Izuchukwu OkosiThe 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire has proven to truly be the tournament of the underdogs.
All the top five ranked sides in the continent have been sent packing – Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt have bitten the dust.
The outcomes of the round of 16 means, that none of the team’s that reached the quarterfinals of the last Afcon in Cameroon would be in this year’s ‘last 8’ in the Ivory Coast.
There are already permutations as regards the chances of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire and the other six remaining teams in the tournament.
Prime Business Africa’s Izuchukwu Okosi makes a bold predictions on the four teams to emerge as semifinalists after Friday and Saturday’s quarterfinals games.
Nigeria vs Angola
This game is a reminder of his the Palencras Negras stopped Nigeria from qualification to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
The Angolans came to the Sani Abacha stadium in Kano am pulled a 1-1 draw against Nigeria which dented the latter’s chances.
The team coached by Christian Chukwu reiqured two wins in their last qualifiying matches to book a ticket to Germany and so despite a 5-2 away win against Algeria in the last game, the result against Angola had wrecked the chances.
Angola also reminds Nigerians of the demise of former international Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji who slumped and died inside the Lagos National stadium on 12 August 1989 in the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture.
Okwaraji, a dedicated Nigoran midifelder who was also a law graduate was one of Nigeria’s most gifted football players of his generation but his life was cut short in the game against Angola due to a heart attack he suffered in that fateful day.
This game therefore means so much to Nigerians and the Super Eagles.
The Angolan side have been promised iPhones and money by the country’s biggest telecommunications company.
Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali who copped a knee injury in the 2-0 win against Cameroon has not been ruled out by the team’s coaching staff despite him not taking part in training on Monday.
Nwabali resumed training with the rest of the team on Tuesday while Royal Antwerp of Belgium defensive midifelder Alhasan Yusuf could also stake a claim in the starting eleven as he has shrugged off his injury setback.
Angola won’t be an easy task for the three-time African champions but we expect the Eagles to not take the Angola game with levity as the so-called smaller teams have taken up the ‘No Gree For Anybody’ slogan.
PBA’s Verdict: Nigeria 2-1 Angola.
Cape Verde vs South Africa
This game will be close to call as the two teams are pretty much the same in terms of quality.
South Africa and Cape Verde were basically considered the teams likely to lose in their round of 16 games.
There is a valid point in tipping South Africa in this one being a one-time African champions.
But the theme of this tournament is well known and we believe that the shocks will continue somewhat.
This game will be close to call as the two teams are pretty much the same in terms of quality.
South Africa and Cape Verde were basically considered the teams likely to lose in their round of 16 games.
There is a valid point in tipping South Africa in this one being a one-time African champions.
But the theme of this tournament is well known and we believe that the shocks will continue in some ways.
This could be quite close but we see Cape Verde edging this one.
PBA’s Verdict: South Africa 2-3 Cape Verde.
Mali vs Cote d’Ivoire
This will be a fiesty West African derby and it won’t be an easy one for any of them.
But the momentum is with the Ivorians who have been given another chance to stake a claim for the title.
Understandably there is a precedence in tournament but we are convinced that the Elephants will not bottle the chance to advance to the quarter-finals.
As long as the Ivorians do not chase the game but rather take the bull by the horn early in the game, this is likely to be a win for the hosts.
PBA’s Verdict: Mali 1-3 Cote d’Ivoire
DR Congo vs Guinea
These two were some of the teams not tipped to reach the ‘last 8’ of the Africa Cup of Nations.
DR Congo eliminated tournament’s most succesful team and seven-time winners, Egypt, on penalties meaning that Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah did not need to make a return to the Ivory Coast as was agreed by the Egypt FA and the Reds.
Guinea on their part defeated Equatorial Guinea that have proven to be giant slayers most notably after the humiliating 4-0 win over hosts Cote d’Ivoire in their second Group A game of the tournament.
The winner of this contest will face the winner of the Mali versus Cote d’Ivoire game earlier on Saturday.
Both sides have good players who are making waves mostly in Europe and hey have also exemplified team commadarie.
PBA’s Verdict: DR Congo 1-0 Guinea
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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