Morocco vs Benin
Date: Friday, 5 July
Time: 6PM
Morocco, the 1976 winners, look like strong contenders for this year’s AFCON title under coach Hervé Renard who has twice won the competition. This team knows how to win and get a result having won all three of their group games by 1-0 against Namibia, Ivory Coast and South Africa. Benin are no pushovers, but this will be a tough match for them and I fancy Morocco to win.
Mike’s Prediction – Morocco Win
Uganda vs Senegal
Date: Friday, 5 July
Time: 9PM
Senegal have won eight of their last nine matches only losing to Algeria in the group stages and they are set to face a decent Uganda team in the last 16. Senegal have star players such as Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly and their quality will be too much for The Cranes in this game.
Mike’s Prediction – Senegal Win
Nigeria vs Cameroon
Date: Saturday, 6 July
Time: 6PM
Two of the biggest teams in Africa go head to head after both finishing second in their respective groups. This matchup could have been the final of the 2019 AFCON and will be a humdinger for the fans. The Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions have eight AFCON titles between them with both sets of fans expecting their team to win the tournament. This is a tough match to predict for punters but I will go for a 90 minute draw and either team to win it in either extra time or penalties.
Mike’s Prediction – Draw
Egypt vs South Africa
Date: Saturday, 6 July
Time: 9PM
Bafana Bafana qualified for the last 16 by finishing fourth on the third-placed teams’ table. They now face Egypt, the tournament hosts and favourites. Egypt have won the most AFCON titles with seven and will be looking to add another at home. Egypt have yet to concede a goal in this tournament and South Africa have only scored one goal so far in their victory against Namibia. Bafana Bafana have already played Ivory Coast and Morocco and will face another African giant in Egypt. It will be a tough ask for South Africa against the likes of Mahmoud Hassan and Mohamed Salah and I expect Egypt to win comfortably.
Mike’s Prediction – Egypt Win
Madagascar vs DR Congo
Date: Sunday, 7 July
Time: 6PM
This match features AFCON’s two most unpredictable teams up against each other. DR Congo have a good squad with many of their players plying their trade at good European clubs compared to the Madagascan players at smaller European clubs. This is a tough match to call and while I like Madagascar that convincingly beat Nigeria, I will settle for a draw and either team to win it in either extra time or penalties.
Mike’s Prediction – Draw
Algeria vs Guinea
Date: Sunday, 7 July
Time: 9PM
Algeria have been the most convincing and consistent outfit so far at the 2019 AFCON. Guinea will probably be missing their star player Naby Keïta, who is still struggling with injury whilst Algeria will have their star player Riyad Mahrez available. This will be a good contest with Algeria ultimately emerging victorious.
Mike’s Prediction – Algeria Win
Mali vs Ivory Coast
Date: Monday, 8 July
Time: 6PM
This should be an entertaining match between Mali and Ivory Coast.
Mali have a young team but they comfortably finished top of their group with two wins and a draw and Ivory Coast finished second in their group. Both teams have quality attacking players and fans can expect exciting football. This is another match that could end in a draw after 90 minutes as there is little to separate them.
Mike’s Prediction – Draw
