CAIRO, Egypt – Egypt will face South Africa in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday at Cairo Stadium after the group stage concluded on Tuesday.
South Africa qualified for the knockout phase from Group D as one of the best four third-placed sides, collecting three points.
Egypt advanced as Group A winners with maximum nine points following wins over Zimbabwe, DR Congo and Uganda.
The Pharaohs’ last competitive games against South Africa were in the 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers, with the Bafana Bafana defeating them 1-0 at home before holding them to a 0-0 draw on the road.
Egypt won the 1998 Nations Cup in Burkina Faso after beating South Africa 2-0 in the final.
Permutations for the last 16 were up in the air until Tuesday’s close of the group phase and delivered some intriguing pairings for the weekend’s knockout-stage matches.
The failure of holders Cameroon to beat Benin in their last Group F game on Tuesday saw them usurped at the top of the standings and condemned to a meeting with Nigeria in Alexandria on Saturday.
Tunisia, who are in second place in the African rankings, will be up against Ghana while the Ivory Coast take on Mali.
It looks a lot easier for Morocco and Algeria, who like Egypt came through the first round with a 100 percent record, and look genuine contenders.
Morocco play Benin in Friday’s first game while Algeria will also fancy their chances against Guinea on Sunday.
Senegal, also among the pre-tournament favourites and the continent’s top-ranked team, take on Uganda.
Despite claiming just one win in Group A, the democratic Republic of Congo squeezed through as one of the four best losers, and will face surprise packets Madagascar.
