Super Eagles supporters see a clear path to success in AFCON

If you were told that the AFCON 2023 Golden Boot would be found leading the line in the match-up between Nigeria and Angola, you'd pick Victor Osimhen. You might be wrong to do so. It could well be Angola's Gelson Dala, a sign of the dangers facing the African giants on Friday.

While Nigeria's talismanic forward has hustled and bustled, his goal tally is just one. While Dala is less well-known than the Napoli forward, playing in the Qatari Stars League, the 27-year-old has knocked in four. These goals have contributed to the nine scored in four games so far for Angola in AFCON 2023, a figure that will certainly give Nigeria food for thought. 

Nigeria are growing into the tournament after a rough start with a draw against Equatorial Guinea in their opening game, and took out Cameroon in a heavyweight Last-16 match-up. It's a tournament that Nigeria now have to win or win with Senegal and Morocco out of the picture. The path is set for the Super Eagles to win their first AFCON trophy since 2013. And that's exactly why Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro is trying to lower expectations of a walkover in Friday's opening quarterfinal clash: "we are only in the last eight, we still have some way to go and the farther we go, the tougher the opposition becomes."

Nigeria vs. Angola - Friday 11:50AM ET - beIN SPORTS 

Guinea and DR Congo eye historic chance to make the final four

Aside from Ivory Coast, the other quarterfinalists in AFCON 2023 have largely eased their way into the stage. DR Congo are there, but have yet to win a game at the tournament in 90 minutes. The group stage produced three draws while Egypt were beaten in a penalty shoot-out. However, when DR Congo do get going there's certainly enough quality to reach the final with Marseille's Chancel Mbemba at the back and Yoane Wissa quite the handful up front. 

Guinea are in the quarterfinals thanks to a last second goal against Equatorial Guinea, courtesy of Mohamed Bayo. The Le Havre striker has yet to deliver on his promise for his clubs so far in France, but he's producing the goods in Ivory Coast with two goals, and will be Guinea's best chance of reaching the semifinals, especially if the experienced pair of Naby Keita and Serhou Guirassy start the game from the bench due to injury. 

DR Congo vs. Guinea - Friday 2:50PM ET - beIN SPORTS XTRA 

Ivory Coast need more than momentum to see off Mali 

Ivory Coast have not exactly reached the AFCON 2023 quarterfinals in a conventional manner. Yes, there was the morale-boosting opening day win against Guinea-Bissau. But matters went downhill fast from there with two losses to see Ivory Coast qualifying for the Last 16 as the lowest-ranked, 3rd-placed finisher to go through. 

Before that qualification was confirmed, Ivory Coast had sacked their coach, Jean-Louis Gasset, with an assistant, Emerse Fae, stepping up to manage his first ever game. That happened to be against Senegal, the reigning champions. And yet, and yet, and yet. Ivory Coast came through in a penalty shootout to transform the host nation's population from despair into delight. 

This doesn't mean that goodwill and good luck will take Ivory Coast into the semifinals. The Elephants have not scored a goal from open play in the past three AFCON games, while Mali remain unbeaten in the tournament. Their collective mettle was tested against neighbors, Burkina Faso, in the last round, but Mali came away with the win. "We know that it will be difficult against them," said Mali coach, Eric Chelle, "but we will bring our quality and give it our best." 

That might be enough against a host nation that is renewed, but still faces the same on-the-pitch problems. 

Mali vs. Ivory Coast - Saturday 11:50AM ET - beIN SPORTS 

South Africa look to build on Morocco momentum

Before Morocco's expectations-loaded AFCON 2023 had even gotten into second gear, it was over. Goals had never been a strong point for The Atlas Lions, even at the World Cup, so when Achraf Hakimi launched a satellite from the penalty spot, it was particularly costly for the tournament favorites. 

So, South Africa will be as surprised as anyone to find themselves in the quarterfinals, but they fully deserve to be there, having scored six goals without reply in the past three games. "We become, every day, better and better," announced the Belgian Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, who won AFCON 2017 with Cameroon. 

South Africa's opponents, Cape Verde, have already shown their AFCON 2023 pedigree by taking down Ghana, thrashing Mozambique, holding Egypt and squeezing past Mauritania with a late penalty. While The Blue Sharks will be happy to see South Africa lining up against them rather than Morocco, Cape Verde won't be able to relax for a moment, as Bafana Bafana look to get a bigger boat to take out their rivals. 

Cape Verde vs. South Africa - Saturday 2:50PM ET - beIN SPORTS