AFCON 2021: Super Eagles learn Round of 16 opponents, set to renew North African rivalry

Super Eagles have learned of their opponents in the first knockout round at AFCON 2021 after the conclusion of the group stage games in Cameroon. The Nigeria national team had an excellent group stage campaign in the tournament.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles were the only side to come through the preliminary round of the tournament with a 100% record, having defeated Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau in Group D. Both of the tournament’s debutants have also qualified for the knockout stages.

The Super Eagles were joined in the knockout stages by fellow group winners Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Morocco and Senegal. The runners-up from each group also qualified for the Round of 16, and they were Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Gabon and Guinea. There was also a place in the last 16 for debutants Comoros as one of the best third-place teams alongside Malawi, Cape Verde and Tunisia.

Here is the draw in full:

Nigeria vs Tunisia

Cameroon vs Comoros

Burkina Faso vs Gabon

Egypt vs Ivory Coast

Morocco vs Malawi

Senegal vs Cape Verde

Guinea vs Gambia

Mali vs Equatorial Guinea

Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia 1-0 in their last meeting in the competition in the 2019 third-place match thanks to a strike by Odion Ighalo. The Super Eagles also faced Tunisia in the Round of 16 in 2006 after winning all three of their group stage games under Austin Eguavoen.

Nigeria’s Round of 16 match against the Carthage Eagles will take place on Sunday January 23rd by 8pm at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.