Afcon 2023: What to look out for in the last 16 with Senegal, Nigeria and Egypt among hopefuls

Minnows Mauritania take on Cape Verde (Monday, 17:00 GMT) as their reward for shocking 2019 champions Algeria to register their first-ever win at the finals.

The Lions of Chinguetti are the only team with a less than 1% chance of lifting the title, according to stats experts Opta. Coach Amir Abdou has emulated the success he achieved in taking Comoros to the last 16 in 2021.

“It’s extraordinary what we are experiencing. I told the players that they wrote the history of Mauritania,” said Abdou.

Another upset would be made all the more impressive by Cape Verde’s form, beating Ghana and Mozambique and taking the lead in a draw with Egypt on their way to winning Group B by four clear points.

The islanders have made the last 16 for the second consecutive tournament, but coach Bubista is looking further ahead.

“In our first team meeting I said to the players the objective was to get to the semi-finals,” he said.

After breezing through the knockout stage, defending champions Senegal play Ivory Coast (Monday, 20:00 GMT) hoping for a repeat of the three successive two-goal wins the Teranga Lions enjoyed between the round of 16 and final in 2021.

Following humiliation by Equatorial Guinea in their final Group A outing, the hosts sacked Jean-Louis Gasset before their progress was confirmed.

The Elephants then failed in an audacious bid to secure the services of Herve Renard, their 2015 title-winning coach, and interim coach Emerse Fae will need to reinvigorate Ivory Coast against daunting opponents.