Note: While this edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is officially referred as Afcon 2021 due to the tournament?s postponement, for continuity, we might sometimes refer to it as Afcon 2022.
The last four line up is completed at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, with the last two quarter-final ties playing out in Cameroon.
There’s a mouthwatering North African derby to be had in Yaounde, as Egypt go up against Morocco.
That contest is followed by the clash between pre-tournament favourites Senegal and surprise quarter-finalists Equatorial Guinea, who meet for their tie in Douala.
*All kick off times are in Central Africa Time.
Quarter-Final: Egypt vs Morocco
Brace yourselves for a North African spectacular when Egypt go up against Morocco in Yaounde, as the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals continue in Cameroon.
The pair are bidding to become a rare winner from north of the Sahara Desert in more tropical climes, but they know one will have to bite the dust.
Mohamed Salah was the hero for the Pharaohs as they squeezed past the considerable challenge of the Ivory Coast in their Round of 16 clash on Wednesday night.
Salah struck the decisive spot kick to ensure his side won 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout, after the score sheet had remained blank for 120 minutes of open play in the first knockout stage.
They had earlier recorded consecutive pool stage wins following an opening defeat to Nigeria, ensuring a second-placed finish in Group D.
Their opponents went a point better in coming through Group C unbeaten, leading the way from Gabon, Comoros and surprise strugglers Ghana.
It was far from plain sailing in the Round of 16, though, not least when Gabadinho Mhango hit his second wonderstrike of the competition to put spirited Malawi into an early lead.
Youssef En-Nesyri pinched a pivotal equaliser on the stroke of half-time, however, before Achraf Hakimi scored what proved to be the winner in the 70th minute.
Kick off at 18:00.
Quarter-Final: Senegal vs Equatorial Guinea
Pre-tournament favourites Senegal go up against minnows Equatorial Guinea in a battle to complete the last four line up at the Africa Cup of Nations, as they contest the last of the four quarter-finals.
Sadio Mane defied a concussion to open the scoring just after the hour mark, as the Indomitable Lions battled their way to victory over nine-man Cape Verde in the last 16.
Opposing keeper Vozinha had only just been sent off for his challenge on the Liverpool star, while Patrick Andrade also saw red to see the underdogs reduced to nine men before Bamba Dieng’s goal made sure in second half stoppage time.
Mane and Co are just about clicking into Afcon gear at last, after huffing and puffing their way through the group stage amid Covid-19 disruption.
Their opponents have scrapped every bit of the way to reach the last eight in Cameroon.
The National Thunder take their place in the quarters by virtue of a 6-5 penalty shootout win over Mali, having held their opponents to an unexpected 0-0 draw.
It was graft that took them through the pool stage in second place, too, including a famous victory over reigning champions Algeria that helped dump the Ferenc Foxes out of the tournament.
Kick off at 21:00.
Africa Cup of Nations predictions for 26 January
Find all the fixtures and results for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations here.
Prediction methodology explained:?The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team?s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing. Other odds added here are taken from soccerstats247?s algorithm.