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This Sunday, the Africa Cup of Nations promises a thrilling round of 16 clash between Equatorial Guinea and Guinea at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan. The winner will advance to the quarter-finals, setting the stage for a showdown against either Egypt or Congo DR.
Equatorial Guinea’s unexpected triumph in Group A has been the talk of the tournament. Despite being seen as underdogs, they outshone Ivory Coast and Nigeria, securing nine goals in their three group matches – the highest in the group stages. The National Thunder drew with The Super Eagles, triumphed 4-2 over Guinea-Bissau, and dominated Ivory Coast with a resounding 4-0 victory.
Juan Micha’s side’s goal spree is remarkable, surpassing their combined goal tally from the previous three tournaments. Equatorial Guinea has reached the knockout stage in the last four AFCON competitions, showcasing consistent excellence since the introduction of the group stage in 1963.
In contrast, Guinea faced a 2-0 defeat against Senegal but secured a 1-0 win against Gambia and a 1-1 draw with Cameroon, earning a spot in the round of 16 as one of the top four third-placed teams. However, they have struggled to find the net, scoring only four goals in their last eight AFCON matches.
This matchup marks the first-ever encounter between Equatorial Guinea and Guinea. Despite the FIFA world rankings favoring Guinea (80th) over Equatorial Guinea (88th), history leans towards the latter. Guinea has suffered defeat in their last six AFCON knockout games, failing to score in the last four.
As Equatorial Guinea enters the match with a stellar AFCON form of two wins and a draw, they are the favorites. Guinea, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle as clear underdogs, despite their AFCON experience. It’s a clash that promises excitement, uncertainty, and the potential for more surprises in this already thrilling tournament.
**Equatorial Guinea’s AFCON Form:**
– Wins: 2
– Draws: 1
**Equatorial Guinea’s Overall Form:**
– Wins: 4
– Draws: 2
**Guinea’s AFCON Form:**
– Wins: 1
– Draws: 1
– Losses: 1
**Guinea’s Overall Form:**
– Wins: 3
– Draws: 2
– Losses: 1
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