Hannibal and Haidara latest as AFCON reaches last 16

Add as preferred source on Google

The African Cup of Nations group stages have now concluded after an entertaining start to the tournament in Cameroon.

Two Manchester United players are involved, as well as one player the Red Devils are strongly linked with signing.

Hannibal: Tunisia are through to the last 16 despite a shock defeat to underdogs Gambia after conceding an injury time goal.

Tunisia finished third in their group, but qualify as one of the best third placed teams, sneaking into the knockout rounds.

Hannibal was a second half substitute, coming on with Tunisia already reduced to 10 men. He has now played two games at the tournament.

A tough fixture awaits against Nigeria, who topped their group with three wins from three games.

Eric Bailly: Ivory Coast finished top of their group with two wins and a draw and now face Egypt, who were runners-up in Nigeria’s group.

Bailly will hope to return to take on Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in that clash and get one over on the forward.

Due to a head injury, Bailly had sat out Ivory Coast’s final group game, and he is aiming to be fit for the last 16 tie.

Amadou Haidara: Manchester United have been strongly linked with signing Haidara [via The Times], but his AFCON involvement always complicated a deal this month.

The best hope was that Mali would be knocked out early, but instead they finished top of their group.

Haidara started as Mali beat Mauritania 2-0 last night, completing 92 per cent of his passes and created two chances.

Mali face Equatorial Guinea in the last 16 and are favoured to go through, meaning his stay at the AFCON could extend towards deadline day and into February, with a move now more likely to happen in the summer, if at all.

Full AFCON last 16

• Burkina Faso vs Gabon
• Nigeria vs Tunisia
• Guinea vs Gambia
• Cameroon vs Comoros
• Senegal vs Cape Verde
• Morocco vs Malawi
• Ivory Coast vs Egypt
• Mali vs Equatorial Guinea

Matches to be played January 23-26. Quarter-finals begin January 28.

• Who is Nicolò Tresoldi? The Italy-born Germany youth striker linked with Man Utd
• Youri Tielemans’ past injuries and age cannot overshadow immediate solution solved in Man Utd’s post-Casemiro era
• I was desperate for Man United to sign Eduardo Camavinga, but his latest Real Madrid decision is a worry
• Joshua Zirkzee’s stance on Juventus move could fast-track Man Utd exit
• Danilo has already learned two important skills from Casemiro amid rumblings he could move to Man Utd