The knockout stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 27 January with the round of 16 and ended on 11 February 2024 with the final held at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan. A total of sixteen teams (the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament.
All match times are local, GMT (UTC+0).
Format In the knockout stage, except for the third place play-off, if a match was level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each). If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. In the third place play-off, if the score remained level after 90 minutes, the match would go directly to a penalty shoot-out, without any extra time being played.
Qualified teams The top two placed teams from each of the six groups, plus the four best-placed third teams, qualified for the knockout stage.
Group Winners Runners-up Third-placed teams(Best four qualified) A B C D E F
Bracket
Round of 16 Angola vs Namibia Angola and Namibia met for the 13th time, and this match was their first competitive meeting at the Africa Cup of Nations since 1998, where Angola overcame a two-goal deficit to secure a 3-3 draw in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
The match was thought to have turned worse for Angola when Neblú received a red card in the 17th minute due to a handball outside the box. However, the Angolans opened the scoring, when Gelson Dala nicely chipped over from a counterattack at the 38th minute with assists for Fredy. The situation turned increasingly more favorable for Angola when Namibia was reduced to ten after Lubeni Haukongo got a second yellow in the 40th minute; a set-piece two minutes later saw Dala headed home for a second. Mabululu sealed the match when he curled home despite frantic efforts by Namibian defenders.
This win was Angola's first-ever in the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations, while Namibia remained winless over Angola (D6, L7).
GK 22Neblú RB 21Eddie AfonsoCB 6 GasparCB 3 Jonathan Buatu LB 13Tó CarneiroCM 20Estrela CM 23ShowCM 16Fredy (c) RW 7 Gilberto CF 19Mabululu LW 10Gelson Dala Substitutions:GK 1 Antonio Dominique FW 9 Zini MF 4 Manuel Keliano FW 18Jérémie Bela FW 15Zito Luvumbo Manager: Pedro Gonçalves GK 1 Lloyd KazapuaRB 20Ivan KamberipaCB 12Kennedy Amutenya CB 21Lubeni Haukongo LB 4 Riaan HanamubRM 9 Bethuel Muzeu CM 6 Ngero Katua CM 18Aprocius PetrusLM 10Prins Tjiueza SS 7 Deon HottoCF 13Peter Shalulile (c)Substitutions:FW 11Absalom Iimbondi MF 19Petrus Shitembi DF 3 Ananias Gebhardt MF 8 Uetuuru Kambato Manager:Collin Benjamin
Man of the Match: Gelson Dala (Angola)
Assistant referees: Seydou Tiama (Burkina Faso) Modibo Samake (Mali) Fourth official: Boubou Traoré (Mali) Video assistant referee: Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt) Assistant video assistant referees: Maria Rivet (Mauritius) Mahmoud El-Regal (Egypt)
Nigeria vs Cameroon Nigeria and Cameroon met for the 26th time, and this was the eighth time the nations were meeting in the Africa Cup of Nations, including a previous encounter in the Ivory Coast and two meetings at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations.
Although Nigeria started slowly, they immediately found the back of the net as Semi Ajayi tapped the ball in from a close range at the ninth minute, only to be disallowed for offside. This offside goal, instead, spurred the Super Eagles on and ultimately, they would get the goal needed when Oumar Gonzalez’s mis-timed touch allowed Victor Osimhen to seize on the loose ball, race forward and feed through Ademola Lookman, whose shot was fumbled into the net by Fabrice Ondoa at the 36th minute. Despite efforts by the Cameroonians to turn around, Nigeria ultimately triumphed at the 90th minute when Lookman raced onto Calvin Bassey’s low cross from the left and powerfully volleyed into the net.
GK 23Stanley Nwabili CB 6 Semi AjayiCB 5 William Troost-Ekong (c)CB 21Calvin BasseyRM 2 Ola Aina CM 8 Frank Onyeka CM 17Alex IwobiLM 3 Zaidu Sanusi RW 15Moses Simon CF 9 Victor Osimhen LW 18Ademola Lookman Substitutions:GK 1 Francis Uzoho DF 22Kenneth Omeruo FW 19Paul Onuachu DF 12Bright Osayi-Samuel Manager: José Peseiro GK 1 Fabrice OndoaCB 21Jean-Charles CastellettoCB 15Oumar Gonzalez CB 4 Christopher Wooh RWB 11Georges-Kévin Nkoudou LWB 5 Nouhou ToloCM 22Olivier NtchamCM 8 André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (c)CM 3 Moumi Ngamaleu CF 9 Frank MagriCF 12Karl Toko Ekambi Substitutions:FW 10Vincent Aboubakar DF 26Enzo Tchato FW 19Faris Moumbagna Manager:Rigobert Song
Man of the Match: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Assistant referees: Lahsen Azgaou (Morocco) Zakaria Brinsi (Morocco) Fourth official: Jalal Jayed (Morocco) Video assistant referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco) Assistant video assistant referees: Haythem Guirat (Tunisia) Khalil Hassani (Tunisia)
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea This was the first time the two nations met for an international match.
After a dull first half with little chances, the second half was filled with drama. In the 55th minute, Federico Bikoro's high challenge on Mohamed Bayo proved to be disastrous for the Equatoguineans as he was given a red, reducing Equatorial Guinea to ten men. Ten minutes later, however, it was Equatorial Guinea's turn for a chance to score the opener when Iban Salvador was fouled in Guinea's penalty area, but from the spot, Emilio Nsue instead had his shot hit the left post. This ultimately proved to be a disaster for Equatorial Guinea, when at the last minute of injury time, Bayo turned hero for the Guineans with a terrific header to secure Guinea the win at the death after a cross from the right flank.
With this result, it was the worst-ever AFCON finish in the history for Equatorial Guinea, as they failed to advance past the last sixteen.
GK 1 Jesús OwonoRB 15Carlos AkapoCB 21Esteban ObiangCB 16Saúl CocoLB 11Basilio NdongDM 4 Federico Bikoro RM 22Pablo GanetCM 6 Iban SalvadorCM 8Jannick Buyla LM 7 José MachínCF 10Emilio Nsue (c)Substitutions:FW 19Luis Nlavo Manager:Juan Micha GK 22 Ibrahim KonéRB 3 Issiaga Sylla (c)CB 17Julian Jeanvier CB 5Mouctar DiakhabyLB 12 Ibrahim DiakitéCM 6Amadou DiawaraCM 20 Mory Konaté CM 7 Morgan Guilavogui RW 18Aguibou CamaraCF 11Mohamed BayoLW 21Sekou Sylla Substitutions:FW 9 Serhou Guirassy MF 8 Naby Keïta FW 19François Kamano Manager:Kaba Diawara
Man of the Match: Ibrahim Diakité (Guinea)
Assistant referees: Gilbert Cheruiyot (Kenya) Stephen Yiembe (Kenya) Fourth official: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia) Video assistant referee: Lahlou Benbraham (Algeria) Assistant video assistant referees: Akhona Makalima (South Africa) Djibril Camara (Senegal)
Egypt vs DR Congo This was the fifth meeting between both sides in the AFCON, with the latest encounter being in 2019, when Egypt managed to get a 2–0 win in the group stage.
Egypt were close to break the deadlock early, with Ahmed Hegazi narrowly missing a header in the eighth minute. DR Congo appeared to be more dangerous throughout the match, and eventually converted a chance in the 37th minute, when Yoane Wissa received a throw-in played quickly and had his deflected shot turned in by Meschak Elia, amid confusion of the Egyptian players, however, the lead lasted 10 minutes only, as Mostafa Mohamed scored a penalty that was confirmed by VAR following a foul by Dylan Batubinsika on Hegazi. After a slow and uneventful second half that saw only one serious attack missed by Mahmoud Hamada for Egypt, the match went to extra time for the first time in the 2023 edition, and witnessed Egypt's Mohamed Hamdy being sent off in the 97th minute after receiving two yellow cards. The second half of extra time saw Simon Banza missing a great chance for DR Congo that almost secured the victory for them, but the final score resulted in the first penalty shoot-out of the 2023 AFCON. It was DR Congo who managed to win the shoot-out, winning 8–7 with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi scoring the winning penalty following his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Abou Gabal's failed attempt, causing another upset in the tournament.
GK 23Mohamed Abou GabalRB 3 Mohamed HanyCB 24Mohamed AbdelmonemCB 6 Ahmed Hegazi (c)LB 13Ahmed Fatouh CM 17Mohamed Elneny CM 14Marwan Attia CM 5 Hamdy Fathy RW 25Zizo LW 7Trézéguet CF 19Mostafa MohamedSubstitutions:DF 12Mohamed Hamdy MF 20Mahmoud Hamada FW 22Omar Marmoush FW 18Mostafa Fathi DF 4 Omar Kamal MF 27Mohanad Lasheen Manager: Rui Vitória GK 1 Lionel MpasiRB 24Gédéon KaluluCB 22Chancel Mbemba (c) CB 5 Dylan Batubinsika LB 26Arthur MasuakuCM 10Théo Bongonda CM 8 Samuel Moutoussamy CM 18Charles Pickel RW 13Meschak Elia LW 20Yoane Wissa CF 17Cédric Bakambu Substitutions:FW 23Simon Banza DF 2 Henock Inonga Baka MF 6 Aaron Tshibola FW 11Silas MF 7 Grady Diangana Manager: Sébastien Desabre Man of the Match: Lionel Mpasi (DR Congo)
Assistant referees: Souru Phatsoane (Lesotho) Ivanildo Lopes (Angola) Fourth official: Ahmed Heerallal (Mauritius) Video assistant referee: Daniel Nii Laryea (Ghana) Assistant video assistant referees: Issa Sy (Senegal) Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)
Cape Verde vs Mauritania It was the first time Cape Verde faced Mauritania in an AFCON match.
In a rather dull affair, which Mauritania were largely on the defence against Cape Verde, a howling header by Yassine Cheikh El Welly resulted in Benchimol intercept right on Mauritania's box, forcing Babacar Niasse to commit a foul at the 86th minute; this ended up giving Cape Verde's the decisive penalty, and Ryan Mendes didn't miss it two minutes later to secure Cape Verde's progression to the quarter-finals.
This result meant Cape Verde won their first ever AFCON knockout stage match, while on personal record, it was the second consecutive knockout stage defeat for Amir Abdou as coach, as he previously lost to Cameroon as coach of Comoros at the same last sixteen back in the 2021 edition.
GK 1 VozinhaRB 23Steven Moreira CB 5 Logan Costa CB 4 PicoLB 8 João PauloRM 10Jamiro MonteiroCM 26Kevin Pina LM 14Deroy Duarte RF 20Ryan Mendes (c)CF 21Bebé LF 7 Jovane Cabral Substitutions:MF 18Kenny Rocha FW 11Garry Rodrigues FW 9 Gilson Tavares FW 17Willy Semedo Manager:Bubista GK 16 Babacar Niasse RB 20Ibrahima Keita CB 21Hassan HoubeibCB 5 Lamine BaLB 2Khadim DiawRM 23Sidi Bouna Amar CM 8Mouhsine Bodda (c)CM 4Omaré Gassama LM 9 Hemeya Tanjy SS 19Aboubakary KoitaCF 11Souleymane Anne Substitutions:MF 6 Guessouma Fofana FW 25Pape Ibnou Ba FW 27Aboubakar Kamara FW 17Yassine El Welly MF 7 El Hadji Ba Manager: Amir Abdou
Man of the Match: Jamiro Monteiro (Cape Verde)
Assistant referees: Ahmed Ibrahim (Egypt) Nouho Ouattara (Ivory Coast) Fourth official: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi) Video assistant referee: Maria Rivet (Mauritius) Assistant video assistant referees: Mahmoud Ashour (Egypt) Jerson dos Santos (Angola)
Senegal vs Ivory Coast This was their first AFCON meeting since 1986, in which Ivory Coast won 1–0. However, their most recent competitive meetings happened during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, which Ivory Coast also won to qualify for the main tournament.