Countries that have qualified for AFCON Round of 16

Following the first batch of the final group stage matches of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, some teams have seen themselves eliminated from the competition, while some hang on to the mercy of the best losers category, 5 teams so far have earned a place in the round of 16.

Following the conclusion of Monday’s Group A and Group B final matches, 5 teams now know their fate heading into the knockout stages.

Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, Cape Verde, and Egypt have emerged as the first qualifiers for the knockout stage, showcasing their prowess in the tournament.

Equatorial Guinea delivered a commanding performance by thrashing the host nation, Ivory Coast, with a resounding 4-0 victory. Meanwhile, Nigeria secured their place in the Round of 16 with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Guinea-Bissau.

In a closely contested match, Egypt played to a 2-2 draw against Cape Verde, solidifying their position in the next stage. Ghana also ended their game against Mozambique with a 2-2 draw.

Egypt clinched the second spot in Group B, edging out Ghana, who settled for third place in the group standings.

Senegal and Cape Verde had already confirmed their places in the knockout stage earlier by winning their first two matches. While Cape Verde has successfully secured a spot, Senegal still has one more game to play in the group stage.