AFCON 2023 knockout stage: Now indeed,’Iyalaya’anybody can be beaten!

The knockout stage of the 34th AFCON ongoing in Cote d Ivoire, begins today. Safe to say that the boys have been separated from the men and that those who failed to avoid costly mistakes have been made to pay for it.  The Group encounters of this edition of AFCON have been very interesting.

There were indications from outset that teams came prepared to do better than they did in the past but of course not all would achieve their dreams of avoiding potholes that lead to early exit.

Hosts Ivory Coast, need to count their blessings surviving the group stage.

Though the Elephants raised hopes by winning the opener 2-0 against Guinea-Bissau, the remaining two matches turned into a nightmare with a lone goal loss to Nigeria and subsequently 4-0 demolition by Equatorial Guinea.

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But for provision for best losers slot the hosts would have bid goodbye before now.

That Ghana was stunned by Cape Verde and that the Black Stars also failed to win a match pulling draws against Egypt and Mauritania was not funny.

 In the same manner, that seven time Champions Egypt who were finalists at the last edition of the tournament failed to win a match also speaks volumes about the contest this time and a reconfirmation that indeed there are no more minnows.

Even Tunisia who made it all the way to the last eight at the last edition this time failed to survive the group stage with Namibia contributing in no small measure to Carthage Eagles exit following their lone goal victory in the opener.

No doubt the Group Stage was quiet competitive and those who survived have every right to give themselves a pat on the back. But then the knockout stage is here. 

The good thing about the group stage is that it affords you opportunity to correct mistakes in the second and third matches, but no such luxury in the knockout stage, once you slip you head for the exit door.

 I make bold to say that teams in the last 16 have already packed their bags and checked halfway out of their hotels in readiness for outcome of the next match.

Senegal beat Egypt in the final to clinch the last edition in Cameroon can they reclaim it?

That is how serious it is. And looking at the pairings of the remaining teams viz: Angola vs Namibia, Nigeria vs Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea,Egypt vs DR Congo lined up for today and tomorrow on one hand, and Cape Verde vs Mauritania, Senegal vs Ivory Coast,Mali vs Burkina Faso, and Morocco vs South Africa lined up for Monday and Tuesday on the other, none of the teams looks like it will have a tea party at this stage.

Here a winner must emerge the highest anything can do is to fight beyond regulation time, head into extra time and settle for penalties but alas one must survive and the other must pack and go. Recall at the last edition hosted by Cameroon in 2021 the Super Eagles against all permutations faced Carthage

Eagles of Tunisia in the last 16 in quest for a place in the quarterfinals, it took a 47th minute goal by Tunisia’s Msakni to send the Super Eagles packing.

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During a post analysis of the match it was Supersport presenter Mozez Praiz who in the heat of the defeat chipped that ‘iyalaya’anybody can be beaten (a common slag among football fans to indicate that no team really is beyond defeat).

We have reached that stage again as we begin the knockout stage of the 34th AFCON.

Prepare your mind whether as a patriotic supporter, a team lover or just a fan. Don’t forget that football is first and foremost an entertainment before becoming a competition and in this competition at this stage a winner must emerge, so it is safe to say that indeed IYALAYA ANYBODY CAN BE BEATEN.

If your team gets beaten accept it in good fate pack and go if you survive this stage move to the next and see whether you can survive again till the final. There is neither room for mistakes, no time to blink now, Show us what you got!