After completing two rounds of play in the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Cote d’Ivoire, both Group A and Group B have concluded with three games each. Currently, five teams have secured their places in the knockout stages, leaving room for potential surprises and qualifications among the third-placed teams.
The Round of 16 will feature the top two teams from each of the six groups, along with the four best third-placed teams. The following teams have already qualified:
- Cape Verde
- Senegal
- Equatorial Guinea
- Nigeria
- Egypt
Unfortunately, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique have been eliminated from the tournament.
Several teams are still in contention for the best third-placed positions, although their advancement depends on the results from other groups. The candidates for the best third-place spots are:
- Ghana
- Ivory Coast
- Guinea
- Angola
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Morocco
As the tournament progresses, the competition remains fierce, and the final lineup for the Round of 16 will become clearer after the completion of all group stage matches.