*By Omolade Durojaiye
The quarterfinal line up for the TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is complete after the completion of the group phase on Sunday and a new champion will be crowned after holders Cameroon crashed out at the group phase.
THE Indomitable Cubs finished bottom of Group C with no point, and were slightly edged off the second best placed No 3 team by South Africa on the account of goals scored.
Focus now shifts to the last eight and what makes the quarterfinal duels more exciting is the fact that winners will be assured of earning a ticket to this year’s Fifa World Cup.
The biggest fixture in the last eight will be in Constantine on Wednesday, when hosts Algeria take on Morocco in what is anticipated to be a closely contested North African derby.
Algeria finished second in Group A while Morocco topped Group B, which was based in Constantine.
The first of the four quarterfinal fixtures will however be at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers, where Senegal who topped Group A with a 100 per cent record will take on South Africa who were one of the best two third placed teams.
On Thursday, Annaba will play host to the third quarterfinal where two time champions Mali continue their hunt for a third title, when they take on Congo, the other of the best two third placed teams.
Mali had a perfect record in Group C where they topped with a maximum two wins.
In Algiers, the last quarterfinal duel features Group B runners up Nigeria against their fellow second placed finishers from Group C, Burkina Faso.
Quarter Final fixtures
May 10
Senegal vs South Africa – Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers, 17h00 local time
Morocco vs Algeria – Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine, 20h00 local time
May 11
Mali vs Congo – 19 May 1956 Stadium, Annaba, 17h00 local time
Nigeria vs Burkina Faso – Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers, 20h00 local time
Semi Finals fixtures
14 May, 2023
Quarter Final 1 winner vs Quarter Final 4 winner – Mohamed Hamlaoui Stadium, Constantine, 17h000 local time
Quarter Final 2 winner vs Quarter Final 3 winner – 19 May 1956 Stadium, Annaba, 20h00 local time