The group stage of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco has concluded, and for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the performance was nothing short of a statement.
Finishing as one of only two teams to maintain a 100 percent winning record, Nigeria leads a pack of heavyweights into a high-stakes Round of 16.
After a hard-fought 2–1 opening win against Tanzania and a thrilling 3–2 victory over Tunisia, the Super Eagles closed the round by dismantling Uganda 3–1 in Fes.
While Victor Osimhen’s leadership and Ademola Lookman’s creativity have been vital, the emergence of Raphael Onyedika—who bagged a brace against Uganda—has given head coach Eric Chelle a lethal new dimension in midfield.
Nigeria now enters the knockouts as the team to beat, though defensive lapses (conceding in all three matches) remain a talking point for fans in Lagos and beyond.
The Other Dominant Force
Algeria emerged as the other standout performer of the opening round, finishing with a flawless record just like Nigeria.
The Desert Warriors maintained a 100% record in Group E with Riyad Mahrez rolling back the years, netting three goals to lead the Golden Boot race alongside Morocco’s Brahim Díaz and Ayoub El Kaabi.
Following a commanding 3–0 shutout against Equatorial Guinea in the opener and a hard-earned 1–0 victory over Burkina Faso, Algeria closed the round with a clinical 2–0 win over Sudan in Agadir.
While Riyad Mahrez’s veteran composure and Baghdad Bounedjah’s positioning have been essential, the emergence of Mohamed Amoura—whose blistering pace unsettled every defense in Group E—has given head coach Vladimir Petković a lethal new dimension in the final third.
Drama in "Group of Death"
Group F lived up to its billing as the most unpredictable quartet. Defending champions Côte d'Ivoire narrowly avoided a catastrophic exit after trailing Gabon 2–0 in their final match.
A spirited comeback, sealed by a 90th-minute header from Bazouma Touré, saw the Elephants finish top.
Cameroon followed suit, fighting back from an early deficit to beat Mozambique 2–1.
Despite the loss, it was a historic week for the Mambas, who secured their first-ever AFCON win earlier in the tournament (3–2 vs Gabon) and progressed to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
Final Group Standings
The following tables summarize how the 24 teams fared across the six groups.
Groups A, B, & C
|
Group A |
P |
W D L |
GD |
Pts |
Group B |
P |
W D L |
GD |
Pts |
|
|
Morocco |
3 |
2 1 0 |
+5 |
7 |
Egypt |
3 |
2 1 0 |
+2 |
7 |
|
|
Mali |
3 |
0 3 0 |
0 |
3 |
South Africa |
3 |
2 0 1 |
+1 |
6 |
|
|
Comoros |
3 |
0 2 1 |
-2 |
2 |
Angola |
3 |
0 2 1 |
-1 |
2 |
|
|
Zambia |
3 |
0 2 1 |
-3 |
2 |
Zimbabwe |
3 |
0 1 2 |
-2 |
1 |
|
Group C |
P |
W D L |
GD |
Pts |
|
Nigeria |
3 |
3 0 0 |
+4 |
9 |
|
Tunisia |
3 |
1 1 1 |
+1 |
4 |
|
Tanzania |
3 |
0 2 1 |
-1 |
2 |
|
Uganda |
3 |
0 1 2 |
-4 |
1 |
|
Group D |
P |
W D L |
GD |
Pts |
Group E |
P |
W D L |
GD |
Pts |
|
|
Senegal |
3 |
2 1 0 |
+6 |
7 |
Algeria |
3 |
3 0 0 |
+6 |
9 |
|
|
DR Congo |
3 |
2 1 0 |
+4 |
7 |
Burkina Faso |
3 |
2 0 1 |
+2 |
6 |
|
|
Benin |
3 |
1 0 2 |
-3 |
3 |
Sudan |
3 |
1 0 2 |
-4 |
3 |
|
|
Botswana |
3 |
0 0 3 |
-7 |
0 |
E. Guinea |
3 |
0 0 3 |
-4 |
0 |
|
Group F |
P |
W D L |
GD |
Pts |
|
Ivory Coast |
3 |
2 1 0 |
+2 |
7 |
|
Cameroon |
3 |
2 1 0 |
+2 |
7 |
|
Mozambique |
3 |
1 0 2 |
-1 |
3 |
|
Gabon |
3 |
0 0 3 |
-3 |
0 |
Round of 16 Matchups
With the tables settled, the bracket is set for some historic encounters. Nigeria will face a resilient Mozambique side that progressed as one of the best third-placed teams.
Meanwhile, the "Group of Death" (Group F) survivors face grueling tests: Côte d'Ivoire takes on Burkina Faso, while Cameroon meets South Africa in a clash of titans.
The Round of 16 kicks off this Saturday, January 3.
