at any slight opportunity. This way, no team will want to qualify under best losers. On a normal circumstances best losers are teams eliminated, just that in other to complete the round of 16 teams, they were considered in that regard teams that qualified normally should be given upper hand. That’s my take.

Best losers usually face Strong opponents at Round 16 though.