AFCON PROMISES TOP FOUR BLOODY ENCOUNTERS IN THE 16TH ROUND-AKPEHE

Cameroon vs Nigeria

Cote d’Ivoire vs Senegal

Morocco vs South Africa

Angola vs Namibia

As the AFCON progresses to the 16th round, we can all agree we saw very exciting group stage performances and suspense from all participating nations. It wasn’t just the fancy football but the natural skill, technic, energy and speed demonstrated by players of every nation in the first round. As the football industry has evolved to become a culture, African football has definitely seen a huge improvement as every nation expressed a high level of performance in each game.

Coaches were the worst to have eaten bad pills in the group stages. We witnessed some waited to be sacked while several resigning after not been satisfied with their performances in the first round.

Fans that were not satisfied with the performances of the players selected to defend their land in the AFCON could not control their emotions as they were seen in tears everywhere and many became violent. Attacking and accusing their leaders of having a poor performance at this AFCON.

Below are my top four encounters that promise a bloody affair on the field of play.

*CAMEROON VS NIGERIA*

We have Cameroon and Nigeria as neighbors with a great rivalry, especially in football. This rivalry goes way back and if you come to think about the greatest football rivalry, you can consider these two nations. Both boast of better and best footballers ever. And when it doesn’t favor one side on the field, you find riots going on in their lands against the other.

*COTE D’IVOIRE VS SENEGAL*

Cote d’Ivoire are given a second chance against their French-speaking West African brothers and the Ivorians know the Senegalese can only be taken down if the right strategies are employed. The Senegalese know they are a rising football nation but need the AFCON to remain called the next African football force.

*MOROCCO VS SOUTH AFRICA*

Morocco going against South Africa is another true battle of pride. South Africa hosted the first mondial in Africa and Morocco somehow still believes they are superior in the sport. Let’s see which nation gives up in this fierce contest.

*ANGOLA VS NAMIBIA*

Angola taking on Namibia is the battle of the Southern Africans. Both sides came to this AFCON trying to prove a very big point against the big guns of African football, and they’ve both done that so well. Unfortunately, the two giant killers have found themselves facing one another in what would be termed a game of superiority.

In any way one sees it, the AFCON has reached the stage where calculations no longer play any roles. It is now what you give in a single contest that takes you to the next stage and you advance your nation towards the Big Trophy ” Africa Cup of Nations.”

Watch as emotions play in Cote d’Ivoire from Saturday the 27th of January onward. Football fans at the AFCON venues and across the globe would now be engulfed in so much emotion that sometimes wouldn’t be possible to control.

Let’s enjoy African Football at its Best!

Austin Akpehe

Gsports