Started as 24 teams, but now there are only four teams left in contention and four games to play as the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt reaches the semifinals. They are Nigeria, Tunisia, Senegal and Algeria.
Senegal is the only team that is yet to taste Afcon glory in the remaining four teams. Nigeria have won it thrice whiles Algeria and Tunisia have each won it once.
Nigeria reached the semifinals after defeating South Africa 2-1 at the Cairo International Stadium. Chukwueze opened the deadlock for Nigeria before Bongani Zungu equalized after 74 minutes, but William Ekong scored one minute from time to send the Super Eagles for the semifinal for the first time since they were crowned champions in 2013.
Tunisia progressed to their first AFCON semi-final in 15 years after beating debutants and tournament surprise package Madagascar 3-0 in the quarter-finals at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo. Second half goals from Ferjani Sassi, skipper Youssef Msakni and substitute Naim Slitti saw the Carthage Eagles for the last four for the first time since 2004 when they won the title.
Idrissa Gana Gueye scored in the 69th minute to hand Senegal a 1-0 win over Benin and send the Lions of Teranga to the semi-finals for the first time since 2006 when they reached the semis and lost the play off.
Algeria beat 4-3 Ivory Coast in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after a one-all draw in 120 minutes. Sophiane Feghouli put Algeria in the lead in the 29th minute but Ivory Coast’s Jonathan Kodja pushed the game into extra time with a shot into the left-hand corner. Algeria, who last won the Cup in 1990, will now face Nigeria in the semi-finals.
Both semifinals will be played on Sunday, 14 July 2019. Winners will meet in the grand final slated for Friday July 19, 2019 while the losers will play in the third-place play-off game on 17 July, 2019.
2019 Afcon semifinals
Sunday, 14 July
Senegal v Tunisia, 30 June Stadium (7pm)
Algeria v Nigeria, Cairo International Stadium (10pm)
