Real_Mardin wrote:

> Well, well. The team which lost 4-0 at home to Equatorial Guinea
> just knocked out the holders Senegal 5-4 on penalties.

Côte d'Ivoire deserved the win though, I thought overall they were
the better team.

I thought Mendy should have saved that last penalty though, it went
close enough to him!

Looking on the bright side, Nico Jackson will be back in time for the
weekend...

On Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 10:17:00 PM UTC, Real_Mardin wrote:
> FT:
>
> Nigeria 2 - Cameroon 0
>
> Not the classic match it was billed as.
>
> Nigeria play Angola in the quarterfinal.
>
> RM

I forgot to ask. Why were Cameroon playing in the wrong colours?

Mark wrote:

> On Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 10:17:00 PM UTC, Real_Mardin wrote:
>> FT:
>>
>> Nigeria 2 - Cameroon 0
>>
>> Not the classic match it was billed as.
>>
>> Nigeria play Angola in the quarterfinal.
>>
>> RM

> I forgot to ask. Why were Cameroon playing in the wrong colours?

I don’t know the answer but I’m convinced our failure was down to not wearing the traditional green shirts/ red shorts / yellow socks combination!

RM

FT: Mali 2 - Burkina Faso 1

Loving some of the stuff the African commentators are coming out with. Paraphrasing: Darkness falls on the stadium in Korhogo. And darkness befalls Burkina Faso who can see the grim reaper standing over them with his scythe!

I remember thinking a few years back that Mali could become a force based on their youth results at the time and had a feeling they might be the next “big’ African team at a World Cup (probably 2026). So far they’re not disappointing.

RM

Welcome to a practically deserted stadium in San Pedro! It’s hot, it’s humid, it can only mean an AFCON Tuesday night! Morocco v South Africa coming up next!

RM

Sadly technical problems have prevented me watching most of this, but South Africa 1-0 up with four minutes left and Morocco have just missed a penalty as Hakimi’s shot hits the crossbar and bounces over!

RM

FT: Morocco 0 - South Africa 2

Technical problems meant I missed both goals, but the vuvuzelas sounded good!

That’s all North African teams out.

So much for Morocco and Senegal being the favourites!

RM

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 7:06:03 PM UTC, Real_Mardin wrote:
> Mark wrote:
>
> > On Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 10:17:00 PM UTC, Real_Mardin wrote:
> >> FT:
> >>
> >> Nigeria 2 - Cameroon 0
> >>
> >> Not the classic match it was billed as.
> >>
> >> Nigeria play Angola in the quarterfinal.
> >>
> >> RM
>
> > I forgot to ask. Why were Cameroon playing in the wrong colours?
> I don’t know the answer but I’m convinced our failure was down to not wearing the traditional green shirts/ red shorts / yellow socks combination!
>
>
> RM

Yes I was thinking that. It could have some sort of psychological effect after all.

On Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 11:05:14 AM UTC, Mark wrote:
> On Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 7:57:16 PM UTC, Binder Dundat wrote:
> > The Round of 16. I would say Senegal and Morocco are favourites, but
> > the Randomness of AFCON means anyone can win.
> >
> >
> > Saturday 27 January 2024
> > 17:00 GMT
> > Angola
> > Namibia
> Angola will win
> >
> > 20:00 GMT
> > Nigeria
> > Cameroon
> Nigeria
> >
> > Africa Cup of Nations
> > Sunday 28 January 2024
> > 17:00 GMT
> > Equatorial Guinea
> > Guinea
> Equatorial Guinea
> >
> > 20:00 GMT
> > Egypt
> > Congo DR
> Egypt
> >
> > Africa Cup of Nations
> > Monday 29 January 2024
> > 17:00 GMT
> > Cape Verde
> > Mauritania
> Cape Verde
> >
> > 20:00 GMT
> > Senegal
> > Ivory Coast
> Senegal
> >
> > Africa Cup of Nations
> > Tuesday 30 January 2024
> > 17:00 GMT
> > Mali
> > Burkina Faso
> Mali
> >
> > 20:00 GMT
> > Morocco
> > South Africa
> Morocco

I think I got 4 out of 4 here, which is pretty mediocre.

So now on to the final eight, with no Northerners or favourites left. As
it stands, the favourites to win it all now is Nigeria, followed by
Ivory Coast and Mali.

Friday 2 February 2024
17:00 GMT
Nigeria
Angola

I thought Angola looked good in the last match, they are the biggest
longshot pick to win of the final 8.
20:00 GMT
Congo DR
Guinea

My pick Guinea are still somehow in it and they have not even really
used Guirassy or Keita yet. Guinea are 7th favourite to win it all.

Africa Cup of Nations
Saturday 3 February 2024
17:00 GMT
Mali
Ivory Coast
The hosts have to win this right?

20:00 GMT
Cape Verde
South Africa
In terms of betting odds, this should be the closest match.

On 2024-02-01 7:11 a.m., Mark wrote:
> On Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 11:05:14 AM UTC, Mark wrote:
>> On Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 7:57:16 PM UTC, Binder Dundat wrote:
>>> The Round of 16. I would say Senegal and Morocco are favourites, but
>>> the Randomness of AFCON means anyone can win.
>>>
>>>
>>> Saturday 27 January 2024
>>> 17:00 GMT
>>> Angola
>>> Namibia
>> Angola will win
>>>
>>> 20:00 GMT
>>> Nigeria
>>> Cameroon
>> Nigeria
>>>
>>> Africa Cup of Nations
>>> Sunday 28 January 2024
>>> 17:00 GMT
>>> Equatorial Guinea
>>> Guinea
>> Equatorial Guinea
>>>
>>> 20:00 GMT
>>> Egypt
>>> Congo DR
>> Egypt
>>>
>>> Africa Cup of Nations
>>> Monday 29 January 2024
>>> 17:00 GMT
>>> Cape Verde
>>> Mauritania
>> Cape Verde
>>>
>>> 20:00 GMT
>>> Senegal
>>> Ivory Coast
>> Senegal
>>>
>>> Africa Cup of Nations
>>> Tuesday 30 January 2024
>>> 17:00 GMT
>>> Mali
>>> Burkina Faso
>> Mali
>>>
>>> 20:00 GMT
>>> Morocco
>>> South Africa
>> Morocco
>
> I think I got 4 out of 4 here, which is pretty mediocre.

On Friday, February 2, 2024 at 12:19:55 AM UTC, Binder Dundat wrote:
> So now on to the final eight, with no Northerners or favourites left. As
> it stands, the favourites to win it all now is Nigeria, followed by
> Ivory Coast and Mali.

I'd have thought South Africa rather than Mali. Or am I going too much by history rather than current form?
>
>
>
> Friday 2 February 2024
> 17:00 GMT
> Nigeria
> Angola
>
> I thought Angola looked good in the last match, they are the biggest
> longshot pick to win of the final 8.

Nigeria will win
>
> 20:00 GMT
> Congo DR
> Guinea
>
> My pick Guinea are still somehow in it and they have not even really
> used Guirassy or Keita yet. Guinea are 7th favourite to win it all.

DR Congo
>
>
> Africa Cup of Nations
> Saturday 3 February 2024
> 17:00 GMT
> Mali
> Ivory Coast
> The hosts have to win this right?
>
Mali
>
> 20:00 GMT
> Cape Verde
> South Africa
> In terms of betting odds, this should be the closest match.

Cape Verde
> On 2024-02-01 7:11 a.m., Mark wrote:
> > On Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 11:05:14 AM UTC, Mark wrote:
> >> On Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 7:57:16 PM UTC, Binder Dundat wrote:
> >>> The Round of 16. I would say Senegal and Morocco are favourites, but
> >>> the Randomness of AFCON means anyone can win.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Saturday 27 January 2024
> >>> 17:00 GMT
> >>> Angola
> >>> Namibia
> >> Angola will win
> >>>
> >>> 20:00 GMT
> >>> Nigeria
> >>> Cameroon
> >> Nigeria
> >>>
> >>> Africa Cup of Nations
> >>> Sunday 28 January 2024
> >>> 17:00 GMT
> >>> Equatorial Guinea
> >>> Guinea
> >> Equatorial Guinea
> >>>
> >>> 20:00 GMT
> >>> Egypt
> >>> Congo DR
> >> Egypt
> >>>
> >>> Africa Cup of Nations
> >>> Monday 29 January 2024
> >>> 17:00 GMT
> >>> Cape Verde
> >>> Mauritania
> >> Cape Verde
> >>>
> >>> 20:00 GMT
> >>> Senegal
> >>> Ivory Coast
> >> Senegal
> >>>
> >>> Africa Cup of Nations
> >>> Tuesday 30 January 2024
> >>> 17:00 GMT
> >>> Mali
> >>> Burkina Faso
> >> Mali
> >>>
> >>> 20:00 GMT
> >>> Morocco
> >>> South Africa
> >> Morocco
> >
> > I think I got 4 out of 4 here, which is pretty mediocre.

Wissa has just put DR Congo 2-1 up against Guinea with a penalty.

Earlier today Nigeria beat Angola 1-0.

RM

NOW TV didn’t start broadcasting Ivory Coast - Mali until 15 minutes in because apparently showing Gillette Soccer Saturday on three different streams was more important, but I joined just in time to see the Ivory Coast keeper Fofana save a penalty.

The stadium is full. Why of course, it’s the AFCON and the home team are playing!

28 minutes gone, 0-0

Yesterday DR Congo beat Guinea 3-1.

RM

HT: Ivory Coast 0 - Mali 0

Ivory Coast reduced to 10 men as Kousounnou was sent off for a second yellow when he tripped a Mali player just outside the penalty area.

RM

FT: Ivory Coast 1 - Mali 1

Ivory Coast were four minutes from going out but Adinga equalised. Nene had put Mali into the lead.

Ivory Coast still a man down, will it tell in extra time?

RM

Real_Mardin wrote:

> NOW TV didn’t start broadcasting Ivory Coast - Mali until 15
> minutes in because apparently showing Gillette Soccer Saturday on
> three different streams was more important

Sky Sports annoy the shit out of me when they do that! It's basically
them showing contempt for African football and those that want to
watch the whole match. NOTHING needs to be on three channels at the
same time.

Drama right at the end, on 120 minutes Ivory Coast find Diakte after a corner, he shoots low - it seems to take a deflection from an Ivory Cosst player to deceive the Mali keeper and put the Elephants 2-1 up!

Then right right at the end Mali won a corner- but the ref blew for full time before they could take it - Mali players surrounded the ref in disgust!

FT: Ivory Coast 2 - Mali 1

RM

Cape Verde - South Africa

There was basically nobody in the stadium at the start, then as the game went on you started to see lines of people walking across the rows of the stands - they’d all been watching extra time in the Ivory Coast - Mali match!

29 minutes 0-0

RM

Cape Verde 0 - South Africa 0 AET

Some poor finishing on display.

Match goes to penalties.

RM

Cape Verde take the first penalty but Williams saves!

Moquena (sp?) smashes in the first penalty for South Africa.

Williams saves the second Cape Verde penalty!

South Africa second penalty blasted over the bar by Lapassa (sp?)

After two rounds South Africa 1-0 up.

RM

Cape Verde third penalty, Duarte takes, again Caoe Verde shoot low to the right and again Williams saves!

But the Cape Verde keeper saves the South Africa penalty with his legs!

RM

At the fourth time of asking Cape Verde finally score a penalty! Helps shooting a different direction to the previous three!

But South Africa also score.

Four rounds South Africa 2-1 up.

RM

Williams saves the fifth Cape Verde penalty to win the shootout for South Africa! He’s saved four out of five!

The Blue Sharks were toothless on the night.

Semi finals:

South Africa- Nigeria

Ivory Coast- DR Congo

RM

On Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 10:56:05 PM UTC, Real_Mardin wrote:
> Williams saves the fifth Cape Verde penalty to win the shootout for South Africa! He’s saved four out of five!
>
> The Blue Sharks were toothless on the night.
>
>
> Semi finals:
>
>
> South Africa- Nigeria
>
> Ivory Coast- DR Congo
>
>
> RM

This means I did as mediocrely (is that a word?) with my quarter-final predictions as I did with my 2nd round predictions. 2 out of 4!

On Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 3:41:48 PM UTC, Mark wrote:
> On Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 10:56:05 PM UTC, Real_Mardin wrote:
> > Williams saves the fifth Cape Verde penalty to win the shootout for South Africa! He’s saved four out of five!
> >
> > The Blue Sharks were toothless on the night.
> >
> >
> > Semi finals:
> >
> >
> > South Africa- Nigeria
> >
> > Ivory Coast- DR Congo
> >
> >
> > RM
> This means I did as mediocrely (is that a word?) with my quarter-final predictions as I did with my 2nd round predictions. 2 out of 4!

Surely I can't do that badly 3 rounds in a row? I might as well try predicting the semi-final winners. Either I'll get a 100% score, or I'll prove myself very consistent!

Nigeria will beat South Africa. I've predicted Ivory Coast will lose both the previous rounds because of that 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea. Should I predict a defeat again or not? Yes I'll go for DR Congo to win the other semi-final.