The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has proved to be a tournament of upsets with reigning champions Senegal and heavyweights failing to make it into the quarter-final.
All the eight teams who made it to the quarter-final at 2021 AFCON in Cameroon failed to progress to the same stage in Ivory Coast as there is a new set of entry.
Nigeria, Mali, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa are the teams that will slug it out in the last-eight with all teams having their sights on the coveted trophy.
Afrosport details why the Super Eagles of Nigeria are favourites for a fourth AFCON title.
Best ranked team in the last-eight
Nigeria are currently the best-ranked team at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations following the elimination of the top five countries in the latest FIFA ranking that was released in December.
Morocco are the no.1 team on the continent but they failed to make it beyond the round of 16 alongside second-placed Senegal and fifth-placed Egypt while Tunisia and Algeria failed to make it beyond the group stage.
Nigeria are currently sixth in Africa and 40th in the world. They are followed closely by Mali and Ivory Coast in eighth and ninth spots respectively.
Best defence in Ivory Coast with lowest goals conceded
The Super Eagles boost of the best defence in Ivory Coast as they have only conceded just a goal in four matches so far.
The only goal conceded was in their opening game against Equatorial Guinea that ended in a 1-1 and they kept clean sheets against Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and Cameroon.
In their round of 16 match against Cameroon, Jose Peseiro’s team flaunted their defensive qualities as they restricted the Indomitable Lions to no shot on target.
Nigeria have scored five goals so far at the 2023 AFCON and they have conceded the least goals in the tournament.
Most successful team among the 8 teams
Nigeria boasts of the most AFCON titles among the eight remaining teams in Ivory Coast.
The West Africans have clinched three AFCON titles and they are on course for a fourth following the exit of most successful team, Egypt (seven titles), Cameroon (four titles) and Ghana (four titles).
Of all the teams in the quarter-final, Nigeria and Ivory Coast are the countries to have won the AFCON trophy more than once.
Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa have one title to their cabinet.
Presence of African Football King, Osimhen
2023 African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen stands out as the shining light in the Super Eagles squad in Ivory Coast.
Although he has just a goal to his name so far in the tournament, Osimhen’s presence in Nigeria’s attack is a threat to opposition.
Against Cameroon in the round of 16, the Napoli star was a handful for the defence and his athleticism was evident in getting the assist for Ademola Lookman’s opening goal in that fixture.
Should Nigeria overcome Angola’s hurdle in Abidjan on Friday, they will face the winner of the game between South Africa and Cape Verde in the semi-final for a chance to make history on February 11.
