2015 Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage

The knockout stage of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 31 January with the round of 16 and ended on 8 February 2015 with the final held at the Estadio de Bata in Bata. A total of 8 teams (the top two teams from each group) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament.

All match times are local, WAT (UTC+1).

Format

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In the knockout stage, except for the third place play-off, if a match was level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each). If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. In the third place play-off, if the scores remained level after 90 minutes the match would go directly to a penalty shoot-out, without any extra time being played.

Qualified teams

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The top two placed teams from each of the four groups advanced to the knockout stage.

Group Winners Runners-up
A   Congo   Equatorial Guinea
B   Tunisia   DR Congo
C   Ghana   Algeria
D   Ivory Coast   Guinea

Bracket

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Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
31 January – Bata
 
 
  Congo2
 
4 February – Bata
 
  DR Congo4
 
  DR Congo1
 
1 February – Malabo
 
  Ivory Coast3
 
  Ivory Coast3
 
8 February – Bata
 
  Algeria1
 
  Ivory Coast (p)0 (9)
 
1 February – Malabo
 
  Ghana 0 (8)
 
  Ghana3
 
5 February – Malabo
 
  Guinea0
 
  Ghana3
 
31 January – Bata
 
  Equatorial Guinea0 Third place play-off
 
  Tunisia1
 
7 February – Malabo
 
  Equatorial Guinea (a.e.t.) 2
 
  DR Congo (p)0 (4)
 
 
  Equatorial Guinea0 (2)
 

All times local, WAT (UTC+1).

Quarter-finals

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Congo vs DR Congo

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Congo took the lead in the 55th minute, when Férébory Doré met Delvin N'Dinga's free kick to slot home. They increased the lead seven minutes later, when after they intercepted a DR Congo pass out of the defence, Thievy Bifouma scored from the rebound after Doré's shot was saved. DR Congo pulled a goal back in the 65th minute, when Dieumerci Mbokani converted from Yannick Bolasie's cross. The equalizer came ten minutes later when Jeremy Bokila scored from Cédric Makiadi's pass. DR Congo took the lead when Joël Kimwaki headed in Neeskens Kebano's free kick in the 81st minute, and completed the comeback after Mbokani converted his own rebound to score his second goal of the match in the first minute of injury time. This put them in the semi-finals for the first time since 1998.[1][2]

Congo  2–4  DR Congo
Doré   55'
Bifouma   62'
Report Mbokani   65', 90+1'
Bokila   75'
Kimwaki   81'
Attendance: 31,670
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Congo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DR Congo
GK 1 Christoffer Mafoumbi
RB 18 Marvin Baudry
CB 21 Sagesse Babélé
CB 4 Boris Moubhibo
LB 6 Dimitri Bissiki
DM 8 Delvin N'Dinga   83'
RW 12 Francis Litsingi   84'
AM 7 Prince Oniangué (c)
LW 5 Bouka Moutou   84'
CF 13 Thievy Bifouma
CF 10 Férébory Doré   76'
Substitutions:
FW 19 Dominique Malonga   76'
MF 14 Césaire Gandzé   84'
FW 11 Fabrice Ondama   84'
Manager:
  Claude Le Roy
 
GK 1 Robert Kidiaba (c)
RB 2 Issama Mpeko
CB 17 Cédric Mongongu
CB 14 Gabriel Zakuani   50'
LB 3 Jean Kasusula
CM 22 Chancel Mbemba
CM 6 Cédric Makiadi   40'   89'
RW 19 Jeremy Bokila
AM 18 Cedrick Mabwati   66'
LW 11 Yannick Bolasie
CF 9 Dieumerci Mbokani
Substitutions:
DF 15 Joël Kimwaki   50'
MF 10 Neeskens Kebano   66'
MF 5 Nelson Munganga   89'
Manager:
Florent Ibengé

Man of the Match:
Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo)[3]

Assistant referees:
Djibril Camara (Senegal)
El Hadji Malick Samba (Senegal)
Fourth official:
Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)

Tunisia vs Equatorial Guinea

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Tunisia took the lead in the 70th minute, when Ahmed Akaïchi flicked in Hamza Mathlouthi's cross from the right. Equatorial Guinea scored the equalizer in the third minute of injury time through Javier Balboa's penalty, which was awarded after Hamza Mathlouthi was ruled to have fouled Iván Bolado. The match went to extra time, and Balboa scored the winning goal in the 102nd minute with a direct free kick, sending the hosts to their first ever semi-finals.[4][5] The match had witnessed controversies regarding the Mauritian referee's bias refereeing in favor to the host nation, including the controversial penalty in the final minutes, resulting with Tunisian players attacking him in the end of the game. CAF decided to ban the referee for life as for the result.[6]

Tunisia  1–2 (a.e.t.)  Equatorial Guinea
Akaïchi   70' Report Balboa   90+3' (pen.), 102'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tunisia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equatorial Guinea
GK 16 Aymen Mathlouthi
RB 17 Hamza Mathlouthi
CB 3 Aymen Abdennour
CB 2 Syam Ben Youssef
LB 12 Ali Maâloul
CM 20 Mohamed Ali Yacoubi   63'   104'
CM 6 Hocine Ragued   9'
RW 19 Ahmed Akaïchi   66'   85'
AM 13 Ferjani Sassi   90+6'
LW 9 Yassine Chikhaoui (c)
CF 18 Wahbi Khazri   85'
Substitutions:
MF 15 Mohamed Ali Manser   85'
FW 11 Amine Chermiti   86'   85'
MF 7 Youssef Msakni   104'
Manager:
  Georges Leekens
 
GK 1 Felipe Ovono
RB 8 Randy   80'
CB 5 Diosdado Mbele
CB 4 Rui
LB 16 Sipo   86'
RM 14 Kike
CM 18 Viera Ellong
CM 21 Iván Zarandona
LM 11 Javier Balboa
CF 10 Emilio Nsue (c)
CF 9 Raúl Fabiani   61'
Substitutions:
FW 15 Ibán   90+6'   61'
FW 12 Iván Bolado   80'
MF 7 Rubén Belima   86'
Manager:
  Esteban Becker

Man of the Match:
Javier Balboa (Equatorial Guinea)[7]

Assistant referees:
Peter Edibe (Nigeria)
Jerson dos Santos (Angola)
Fourth official:
Koman Coulibaly (Mali)

Ghana vs Guinea

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Ghana took the lead in the 4th minute, after André Ayew back-heeled the ball for Christian Atsu to convert from close range. Ghana increased the lead in the 44th minute, as Kwesi Appiah intercepted a missed pass from the Guinea defence to score. Atsu scored his second goal of the match in the 61st minute, when he received the ball from Mubarak Wakaso on the right flank, cut inside and curled the ball into the net. Guinea goalkeeper Naby Yattara was sent off in the fourth minute of injury time for bringing down Asamoah Gyan outside the penalty box. Ghana's win sent them to the semi-finals for the fifth consecutive tournament.[8][9]

Ghana  3–0  Guinea
Atsu   4', 61'
Appiah   44'
Report
Attendance: 14,500
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ghana
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guinea
GK 1 Brimah Razak
RB 23 Harrison Afful
CB 21 John Boye
CB 19 Jonathan Mensah
LB 17 Baba Rahman
DM 6 Afriyie Acquah   86'
RW 7 Christian Atsu   79'
AM 11 Mubarak Wakaso
LW 10 André Ayew
CF 3 Asamoah Gyan (c)
CF 2 Kwesi Appiah
Substitutions:
MF 22 Frank Acheampong   79'
MF 13 Mohammed Rabiu   86'
Manager:
  Avram Grant
 
GK 1 Naby Yattara   33'   90+4'
RB 13 Abdoulaye Cissé
CB 20 Baissama Sankoh
CB 5 Fodé Camara   49'
LB 23 Djibril Tamsir Paye   90'
DM 17 Boubacar Fofana   70'
CM 12 Ibrahima Conté
CM 10 Kévin Constant   21'   56'
RW 8 Ibrahima Traoré (c)
LW 7 Abdoul Camara   81'
CF 11 Idrissa Sylla   45'
Substitutions:
FW 2 Mohamed Yattara   45'
MF 15 Naby Keïta   56'
FW 19 François Kamano   81'
Manager:
  Michel Dussuyer

Man of the Match:
Kwesi Appiah (Ghana)[10]

Assistant referees:
Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon)
Ali Waleed Ahmed (Sudan)
Fourth official:
Hamada Nampiandraza (Madagascar)

Ivory Coast vs Algeria

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Ivory Coast took the lead in the 26th minute, when Wilfried Bony headed in Max Gradel's cross. Algeria equalized in the 51st minute, after Riyad Mahrez passed to Hillal Soudani to score. Bony scored his second goal of the match in the 68th minute with another header, this time from Yaya Touré's free kick. Ivory Coast sealed the win in the fourth minute of injury time, as Tallo Gadji set up Gervinho in a fast break, and they qualified for the semi-finals for the fourth time in six tournaments.[11][12]

Ivory Coast  3–1  Algeria
Bony   26', 68'
Gervinho   90+4'
Report Soudani   51'
Attendance: 15,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ivory Coast
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Algeria
GK 16 Sylvain Gbohouo
CB 17 Serge Aurier
CB 22 Wilfried Kanon
CB 4 Kolo Touré
RWB 21 Eric Bailly
LWB 5 Siaka Tiéné   67'
CM 20 Serey Dié
CM 19 Yaya Touré (c)
CM 15 Max Gradel
CF 12 Wilfried Bony   90+1'
CF 10 Gervinho
Substitutions:
MF 6 Cheick Doukouré   67'
FW 11 Tallo Gadji   90+1'
Manager:
  Hervé Renard
 
GK 23 Raïs M'Bolhi
RB 3 Faouzi Ghoulam
CB 2 Madjid Bougherra (c)
CB 20 Aïssa Mandi
LB 12 Carl Medjani
DM 14 Nabil Bentaleb   78'
RM 19 Saphir Taïder   90'
LM 11 Yacine Brahimi
AM 10 Sofiane Feghouli
CF 7 Riyad Mahrez   72'
CF 15 Hillal Soudani   72'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Ishak Belfodil   72'
FW 13 Islam Slimani   72'
Manager:
  Christian Gourcuff

Man of the Match:
Wilfried Bony (Ivory Coast)[13]

Assistant referees:
Jean-Claude Birumushasu (Burundi)
Aboubacar Doumbouya (Guinea)
Fourth official:
Ali Lemghaifry (Mauritania)

Semi-finals

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DR Congo vs Ivory Coast

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Ivory Coast took the lead in the 20th minute, when Yaya Touré slammed home a pass from Wilfried Bony. DR Congo equalized four minutes later through Dieumerci Mbokani's penalty, awarded for Eric Bailly's handball. Ivory Coast retook the lead in the 41st minute, as Bony set up Gervinho to score. Wilfried Kanon sealed the win in the 68th minute, as he scored from the rebound after Serge Aurier's header was saved. The win put the Ivorians into their fourth Africa Cup of Nations final.[14][15]

DR Congo  1–3  Ivory Coast
Mbokani   24' (pen.) Report Y. Touré   20'
Gervinho   41'
Kanon   68'
Attendance: 30,000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DR Congo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ivory Coast
GK 1 Robert Kidiaba (c)
RB 2 Issama Mpeko
CB 15 Joël Kimwaki
CB 14 Gabriel Zakuani
LB 3 Jean Kasusula   67'
CM 22 Chancel Mbemba
CM 6 Cédric Makiadi   79'
RW 19 Jeremy Bokila
AM 18 Cedrick Mabwati   69'
LW 11 Yannick Bolasie
CF 9 Dieumerci Mbokani   61'
Substitutions:
FW 13 Junior Kabananga   71'   61'
MF 10 Neeskens Kebano   69'
FW 21 Firmin Ndombe Mubele   79'
Manager:
Florent Ibengé
 
GK 16 Sylvain Gbohouo
RB 17 Serge Aurier   76'
CB 21 Eric Bailly
CB 4 Kolo Touré
LB 22 Wilfried Kanon   26'
CM 20 Serey Dié   70'
CM 19 Yaya Touré (c)   28'
RW 15 Max Gradel   62'
LW 5 Siaka Tiéné   72'
CF 12 Wilfried Bony   90+2'
CF 10 Gervinho
Substitutions:
FW 8 Salomon Kalou   62'
DF 2 Ousmane Viera   72'
FW 18 Lacina Traoré   90+2'
Manager:
  Hervé Renard

Man of the Match:
Gervinho (Ivory Coast)[16]

Assistant referees:
Evarist Menkouande (Cameroon)
Zakhele Siwela (South Africa)
Fourth official:
Bernard Camille (Seychelles)

Ghana vs Equatorial Guinea

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Ghana took the lead in the 42nd minute through Jordan Ayew's penalty, awarded after Kwesi Appiah was fouled by Felipe Ovono. In the first minute of first half injury time, Mubarak Wakaso finished Christian Atsu's pass in a counter-attack to double Ghana's lead. Ghana's third goal was scored by André Ayew from a cross by Appiah in the 75th minute. The win put the Ghanaians into a record ninth Africa Cup of Nations final.[17][18]

Crowd disturbances began after Ghana's first goal, culminating after the third in a 40-minute stoppage while security forces corralled the Ghanaian section from the rest of the crowd.[19] The hosts were fined US$100,000 by the CAF.[20]

Ghana  3–0  Equatorial Guinea
J. Ayew   42' (pen.)
Wakaso   45+1'
A. Ayew   75'
Report
Attendance: 15,250
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ghana
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equatorial Guinea
GK 1 Brimah Razak
RB 23 Harrison Afful   44'
CB 21 John Boye
CB 19 Jonathan Mensah
LB 17 Baba Rahman
CM 6 Afriyie Acquah   68'
CM 11 Mubarak Wakaso   18'   76'
RW 7 Christian Atsu
AM 9 Jordan Ayew
LW 10 André Ayew (c)   66'   82'
CF 2 Kwesi Appiah
Substitutions:
MF 8 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu   76'
MF 22 Frank Acheampong   82'
Manager:
  Avram Grant
 
GK 1 Felipe Ovono   41'
RB 2 Dani Evuy   37'   58'
CB 5 Diosdado Mbele
CB 4 Rui
LB 7 Rubén Belima
CM 21 Iván Zarandona   82'
CM 18 Viera Ellong
RW 14 Kike
LW 11 Javier Balboa
CF 15 Ibán   68'   74'
CF 10 Emilio Nsue (c)
Substitutions:
FW 9 Raúl Fabiani   58'
DF 16 Sipo   74'
DF 22 Pablo Ganet   82'
Manager:
  Esteban Becker

Man of the Match:
Christian Atsu (Ghana)[21]

Assistant referees:
Albdelhak Etchiali (Algeria)
Jerson Emiliano Dos Santos (Angola)
Fourth official:
Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria)

Third place play-off

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After a goalless 90 minutes, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out (no extra time was played as per regulations). Equatorial Guinea missed their first and second penalties by Javier Balboa and Raúl Fabiani, while DR Congo converted all four of their kicks, giving them their best finish in the Africa Cup of Nations since 1998 when they also finished third, while the fourth-placed finish for the hosts were still their best ever in the Africa Cup of Nations.[22][23]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DR Congo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equatorial Guinea
GK 1 Robert Kidiaba (c)
RB 2 Issama Mpeko
CB 17 Cédric Mongongu
CB 14 Gabriel Zakuani
LB 3 Jean Kasusula
RM 18 Cedrick Mabwati   87'
CM 22 Chancel Mbemba
CM 6 Cédric Makiadi   51'   72'
LM 11 Yannick Bolasie
AM 8 Hervé Kage   46'
CF 19 Jeremy Bokila   74'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Dieumerci Mbokani   46'
MF 20 Lema Mabidi   72'
FW 13 Junior Kabananga   74'
Manager:
Florent Ibengé
 
GK 1 Felipe Ovono
RB 8 Randy
CB 2 Dani Evuy
CB 4 Rui
LB 16 Sipo
RM 14 Kike   46'
CM 21 Iván Zarandona   46'
CM 6 Juvenal (c)
LM 7 Rubén Belima   85'
CF 10 Emilio Nsue
CF 11 Javier Balboa
Substitutions:
DF 20 Miguel Ángel   46'
MF 18 Viera Ellong   46'
FW 9 Raúl Fabiani   85'
Manager:
  Esteban Becker

Man of the Match:
Robert Kidiaba (DR Congo)[24]

Assistant referees:
Peter Edibe (Nigeria)
Jean-Claude Birumushahu (Burundi)
Fourth official:
Malang Diedhiou (Senegal)

Final

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After a goalless 120 minutes (regulation and extra time), the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out. Ivory Coast missed their first and second penalties by Wilfried Bony and Tallo Gadji, while Ghana missed their third and fourth penalties by Afriyie Acquah and Frank Acheampong. Both teams converted their kicks in the fifth to tenth rounds, and in the eleventh round, Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry saved from his counterpart Brimah Razak, diving to his left to push the ball around the post. He then scored his own penalty shooting to the right of the net. Ivory Coast won their second title and their first since 1992, where they also defeated Ghana in the final after a penalty shoot-out, while Ghana lost their third straight Africa Cup of Nations final after their last triumph in 1982.[25][26]

Details

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Ivory Coast  0–0 (a.e.t.)  Ghana
Report
Penalties
Bony  
Gadji  
Aurier  
Doumbia  
Y. Touré  
Kalou  
K. Touré  
Kanon  
Bailly  
Dié  
Barry  
9–8   Wakaso
  J. Ayew
  Acquah
  Acheampong
  A. Ayew
  Mensah
  Badu
  Afful
  Rahman
  Boye
  Razak
Attendance: 32,857
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ivory Coast
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ghana
GK 1 Boubacar Barry
CB 21 Eric Bailly   105+1'
CB 4 Kolo Touré
CB 22 Wilfried Kanon   87'
RM 17 Serge Aurier
CM 20 Serey Dié   14'
CM 19 Yaya Touré (c)
LM 5 Siaka Tiéné   57'   116'
RF 15 Max Gradel   67'
CF 12 Wilfried Bony
LF 10 Gervinho   120+2'
Substitutions:
FW 7 Seydou Doumbia   67'
FW 8 Salomon Kalou   116'
FW 11 Tallo Gadji   120+2'
Manager:
  Hervé Renard
 
GK 1 Brimah Razak
RB 23 Harrison Afful
CB 21 John Boye
CB 19 Jonathan Mensah
LB 17 Baba Rahman
CM 11 Mubarak Wakaso
CM 6 Afriyie Acquah
RW 7 Christian Atsu   116'
AM 2 Kwesi Appiah   99'
LW 10 André Ayew
CF 3 Asamoah Gyan (c)   120+1'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Jordan Ayew   99'
FW 22 Frank Acheampong   116'
MF 8 Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu   120+1'
Manager:
  Avram Grant

Man of the Match:
Afriyie Acquah (Ghana)[27]

Assistant referees:
Djibril Camara (Senegal)
Ali Waleed Ahmed (Sudan)
Fourth official:
Jacob Bolam (Zambia)

References

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  1. ^ "BBC Sport – Congo 2-4 DR Congo". BBC Sport. 31 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Congo – DR Congo". Youtube. 31 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Match report: Congo 2–4 DR Congo" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  4. ^ "BBC Sport – Tunisia 1-2 Equatorial Guinea". BBC Sport. 31 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Tunisia – Equatorial Guinea". Youtube. 31 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations referee banned for controversial Equatorial Guinea penalty". 3 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Match report: Tunisia 1–2 Equatorial Guinea" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  8. ^ "BBC Sport – Ghana 3-0 Guinea". BBC Sport. 1 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Ghana – Guinea". Youtube. 1 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Match report: Ghana 3–0 Guinea" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  11. ^ "BBC Sport – Ivory Coast 3-1 Algeria". BBC Sport. 1 February 2015.
  12. ^ "Ivory Coast – Algeria". Youtube. 1 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Match report: Ivory Coast 3–1 Algeria" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  14. ^ "BBC Sport – DR Congo 1-3 Ivory Coast". BBC Sport. 4 February 2015.
  15. ^ "DR Congo – Ivory Coast". Youtube. 4 February 2015.
  16. ^ "Match report: DR Congo 1–3 Ivory Coast" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  17. ^ "BBC Sport – Ghana 3-0 Equatorial Guinea". BBC Sport. 5 February 2015.
  18. ^ "Ghana – Equatorial Guinea". Youtube. 5 February 2015.
  19. ^ Ames, Nick (5 February 2015). "Ghana players, fans pelted with missiles in win over Equatorial Guinea". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  20. ^ Press Association (6 February 2015). "Equatorial Guinea fined £65,000 over Africa Cup violence against Ghana". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  21. ^ "AFCON 2015: Christian Atsu wins Man of the Match in Equatorial Guinea win". Ghana Soccernet. 6 February 2015. Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  22. ^ "BBC Sport – DR Congo 0-0 Equatorial Guinea". BBC Sport. 7 February 2015.
  23. ^ "DR Congo – Equatorial Guinea". Youtube. 7 February 2015.
  24. ^ "Match report: DR Congo 0–0 (4–2 pen.) Equatorial Guinea" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  25. ^ "BBC Sport – Ivory Coast 0-0 Ghana". BBC Sport. 8 February 2015.
  26. ^ "Ivory Coast – Ghana". YouTube. 8 February 2015.
  27. ^ "Orange AFCON 2015 Awards and Best XI". CAF. 12 February 2015.
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