Cup of Nations: the Last 8...

The Group Stages are over and quarter finals start tomorrow! This year top teams like Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, Algeria and Egypt didn't even qualify. The competition was also going to be hosted in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea - 2 countries definitely not famous for football. However, the competition has been exciting for sure. This is a review on the teams in the last 8.

Zambia: Group A Winners
Path to the Last 8:
Senegal 1-2 Zambia
Libya 2-2 Zambia
Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Zambia

Zambia have played well especially in their 2-1 win over Senegal. They are the underdogs and realistically have a good chance. They play their quarter final game against Sudan which should be easy and then the winner of Ghana v Tunisia in the semis.

Equatorial Guinea: Group A Runners up
Path to the Last 8:
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Libya
Equatorial Guinea 2-1 Senegal
Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Zambia

Everyone expected both the host nation to play valiantly but not get any points. This is because they are ranked 150 in the FIFA rankings - which is the worst in the tournament. However they surprised us all. They beat Libya...which was a shock. Their dream run continued as they also got three points against Senegal - the third favourites with a last minute winner. This meant they had qualified for the quarters and knocked out Senegal. Equatorial Guinea will play Cote d'Iviore in the quarters and the winner of Gabon v Mali in the semis. Who knows? They might shock us again?

Cote d'Ivoire: Group B Winners
Path to the Last 8:
Cote d'Ivoire 1-0 Sudan
Burkina Faso 0-2 Cote d'Ivoire
Angola 0-2 Cote d'Ivoire

Cote d'Ivoire were the pre-competition favourites and they still are. This is because they have world stars like Didier Drogba and Yaya Touré. As a result, they literally walked through their group. They had an unconvincing win against Sudan and then played their second team against Angola after making 9 changes but they still won all their game. In the quarters they play the hosts, Equatorial Guinea and the winner of Gabon v Mali in the semis.

Sudan: Group B Runners up
Path to the Last 8:
Cote d'Ivoire 1-0 Sudan
Angola 2-2 Sudan
Burkina Faso 1-2 Sudan

Sudan are another surprise entry in the last 8. They had a really tough group but just managed to sneak in on goal difference at the expense of Angola. 42 years ago Sudan won the competition but since then it has all gone down hill. Their goals against Angola were their first in 36 years and their win against Burkina Faso was their first in 42 years. They face Zambia in the last 8 and Ghana or Tunisia in the semis if they get there.

Gabon: Group C Winners (I'm supporting them)
Path to the Last 8:
Gabon 2-0 Niger
Gabon 3-2 Morocco
Gabon 1-0 Tunisia

Gabon have played extremely well and deserve to be in the last 8 after being the better side against teams like Morocco and Tunisia - two North African giants. M'Banangoye curled in an amazing free kick in the 98th minute against Morocco to send them through. Their key player and playmaker has been Pierre-Emrick Aubameyang. He is just amazing. "He looks like Neymar and has the status of him too here in Libreville..." He's a benchwarmer for Lille OSC by the way. Gabon play Mali in the quarters and Cote d'Ivoire or Equatorial Guinea in the semis.

Tunisia: Group C Runners up
Path to the last 8:
Morocco 1-2 Tunisia
Niger 1-2 Tunisia
Gabon 1-0 Tunisia

Tunisia have been inconsistent in the qualifying and also in the finals. They may have got through but definitely haven't played too well. North African rivals Morocco dominated in their match v Tunisia but Tunisia hung on. They haven't been convincing. They play Ghana and then Gabon or Mali in the semis.

Ghana: Group D Winners
Path to the Last 8:
Botswana 0-1 Ghana
Ghana 2-0 Mali
Ghana 1-1 Guinea

Unlike Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana had a tough group. Mali and Guinea are both good teams. Ghana walked through their group as well but were also unconvincing. They'll play Tunisia and then the winner of Zambia v Sudan.

Mali: Group D Runners up:
Path to the Last 8:
Mali 1-0 Guinea
Ghana 2-0 Mali
Mali 2-1 Botswana

Mali have played good. They're definitely underdogs as well as Zambia. They face Gabon in the last and then either Equatorial Guinea or Cote d'Ivoire in the semis.