Here's Why 5 African Football Nations Were Ousted From AFCON 2023

The top five giants in African football: Senegal, Cameroon, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia have been eliminated from the 2023 AFCON before the quarterfinals.

The 2023 African Cup of Nations has been marked by unexpected twists and turns, as several traditional powerhouses of African football have been knocked out before the quarterfinals. Here are the top five African football nations, according to the FIFA rankings as of January 2024, that have been eliminated from the tournament:

Morocco (1st in Africa, 12th in the world)

The 2022 World Cup semifinalist and highest-ranked African team was kicked out on Tuesday, January 30 by South Africa in the round of 16 of the ongoing African Cup of Nations. The country failed to convert a late penalty that could have forced extra time.

Senegal (2nd in Africa, 18th in the world)

The defending champion and one of the tournament favourites, Senegal was ousted by the host nation, Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation time on Monday, January 29.

Egypt (3rd in Africa, 21st in the world)

The record seven-time AFCON winner, featuring Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, struggled in the group stage, drawing all three matches 2-2, before being defeated by DR Congo in the round of 16 on Sunday, January 28.

Cameroon (4th in Africa, 25th in the world)

The five-time champion and 2019 runner-up suffered a thrilling 3-2 defeat to Nigeria in the round of 16, despite taking an early lead. It was a humble farewell for the Indomitable Lions on Saturday, January 27.

Tunisia (5th in Africa, 28th in the world)

The 2004 champion and 2019 semifinalist was held to a goalless draw by South Africa in their final group game, finishing third in their group on goal difference and missing out on the round of 16. The draw allowed South Africa to progress to the knock-out stages of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023.

These are the top five African football nations that have been eliminated from AFCON 2024. The remaining eight teams proceeding to the quarterfinals include Angola, Nigeria, Guinea, Cape Verde, Mali, Ivory Coast, Cote D’Ivoire and South Africa. The quarterfinals are scheduled to commence on Friday, February 2, 2024.