AFCON quarterfinals in numbers
AfricanFootball takes a quick statistical look back at the quarterfinals from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
1 – Equatorial Guinea are the only non-former AFCON champions to progress to the semifinals. The two previous editions of the tournament have featured two non-former champs in the last four: Zambia (who went on to claim the trophy) and Mali in 2012, and Burkina Faso and Mali in 2013.
3 – Three players are tied at the top of the tournament charts on three goals apiece: Thievy Bifouma (Congo), Javier Balboa (E Guinea) and Ahmed Akaichi (Tunisia).
4 – Four different players scored braces in the quarterfinals: Dieumerci Mbokani (DRC), Javier Balboa (E Guinea), Christian Atsu (Ghana) and Wilfried Bony (Ivory Coast). There were no braces scored in the group stage.
16 – The number of goals scored in the quarterfinals, at an average of four per match (compared to just 45 at an average of 1.9 per match during the group stage). DRC’s 4-2 win over Congo was the highest scoring match in the knockout rounds of an AFCON since Ghana beat Ivory Coast by the same score in the third place playoff in 2008.
61 – The total number of goals scored in the 2015 AFCON thus far, at an average of 2.2 per match.
90+3 – The minute of regulation time in which Equatorial Guinea’s Javier Balboa scored from a controversially awarded penalty to equalise at 1-1 against Tunisia and send the game to extra time. The hosts went on to win the game 2-1 (thanks to a brilliant second goal from Balboa), leaving Tunisia furious at what they believed to be biased officiating.
1998 – The year in which DR Congo last appeared in an AFCON semifinal. They were beaten by South Africa in the semis, but went on to defeat Burkina Faso on penalties to claim third place. Ivory Coast are appearing in the semifinals for the fourth time in the last six editions of the AFCON, while it is Ghana’s fifth successive semi showing. Equatorial Guinea are making their debut in the last four.
2008 – Equatorial Guinea are the first hosts to reach the semifinal of their AFCON tournament since Ghana in 2008.
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